The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls
Privacy Statement
Effective Date: 1/16/2024
Last Updated: 4/23/2026
The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls (“The National Council,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to respecting privacy and protecting the personal information of people who visit our websites, support our work, participate in our programs, engage with our campaigns, or otherwise provide information to us.
This Privacy Statement explains what information we collect through websites and online services operated by The National Council, how we use and share that information, the measures we take to protect it, and the choices available to you regarding your information.
This Privacy Statement applies to nationalcouncil.us, freehercampaign.org, and other websites or online services operated by The National Council that link to this Privacy Statement, including National Council programs, initiatives, and campaigns where applicable.
Certain programs, campaigns, services, or third-party platforms may provide additional privacy notices or terms that apply to information collected through those services.
This Privacy Statement does not govern independently operated third-party websites or platforms where The National Council maintains a presence, including social media platforms. Those services maintain their own privacy policies and practices.
Privacy and the Internet
When you use websites, applications, search engines, social media platforms, and other online services, website operators and third-party technology providers may collect information about your device and online activity.
Like most organizations operating online, The National Council uses technology necessary to operate our websites, communicate with supporters, process transactions, understand how our websites are used, and conduct our advocacy and organizational activities.
We seek to collect and use personal information responsibly and to limit its collection, use, disclosure, and retention consistent with our organizational needs, mission, legal obligations, and the purposes described in this Privacy Statement.
Data We Collect
We may collect information that you provide directly to us as well as certain information collected automatically when you interact with our websites and online services.
Information You Provide Directly
You may choose to provide information such as your:
name;
mailing address;
email address;
telephone number;
payment or transaction information;
communication preferences;
volunteer information;
event registration information;
petition or advocacy information;
information submitted through applications, surveys, forms, or questionnaires; and
other information you voluntarily provide to us.
You may provide this information when, for example, you:
make a donation;
purchase an item;
subscribe to email or other communications;
sign a petition or pledge;
register for an event;
volunteer;
participate in a campaign or program;
submit an application;
respond to a survey;
contact us;
provide feedback; or
otherwise engage with The National Council.
Third-party payment processors may process payment transactions. Depending upon the service used, The National Council may not directly receive or store complete payment-card information.
Sensitive Personal Information
Because of the nature of our advocacy, research, organizing, and direct-support work, you may choose to provide particularly sensitive information.
This may include information concerning incarceration or criminal legal system involvement, legal matters, health or disability, family circumstances, financial hardship, immigration-related concerns, personal experiences, or other information you choose to share with us.
We seek to collect sensitive personal information only when reasonably necessary for our work or when you voluntarily provide it to us.
We use such information for the purposes for which it was provided and for related organizational purposes reasonably necessary to carry out our mission, programs, advocacy, research, or services.
We do not disclose sensitive personal information to unrelated third parties for their independent marketing purposes.
When disclosure is reasonably necessary to provide a service, operate a program, comply with law, or carry out a purpose you have requested or authorized, we seek to limit the information disclosed to what is reasonably necessary.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our websites, certain information may be automatically received or recorded by service providers acting on our behalf or by us.
Depending upon the technologies being used, this information may include:
IP address;
browser type;
device type;
operating system;
referring website or URL;
pages viewed;
approximate geographic information derived from an IP address;
date and time of visits;
interactions with website features; and
cookie, analytics, or similar technical information.
We may use cookies and similar technologies to operate our websites, remember preferences, understand website usage, improve performance, measure communications, and support our advocacy and outreach activities.
Email Communications
When you subscribe to our emails or otherwise receive electronic communications from us, our email service providers may collect information concerning delivery, opens, link clicks, and other interactions with those communications.
We may use this information to evaluate the effectiveness of our communications and better understand the information and opportunities that may be useful or relevant to our supporters.
You may unsubscribe from non-transactional email communications by using the unsubscribe link contained in those emails or by contacting us.
Third-Party Links and Hosted Content
Our websites may contain links to websites, social media platforms, videos, forms, payment services, applications, or other content operated or hosted by third parties.
When you interact with third-party content or services, those third parties may collect information according to their own privacy policies and practices.
For example, embedded videos, social media features, payment systems, event platforms, or other third-party technologies may use cookies or similar technologies.
The National Council does not control the independent privacy practices of third-party websites or platforms.
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of third-party services before providing them with personal information.
Our Data Practices
How We Use Information
We may use information collected through our websites, programs, campaigns, and other activities to:
process donations, purchases, registrations, and other transactions;
communicate with you about The National Council and its programs, campaigns, advocacy, research, events, and activities;
provide information you request;
administer programs and volunteer activities;
organize events and advocacy actions;
process applications;
conduct research and analysis;
understand and engage our supporters and communities;
improve our websites, programs, communications, and services;
measure website and communication performance;
conduct fundraising;
protect the security and integrity of our systems;
prevent fraud, misuse, or unauthorized activity;
maintain appropriate organizational and financial records;
comply with legal, regulatory, tax, accounting, and reporting obligations; and
carry out other purposes disclosed to you when information is collected or with your authorization.
Petitions, Advocacy Actions, and Messages to Public Officials
When you sign a petition, submit a public pledge, send a message to an advocacy target, or participate in another advocacy action, we may share information associated with your action with the intended recipient.
For example, when you ask us to deliver a message to a public official, government agency, institution, company, or other advocacy target, we may include information necessary to identify you as the sender or supporter.
Where applicable, we may also display limited information associated with public petitions or actions, such as a first name, last initial, city, or state.
We will seek to provide appropriate notice at or near the point of collection when we publicly display information or transmit it to another organization or advocacy target.
We Do Not Sell Personal Information
The National Council does not sell personal information to unrelated third parties for their independent commercial or marketing purposes.
Information Sharing With Other Organizations
From time to time, we may collaborate with nonprofit organizations, advocacy partners, coalitions, researchers, service providers, or other organizations whose work advances or supports our mission.
When a collaboration involves disclosing personal information, we seek to limit the information shared to what is reasonably necessary for the activity and to provide notice or obtain consent when appropriate.
When you take an action intended to communicate with another person or organization, for example, signing a petition directed to a public official or participating in a joint campaign, we may provide the information necessary to carry out the action you requested.
When appropriate, we will disclose this at or near the point where we collect the information.
We do not knowingly provide sensitive personal information concerning an individual's incarceration, legal matters, health, family circumstances, immigration-related concerns, or other similarly sensitive matters to unrelated organizations for their independent fundraising or marketing purposes.
Targeted Communications and Digital Platforms
We may use communications, advertising, social media, and other digital platforms to communicate with people who have expressed interest in our work or to reach audiences who may be interested in our mission.
In connection with these activities, we may provide certain information to service providers that help us deliver, measure, or improve communications.
Where appropriate, we may transform, match, hash, aggregate, or otherwise process information provided for these purposes through technologies designed to reduce unnecessary disclosure of directly identifying information.
Third-party digital platforms also govern their privacy practices through their own terms and privacy policies.
How We Work With Service Providers
We use service providers to help operate our organization and conduct activities described in this Privacy Statement.
Service providers may assist us with services such as:
website hosting;
database and information management;
payment processing;
fundraising;
email and text communications;
event registration;
volunteer coordination;
analytics;
advocacy tools;
surveys;
research;
information technology; and
security.
When service providers have access to personal information on our behalf, we seek to use providers appropriate to the nature of the services they perform and the information involved.
Where appropriate, we seek contractual or other commitments requiring providers to protect personal information and use it for authorized purposes.
We select service providers based on considerations that may include their publicly available privacy and security practices, contractual commitments, reputation, functionality, and the nature and sensitivity of the information involved.
Because third-party technologies, practices, and terms may change over time, we may periodically reassess service providers and our use of their services as appropriate.
Service providers may use aggregated or de-identified information for purposes such as analytics, benchmarking, security, or improvement of their services when permitted by their agreements and applicable law.
Volunteer and Community Programs
Our volunteer and community-organizing programs, including Re-Imagining Communities where applicable, may use third-party platforms and digital tools to support activities such as communications, event scheduling, volunteer coordination, organizing, and information management.
These service providers maintain their own privacy, security, and data-handling practices, which may differ from ours.
We seek to select and use service providers appropriate to the services they perform and the information involved. Where appropriate, we also seek to limit the personal information provided to these services to what is reasonably necessary to support the applicable program or activity.
Information provided when participating in volunteer programs may be used to communicate with you, coordinate volunteer activities, identify opportunities for participation, and administer the applicable program.
When necessary for volunteer coordination, we may share limited information with staff, authorized volunteers, organizers, or service providers involved in administering the program.
Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, support our programs and organizational operations, maintain appropriate records, comply with legal, tax, accounting, and reporting obligations, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and protect the security and integrity of our systems.
Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information, the program or activity through which it was collected, our legal obligations, and our legitimate organizational needs.
When personal information is no longer reasonably necessary for these purposes, we may delete, de-identify, or securely dispose of it, subject to applicable legal and operational requirements.
Your Privacy Choices and Rights
We believe you should have meaningful choices regarding personal information you provide to us.
Depending upon the circumstances and applicable law, you may contact us to request that we:
provide information about personal information we maintain about you;
correct inaccurate or outdated personal information;
delete certain personal information when we no longer have a legitimate or legal reason to retain it;
update your communication preferences; or
stop certain uses or disclosures of your personal information.
We may take reasonable steps to verify a request before providing access to, correcting, or deleting personal information in order to protect against unauthorized access or disclosure.
We may need to retain certain information despite a deletion request, including information necessary to comply with legal, tax, accounting, reporting, security, fraud-prevention, recordkeeping, contractual, or other legitimate organizational obligations.
You may unsubscribe from non-transactional email communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link contained in those communications.
Questions or requests concerning personal information may be submitted to:
info@thecouncil.us - Subject: PRIVACY
Legal Requests and Required Disclosures
We may disclose personal information when we reasonably believe disclosure is required by applicable law, valid legal process, court order, or governmental reporting obligation.
Where legally permitted and appropriate under the circumstances, we may notify an affected individual before disclosing personal information in response to legal process so the individual has an opportunity to seek appropriate legal protection.
We may also evaluate requests for personal information and, where appropriate and legally permissible, seek clarification, limitation, modification, or other appropriate relief when we believe a request is overly broad, legally insufficient, or inconsistent with the privacy interests of the people and communities we serve.
Nothing in this Privacy Statement should be interpreted as a promise to disclose information that we are not legally required or otherwise authorized to disclose.
We may also disclose information when reasonably necessary to protect the rights, safety, property, or security of The National Council, our systems, or others, consistent with applicable law.
Security Measures and Data Transmission
We use physical, administrative, organizational, and technical measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, misuse, or loss.
The safeguards appropriate for particular information may vary depending upon the nature and sensitivity of the information, how it is collected and stored, and the systems through which it is processed.
We seek to use secure transmission technologies where appropriate and require or expect service providers handling personal information on our behalf to maintain reasonable safeguards appropriate to the services they provide.
Although we take reasonable measures designed to protect personal information, no website, information system, electronic transmission, or method of data storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure. We therefore cannot guarantee the absolute security of information transmitted to, from, or maintained by us.
If we become aware of a security incident involving personal information, we will evaluate the incident and take responsive measures that we determine are appropriate under the circumstances and as required by applicable law.
Because ordinary email and other electronic communications are not inherently secure, please avoid sending highly sensitive personal information through ordinary email unless specifically requested and an appropriate transmission method has been provided.
Children's Privacy
Our websites are intended for a general audience and are not directed to children under 13.
We do not knowingly collect personal information online directly from children under 13 without appropriate authorization where required by law.
Our programs and advocacy may involve issues affecting children and families, and adults may provide information concerning children in connection with those activities. We seek to handle such information with appropriate care and use it only for legitimate organizational, programmatic, advocacy, legal, or other purposes for which it was provided.
If you believe that a child under 13 has provided personal information directly to us through our websites without appropriate authorization, please contact us at info@thecouncil.us - Subject: CHILDREN’S PRIVACY.
Communication Preferences
You may choose to stop receiving certain communications from The National Council at any time.
For email communications, you may use the unsubscribe link contained in the footer of applicable messages.
For text messages, you may follow the opt-out instructions provided in the message.
You may also contact us at info@theconcil.us - Subject: COMMUNICATIONS PREFERENCES to request changes to your communication preferences.
Please understand that even after opting out of promotional, fundraising, or advocacy communications, we may still send communications that are reasonably necessary to complete transactions, administer programs in which you participate, respond to requests, maintain records, or provide legally required notices.
Changes to This Privacy Statement
We may update this Privacy Statement from time to time to reflect changes in our programs, practices, technology, legal obligations, or other circumstances.
When we update this Privacy Statement, we will post the revised version on our website and update the effective or “Last Updated” date.
If we make material changes, we may provide additional notice when appropriate.
Your continued use of our websites after an updated Privacy Statement becomes effective is subject to the revised statement as permitted by applicable law.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Statement, our privacy practices, or personal information you have provided to The National Council, please contact us:
The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls
Email: info@thecouncil.us
Mail: The National Council, C/O Communications - 100 Warren Street, Boston, MA 02119
For general organizational inquiries, please visit nationalcouncil.us.