PRIVACY POLICY

This Privacy Policy describes how Build the Bench collects, uses, and discloses information with respect to your use of the website located at https://www.buildthebenchva.org/, as well as any other websites and applications owned and/or operated by Build the Bench that link to this Privacy Policy (collectively, the “Website”). We refer to the Website and any services we provide or interactions you have with us in connection with the Website as the “Services.” 

 

Before you use or submit any information in connection with the Services, carefully review this Privacy Policy. By using the Services, you agree to this Privacy Policy and that we may process, transfer, and store your information in the United States as outlined below. The terms “you” or “user” refer to all individuals accessing the Services for any reason. The terms “us” or “we” refer to Build the Bench.

 

Information We Collect

The information we collect from you and about you depends on how you use the Services and the information you provide to Build the Bench. We collect information in three main ways: (1) information you choose to provide to us; (2) information we collect automatically through technology when you use the Services; and (3) information we collect from others.

 

Information You Provide To Us

We collect information about our users when users choose to provide that information to us. For example, we collect information when you sign up to receive information from us and when you sign up to join our email list. The kinds of information we may collect include: your first and last name, your mailing address, your email address, your phone number, and the level of office that you are considering, as well as whatever other information you provide to us in connection with your use of the Services. 

 

Information that Is Passively and Automatically Collected

When you use the Services, we may automatically receive and record information from your computer or mobile device. This information allows us to recognize you when you return to the Services, and helps us to understand how people are navigating and using our Services so that we can improve your experience. The types of information we may collect include, by way of example only, your IP address, browser type, browser language, operating system, state or country from which you accessed the Services, software and hardware attributes (including device ID), referring and exit pages and URLs, platform type, the number of clicks, files you downloaded, pages viewed, the amount of time spent on particular pages, the date and time you used the Services, error logs, and other similar information. From your IP address, we may be able to infer your general location (e.g., city and state or postal code).

 

We may use third-party analytics providers and technologies, such as cookies, web beacons, tracking pixels, or scripts, to help us collect the data described above. We use the term “cookie” in the broad sense to include all similar techniques and technologies. A cookie is a small text file that is placed on your computer or device when you visit a website that stores certain information about your website usage. For example, cookies enable us to recognize your computer or device; store your preferences and settings; enhance your user experience by delivering content specific to your interests; perform searches and analytics; and assist with security administrative functions. 

 

You can change your settings to notify you when a cookie is being set or updated, or to block cookies altogether. If you disable cookies, some functionality of the Services may be impaired. 

 

Information We Collect from Others

We may receive additional information about you from third parties and other sources, such as from websites, public records, marketers, researchers, analysts, social media networks, data aggregators, and other organizations. We may combine this information with information we collect directly from you to provide a more relevant experience for you and to improve the Services.

 

How We Use Your Information

We may use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• For the purposes for which you provided the information, including:

  • To contact you to provide you with information about running for office; 

  • To add you to our email list.

• To maintain and improve the Services, including:

  • To provide the features and services available through the Services;

  • To improve the content and features of the Services or to develop new services;

  • To administer and troubleshoot the Services.

• To communicate with you, including:

  • To send you information about your relationship with us;

  • To contact you with information that we believe may be of interest to you;

  • To process and respond to your inquiries or to request your feedback.

• For internal research and reporting.

• For our business operations, including for security, fraud prevention, and legal compliance.

• To comply with laws and regulations for our legitimate interests or the legitimate interests of others. 

• For other purposes for which we seek your consent in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

 

If you provide us with your email address, we may add you to our email distribution list. If you wish to stop receiving emails from us, please email us at hello@buildthebenchva.org or click the unsubscribe link in the footer of an email from us. Please note that opting out or unsubscribing will not prevent you from receiving communications that are not marketing in nature, such as important notices about changes to our terms and policies. 

 

If you provide us with your mobile phone number, you consent to receiving calls and messages from Build the Bench, including possibly using autodialed and automated calls and messages. Message and data rates may apply. Frequency varies. If you wish to stop receiving calls and messages from us, please text STOP in response to any text message you receive from us.

 

We may also aggregate or de-identify information we collect from you so that it cannot reasonably identify you or your computer or device, or we may collect information that is already in de-identified form. Our use and disclosure of aggregated or de-identified information is not subject to any restrictions under this Privacy Policy, and we may, in our sole discretion, use and disclose such information for any lawful purpose.

 

When We Disclose Your Information

We may disclose your information to or with third parties under the following circumstances:

• With Consent. We may disclose your information to third parties with your consent or at your direction, consistent with applicable legal requirements.

• To Service Providers. We may provide access to or disclose your information with select third parties that perform services for us to help us run our organization. These may include, for example, entities that provide help desk software and email services, advertising, security, research and analytics, and legal services. 

• With Organizations with which we Collaborate and Other Select Entities. We may disclose your information (except for text messaging opt-in data and consent information) to other organizations with whom we may collaborate. 

• Protection of Build the Bench and Others. Build the Bench may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in a good faith belief that disclosure is permitted by this Privacy Policy or reasonably necessary or appropriate for any of the following reasons: 

  • to comply with legal process; 

  • to enforce this Policy, including investigation of potential violations thereof; 

  • to respond to claims that any content violates the rights of third parties; and/or 

  • to protect the rights, property, or personal safety of Build the Bench, its agents and affiliates, users, and the public. This includes exchanging information with other companies and organizations for fraud protection, spam/malware prevention, and similar purposes.

• Organizational Transfers. If we participate in a merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, or other transfer or reorganization of assets (including in contemplation thereof, e.g., due diligence), we may disclose your information because user information collected through the Services may be among the transferred assets. 

• Aggregated Data. We may disclose aggregated and de-identified information.

 

How We Protect Your Information

We use a variety of administrative, technical, and physical security measures designed to protect your information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These safeguards vary based on the sensitivity of the information that we collect and store. However, we cannot and do not guarantee that these measures will prevent every unauthorized attempt to access, use, or disclose your information because, despite our efforts, no Internet and/or other electronic transmissions can be completely secure.

 

Retention of Your information

We retain information for different periods of time depending on the purposes for which we collect and use it, as described in this Privacy Policy. We will delete or de-identify information when it is no longer needed to fulfill these purposes, unless a longer retention period is required to comply with applicable laws. There may be technical or other operational reasons where we are unable to fully delete or de-identify your information. Where this is the case, we will take reasonable measures to prevent further processing your information.

 

Legal Basis for Processing Personal Data

The laws in some jurisdictions require that website operators tell you about the legal grounds they rely on to use or disclose your information. To the extent those laws apply, our legal grounds for processing your information are as follows:

 

• Where use of your information is necessary to perform our obligations to you under a contract or commitment to you (for example, to provide the services you’ve requested from us, or to comply with our relevant legal terms);

• Where use of your information furthers our legitimate interests or the legitimate interests of others (for example, to provide security for our Services; to operate our organization and our Services; to defend our legal rights; to analyze the use of our Services; to improve our Services; and to prevent fraud);

• Where we have a reason to process the information in accordance with applicable law (for example, reporting security incidents);

• Where we have your consent to engage in a particular type of processing activity. 

 

For the purposes discussed in this Privacy Policy, we may combine the information that we collect through the Services with information that we receive from other sources, both online and offline, and use such combined information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

 

Online Analytics

We may use third-party web analytics services (such as those of Google Analytics) in connection with the Services to collect and analyze the information discussed above, and to engage in auditing, research, or reporting. The information (including your IP address) collected by various analytics technologies described in the “Information that Is Passively and Automatically Collected” section will be disclosed to or collected directly by these service providers, who use the information to evaluate your use of the Services, including by noting the third-party website from which you arrive, analyzing usage trends, assisting with fraud prevention, and providing certain features to you. Information about how Google uses information collected from sites that use its services is located at https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites. To prevent Google Analytics from using your information for analytics, you may install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on here: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

 

Privacy Rights

The Services are not intended for individuals located outside of the U.S. If you are a non-U.S. resident, you acknowledge that our collection and processing of personal information is subject to United States law, and that any personal information you provide to us shall be processed in the United States, where the laws and regulations may not provide the same level of data protection rights as in the jurisdiction in which you are located. 

 

We provide you with the ability to exercise certain controls and choices regarding our collection, use, and disclosure of your information. Depending on the laws in your jurisdiction of residence, you may request (i) access to or a copy of information that we hold about you in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format; (ii) general information about our processing activities; (iii) confirmation that we are processing your information; (iv) correction or rectification of your information; (v) deletion of your information; (vi) transfer of your information to a third party; (vii) information portability, where technically feasible; (viii) restriction or objection to certain processing of your information; and (ix) to withdraw your consent to our use of your information for certain processing purposes, where the processing purposes was based on your consent. 

 

We may ask you to provide us with information necessary to reasonably verify your identity before responding to your request. We will consider all requests and provide our response within the time period required by applicable law. Please note, however, that certain information may be exempt from such requests. If we deny your request, in whole or in part, you may have the right to appeal the decision. In such circumstances, we will provide you with information regarding the appeals process. To make a request, please contact us at hello@buildthebenchva.org. 

 

Please note that we do not use your information to make decisions that produce legal or similar effects based solely on the automated processing of your information. We also do not “sell” or disclose your information for online targeted advertising purposes.

 

Children’s Privacy

The Services are intended for general audiences and are not directed at children. If we become aware that we have collected information without legally valid parental consent from children under an age where such consent is required under applicable law, we will take reasonable steps to delete it as soon as possible. 

 

Third-Party Links and Services

The Services may contain links to third-party websites, applications, and other services. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of such other sites and services. The collection, use and disclosure of your information will be subject to the privacy policies of those third-party websites, applications, and services, not this Privacy Policy. Therefore, we encourage our users to be aware when they leave our Services and to read the privacy policies of every site, application, or service they visit that collects their information.

     

Do Not Track

Do Not Track (“DNT”) is a privacy preference that users can set in certain web browsers. Because standards around DNT are not yet determined, we do not currently recognize or respond to browser-initiated DNT signals.

 

Revisions to Privacy Policy

We will continue to review this Privacy Policy and we may make changes to the Policy from time to time. The date at the bottom of this page indicates the last time changes were made. You should check this page periodically for updates. If we make material changes to this Policy, we will provide you with notice as required by law. Your continued use of the Services will signify that you have read, understood, and accepted the terms of the updated Privacy Policy.

 

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, you can contact us by emailing us at hello@buildthebenchva.org. 

 

Last Updated: May 21, 2025