Donor Privacy Policy

This privacy policy is designed to explain our practices for collecting, disclosing and protecting the personal information of our donors received through our website, the phone, email, mail and any other medium. AJWS is committed to protecting the privacy of our supporters and does not collect information about you, other than as described below. By submitting information to AJWS or to any of its staff, you consent to the terms and conditions of this policy. For AJWS’s Website Privacy Policy, please click here.

1. What constitutes personal information?

“Donor personal information” is any information that identifies donors—such as their names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses.

2. AJWS collects donor information in the following ways:

  • AJWS may collect donors’ names, mailing addresses and email addresses in response to inquiries from donors submitted on the website, in person, by phone or email.
  • AJWS may collect donors’ names, mailing addresses, email addresses and other contact information if they register for an event AJWS organizes.
  • AJWS may collect donors’ names, email addresses, telephone numbers, information and billing addresses when donors make a contribution on the AJWS website, over the phone or by mailing in a check.

3. AJWS uses donor information in the following ways:

  • AJWS may use donor personal information to analyze overall giving patterns, make more accurate budget projections, understand donors’ interests in our mission, and update donors on the organization’s plans and activities. This information is shared on a confidential and need-to-know basis with staff, board members, volunteers and consultants of AJWS.
  • AJWS will use donor personal information, when necessary, to comply with the law (such as Internal Revenue Service requirements), when acting in good-faith belief that such action is necessary to conform to the requirements of the law or to comply with legal processes required of AJWS. AJWS may also use donor personal information to protect and defend AJWS’s rights.
  • AJWS may use donor personal information to act in urgent circumstances such as a security or medical emergency during donors’ international travel with AJWS—in order to protect the personal safety of the donors and others.
  • AJWS will use donor personal information to protect against potential fraud. For example, AJWS may verify with third parties the information collected in the course of processing a gift, event registration or other donation. If a donor uses a credit or debit card on the AJWS website, AJWS may use card authorization and fraud screening services to verify that the card information and address matches the information that was supplied to AJWS and that the card being used has not been reported lost or stolen.

4. Sharing of Your Personal Information and Protecting Your Privacy

AJWS will never rent, trade or sell donors’ e-mail addresses. AJWS may on occasion share donors’ names and mailing addresses with its service providers (such as those who provide donor research services, mailing services and security services to AJWS travelers). AJWS may on occasion share donors’ names and mailing addresses with organizations that donors might have an interest in supporting. Such service providers and organizations must sign binding agreements outlining the specific purpose for which the information will be used—such as a one-time mailing or providing security services during travel.

AJWS will not send mailings to AJWS donors on behalf of other organizations.

Except as described in this policy, AJWS does not otherwise disclose donor personal information to any third parties.

Donors have the right to remain anonymous. All requests for anonymity will be strictly honored.

Donors have the right, upon request, to promptly review any donor personal information that AJWS has collected about them.

5. Opt-Out

If donors prefer that their names and mailing addresses not be shared with other organizations, they should send AJWS an opt-out request via e-mail to ajws@ajws.org. (Donors cannot opt out of sharing their name and mailing address with AJWS’s service providers.) Donors, both online and off-line, may opt-out of specific or all correspondence with AJWS at any time by contacting AJWS at info@ajws.org, 212.792.2900, or sending a letter to the address below.

6. For Individuals Within the European Economic Area Only

AJWS is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in and operated from New York, New York. While AJWS has no presence in the European Economic Area (“EAA”), AJWS may, from time to time, collect personal information from European individuals (“Data Subjects”).  That personal information will be maintained by AJWS in the United States. AJWS complies with all applicable data-protection laws, including the European General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”). Personal information that may be collected by us from a Data Subject in the EEA may include:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Phone Number
  • Email Address
  • Contribution history

6.1. Lawful Grounds to Process and Obtain Consent. Data Subjects whose personal information is collected in the EEA may withdraw consent at any time where consent is the lawful basis for processing his/her information.  Should a data subject withdraw consent for processing or otherwise object to processing that impedes AJWS’ ability to comply with applicable regulations, a Data Subject may be unable to make contributions to and engage in other interactions with AJWS.

6.2. Data Subject’s Rights. All individuals whose personal information is held by AJWS have the right to:

  • Ask what information AJWS holds about them and why;
  • Ask for a copy of such information or access to such information;
  • Be informed how to correct or keep that information up to date;
  • Be informed on how AJWS is meeting its data protection obligations.
  • Furthermore, for data collected in the EEA, Data Subjects have the right to:
    • Ask for a copy of such information to be sent to a third party;
    • Ask for data to be erased if possible and when required under the GDPR;
    • Ask for processing of personal information to be restricted if possible and when required under GDPR;
    • Object to processing of personal information if possible and when required under GDPR; and
    • Contact a supervisory authority in the EEA to lodge a complaint regarding AJWS’ processing of your personal data.

6.3. Automated Decision-Making. AJWS does not engage in automated decision-making concerning Data Subjects.

6.4. Non-Disclosure of Information. AJWS does not share any nonpublic personal information of Data Subjects with any third-party organizations for commercial purposes except as noted in this policy.

6.5. Security and Disposal of Information. AJWS restricts access to nonpublic personal information to those employees who need to know such information. All electronic or computer files containing such information shall be secured and protected from access by unauthorized persons.  Electronic and paper records used for business purposes are not left in places where they are visible to unauthorized persons.  Data printouts and files are disposed of securely when no longer needed.

7. Revision of This Policy

AJWS reserves the right to change this Donor Privacy Policy from time to time, without advance notice. Accordingly, we recommend that you check for updates to this Privacy Policy on an on-going basis. If we make any significant changes in the way we use your personal information, we will alert you by posting a prominent notice on our site.

8. AJWS Website Privacy Policy 

For AJWS’s Website Privacy Policy, please click here.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact:

American Jewish World Service
45 West 36th Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10018
Phone: 212-792-2900
e-mail: ajws@ajws.org