This Privacy Policy discloses the privacy practices for www.ncoa.org, a website of the National Council on Aging, or NCOA.
About this privacy policy and using the Website
The National Council on Aging (“NCOA”, “we” or “us'”), created this Privacy Policy in support of our commitment to the user’s online privacy. Please take the time to read and understand this Privacy Policy so that you can understand how we collect and use your personal information. This Privacy Policy co-exists with our Terms of Service displayed on the Website, and together both policies govern your use of this Website. By accessing, browsing, or using the Website, you acknowledge that you have read, understand, and agree to this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Service. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with both this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Service. If you do not agree with these terms (including any revisions to them), please do not use the Website.
Purpose of this privacy policy
This Privacy Policy informs you about information we collect and how we use it. We will inform you of:
- What information of yours may be collected;
- How the information is used;
- With whom the information may be shared;
- What choices are available regarding collection, use, and distribution of the information;
- What kind of security procedures are in place to protect the loss, misuse, or alteration of information under our control; and,
- How you can correct any inaccuracies in the information.
Purpose of the Website
The purpose of the website is to provide information and resources to the aging community in the United States, including information concerning access to benefits and community resources and discussion forums. The information and content contained on the website are provided for informational purposes and are not a substitute for financial, legal, or other professional advice. NCOA recommends consultation with your financial and legal advisors and other professionals.
How the Website collects information about you
You may use features of the Website without providing personal information about yourself. However, certain tools and services on the Website require you to complete forms or questionnaires and provide certain personal information. If you use the site without taking advantage of any of these features, the only information we collect will be non-personal information (i.e., information that does not identify you). If you do provide personal information on the Website, this Privacy Policy describes how we collect and use that information. Remember that you are responsible for the accuracy of the information you submit. Incorrect information will affect the usefulness of the information you receive when using the Website.
Non-personal information we collect about you
We may collect non-personal information about your use of the Website and your use of links to other websites through the use of cookies. When you visit the Website, we send text files known as “cookies” to your computer or other device. Cookies, by themselves, do not tell us your email address or other personal information unless you choose to provide this information to us. However, once you provide personal information on the Website, this information may be linked to the data stored in the cookie. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. Most browser software can be set to reject cookies. If you reject our cookies, certain of the functions and conveniences of the Website may not work properly, but you may still use the Website. As you use the Internet, a trail of electronic information is left at each website you visit. This information, which is sometimes referred to as "clickstream data," can be collected and stored by a website's server. Clickstream data can tell us the type of computer and browsing software you use and the address of the website from which you linked to this website.
How we use non-personal information about Website users
The information we collect by using cookies and a third-party analytics service may be used for the following purposes: (i) to help us generate content on web pages or it content and make improvements to the Website, (ii) to allow us to monitor how many people are using the Website and sites to which the Website links and where these people are located geographically, (iii) to allow us to monitor how often different functions of the Website are used, how users navigate within the Website and use the Website functions, and (iv) to help us determine for what purposes these actions are being taken. We may use analytic data about your use of the Website to improve the content available on the Website or make changes to the functionality of the Website. We may use cookie information to target certain communications to your browser or to determine the popularity of certain content or links. Cookies may also be used as navigation aids. We do not link non-personal information from cookies or data analytics to personal information about you. We may use clickstream data as a form of non-personal information to anonymously determine how much time visitors spend on each page of the Website, how visitors navigate throughout the Website, and how we may tailor our web pages in the future to better meet the needs of visitors.
Personal information we collect about you
NCOA may collect personal information, such as your name, mailing address, and email address that you may provide when you register for updates on the Website. We also collect certain personal information you may provide in response to questionnaires available on the Website which are used to direct information to you from the Website in response to your particular needs.
How we use personal information about Website users
We use personal information you provide to respond to your questions, to provide you information about possible solutions and additional resources for you, and send you periodic emails about updates and services that may be available to you in your area.
Disclosure of your information
Except as set forth in this Privacy Policy or with your consent, NCOA will not disclose any personal information it collects from you on the Website, provided that NCOA may disclose your information: (1) to comply with valid legal requirements such as a law, regulation, subpoena, or court order; (2) to certain advocacy partners and third parties as described in this Privacy Policy or (3) with your consent. In the event that we are legally compelled to disclose your personal information to a third party, we will attempt to notify you unless doing so would violate the law or court order. In addition, we may disclose your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy.
Aggregate information
NCOA may combine, in a non-identifiable format, the personal information you provide with information from other users to create aggregate data that may be disclosed freely to third parties and used by NCOA for any lawful purpose. Aggregate data does not contain any personal identifiers that could be used to contact or identify you, such as name or email address. NCOA may disclose this aggregate information to its advocacy partners and members of its aging network in order for these parties to conduct advocacy activities on behalf of older adults. NCOA and its advocacy partners may disclose non-personal, aggregate information to government officials and representatives in order to conduct advocacy activities on behalf of older adults.
Third party service providers
NCOA operations and other third party contractors sometimes have limited access to your personal information in the course of providing products or services to NCOA. These contractors include vendors and suppliers that provide us with technology, services (such as website hosting), and/or content related to operation and maintenance of the Website. Access to your personal information by these contractors is limited to the information reasonably necessary for the contractor to perform its function for NCOA. NCOA will also require that our operations and maintenance contractors protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Policy.
Applicability of this privacy policy
This Privacy Policy does not apply to content, business information, ideas, concepts, or inventions that you send to NCOA by email or by use of the Website contact function. If you want to keep content, business information, ideas, concepts, or inventions private or proprietary, do not send them in an email to NCOA or post them in any public forum.
Other sites
NCOA may share information among websites that it owns or controls, but such information will be protected under the terms of this Privacy Policy. The Website may contain links to other websites operated by parties other than NCOA ("Third Party Websites"). These Third Party Websites have their own, independent, privacy and data collection practices. NCOA has no responsibility or liability for these Third Party Websites, their privacy policies, or actions. NCOA does not endorse or warrant any Third Party Websites, products, or services.
How NCOA handles privacy and security
The Website and database servers are hosted in a secured physical and network environment maintained by a third party hosting provider. Reasonable efforts are made to secure web servers, networks, host operating systems, and databases against unauthorized access. We use a variety of security measures to protect personal information when stored or transmitted by NCOA, including Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Encryption of certain data. In order to take advantage of encryption, you must have an Internet browser that supports 128-bit Encryption. Despite NCOA's efforts to protect your personal information, there is always a risk that an unauthorized third party may find a way around our security systems or that transmissions of your information over the Internet will be intercepted. NCOA cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit over the Internet and you do so at your own risk. No security measures are foolproof; and NCOA cannot guarantee that information will be protected in all situations. We will make reasonable efforts to protect your personal information from unauthorized access.
Changes to this privacy policy
We may change this Privacy Policy at any time by posting revisions to our Website. Your use of this Website means that you accept the terms of this Privacy Policy and your continued use after such changes are posted means that you accept the revised Privacy Policy.
Children
The Website is not designed to attract or be used by children under the age of 13. NCOA does not knowingly collect Personal Data from anyone under the age of 13, unless we first obtain permission from that child’s parent or legal guardian.
How to contact us
For more information about our privacy practices (including compliance with applicable law), or if you want to (1) delete your personal information from our systems, (2) update or correct inaccuracies in the personal information you have provided to us, or (3) change your preferences with respect to marketing contacts or other activities, contact us by email at newsletters@ncoa.org or write to us at 251 18th Street South, Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22202; Attn: Director of Communications.
