What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small data files that may be stored on your computer, tablet, mobile phone, or other device when you visit a website. Cookies may contain a unique identifier and may allow a website or service provider to recognize a browser during a visit or across multiple visits.

Similar technologies may include pixels, tags, scripts, local storage, software development kits, and other tools that collect or store technical information.

How the Foundation May Use Cookies

The Foundation may use cookies and similar technologies for purposes such as:

• Operating and securing the website.
• Supporting navigation, forms, accessibility, and page functionality.
• Remembering visitor choices and cookie-consent preferences.
• Understanding general website traffic and performance.
• Identifying errors, broken links, or technical problems.
• Preventing fraud, spam, abuse, and unauthorized activity.
• Improving website content, design, and user experience.
• Supporting embedded media, maps, social content, or third-party tools.

Types of Cookies That May Be Used

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies may be required for the website to operate properly. They may support security, page navigation, form submissions, consent preferences, login protection, spam prevention, and other essential functions.

Preference Cookies

Preference cookies may remember selections such as language, display settings, form information, or consent choices. They are intended to make future visits more convenient.

Analytics and Performance Cookies

These cookies may collect information about page visits, traffic sources, devices, browsers, page performance, and general website interaction. This information may be aggregated and used to improve the website.

Functional Cookies

Functional cookies may support optional website features such as embedded videos, maps, social-media content, event tools, or other interactive elements.

Advertising or Social-Media Cookies

If the Foundation later uses advertising, retargeting, campaign measurement, or advanced social-media tools, those services may place cookies or similar technologies. These technologies should not be activated unless appropriate disclosures and consent controls are in place.

Third-Party Technologies Currently Used or Planned

The Foundation currently uses or plans to use several trusted third-party services that may place cookies or similar technologies on your device to support website functionality, security, communications, fundraising, and performance.

• Google Analytics – to understand website traffic, visitor behavior, and improve website performance.
• Meta (Facebook) Pixel – to measure the effectiveness of outreach campaigns and understand visitor engagement.
• YouTube Embeds – to display educational and informational videos hosted on YouTube.
• Google Maps – to display interactive maps and location information.
• Google reCAPTCHA – to protect forms against spam, bots, and automated abuse.
• Email Marketing Platform – to manage newsletter subscriptions, email communications, and campaign analytics.
• Online Donation Platform – to securely process online donations and protect payment transactions.

Each provider may collect technical information in accordance with its own privacy and cookie policies. The Foundation does not control the cookies placed by these independent services.

Third-party cookies are governed by the privacy policies and terms of the provider that places them. The Foundation does not directly control unrelated third-party cookie practices.

Analytics and Website Measurement

The website may use analytics services to understand how visitors find and use the website. Analytics information may include:

• Pages viewed and time spent on the website.
• Approximate location based on an Internet Protocol address.
• Browser, operating system, device type, and screen size.
• Referring websites, search terms, and general traffic sources.
• Clicks, navigation paths, errors, and website-performance data.

The Foundation may use this information to improve content, accessibility, navigation, communications, and website performance.

Embedded Content and Social Media

Pages may include embedded videos, maps, social-media posts, event tools, or other content from third-party websites. Embedded content may behave as though you visited the third-party website directly.

Those third parties may collect information, use cookies, associate your activity with an existing account, or track interaction with the embedded content. You should review the privacy and cookie practices of the applicable provider.

Donation and Payment Services

When you select a donation or payment link, you may be redirected to an independent payment processor or donation platform. That provider may use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Process and authenticate transactions.
• Prevent fraud and unauthorized activity.
• Remember transaction or account preferences.
• Meet legal, financial, and security obligations.

The Foundation does not control all cookies used on third-party payment websites. Review the provider's policies before submitting payment information.

Forms, Spam Prevention, and Security

Contact, volunteer, partnership, newsletter, or other website forms may use cookies or similar technologies to maintain form sessions, prevent duplicate submissions, detect spam, and protect the website.

Security tools may collect technical information such as an Internet Protocol address, browser details, request timing, and device information to identify suspicious activity.

How Long Cookies May Remain

Cookies may be either session cookies or persistent cookies.

• Session cookies generally expire when you close your browser.
• Persistent cookies may remain for a defined period or until you delete them through your browser settings.

The duration of a cookie depends on its purpose and the service that placed it.

Your Cookie Choices

You may be able to manage cookies through a cookie-consent banner, preferences panel, or your browser settings.

You may also be able to:

• Use private or incognito browsing.
• Clear stored cookies and website data.
• Disable third-party cookies.
• Adjust location, advertising, or tracking settings on your device.
• Use available opt-out tools provided by third-party services.

Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers offer a “Do Not Track” setting. Because there is not currently a universally accepted standard for responding to these signals, the website may not respond to every Do Not Track request.

Visitors may still use browser settings, cookie controls, and provider-specific opt-out tools to manage certain tracking technologies.

Changes to This Cookie Policy

The Foundation may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in website features, technologies, service providers, legal requirements, or organizational practices.

Updated versions will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date. Visitors are encouraged to review this policy periodically.

Contact the Foundation

Questions about this Cookie Policy or the website's use of cookies may be directed to:

Please Note: This website uses or plans to use Google Analytics, Meta (Facebook) Pixel, YouTube embeds, Google Maps, Google reCAPTCHA, an email marketing platform, and an online donation platform. Because these services may place cookies or similar technologies on visitors' devices, this Cookie Policy will be reviewed and updated whenever additional third-party services or tracking technologies are added, removed, or significantly changed.