Privacy Policy

How we collect, use, and protect your information.

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 1, 2026 Last Updated: January 1, 2026

BridgeWorks ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of every individual who visits our website, participates in our programs, or interacts with our organization. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website at www.bridgeworks.org, use our online services, or engage with us in person.

By accessing our website or providing personal information to BridgeWorks, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the practices described herein, please discontinue use of our website and contact us with any concerns.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us, including but not limited to:

  • Contact information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address
  • Donation information: Payment details (processed securely through our third-party payment processor), donation amount, and billing address
  • Program application information: Name, date of birth, contact information, employment history, educational background, and information relevant to program eligibility
  • Volunteer and mentor application information: Name, contact information, professional background, and availability
  • Employer partner information: Company name, contact person, business address, industry, and hiring needs
  • Contact form submissions: Name, email address, phone number, subject, and message content
  • Event registration information: Name, contact information, dietary preferences, and accessibility needs
  • Newsletter subscriptions: Email address

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain technical information, including:

  • Device and browser information: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, and screen resolution
  • Usage data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, referring URL, click patterns, and navigation paths
  • Cookies and similar technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze website traffic, and understand user behavior. See the Cookies section below for more detail.

Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third-party sources, including:

  • Payment processors that confirm donation transactions
  • Social media platforms if you interact with our social media accounts
  • Referral partners (e.g., parole offices, social service agencies) who refer participants to our programs, with the referred individual's consent

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  • To process and acknowledge donations and provide tax receipts
  • To evaluate and process program, volunteer, and mentor applications
  • To communicate with you about programs, events, and opportunities
  • To send newsletters and organizational updates (with your consent)
  • To manage employer partnerships and coordinate job placements
  • To improve our website, programs, and services
  • To analyze website traffic and user behavior for operational improvements
  • To comply with legal obligations, including tax reporting and grant compliance
  • To protect the safety and security of our participants, staff, and systems

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Maintain session functionality and remember your preferences
  • Analyze website traffic through tools such as Google Analytics
  • Measure the effectiveness of our communications and outreach campaigns

Types of cookies we use:

  • Essential cookies: Required for basic website functionality such as navigation and form submissions
  • Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website so we can improve content and user experience
  • Marketing cookies: Used to deliver relevant content and measure campaign effectiveness

You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain features on our website.

How We Share Your Information

We may share your personal information in the following limited circumstances:

  • Service providers: We share information with trusted third-party vendors who assist us with payment processing, email delivery, website hosting, and data analytics. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.
  • Employer partners: With your explicit consent, we share participant information (resume, certifications, program completion status) with employer partners for the purpose of job matching and placement.
  • Legal requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, court order, or governmental request.
  • Organizational transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or reorganization, your information may be transferred to the successor organization.
  • Aggregate data: We may share anonymized, aggregate data (e.g., total website visitors, program enrollment numbers) in reports, grant applications, and public communications. This data does not identify any individual.

Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Specific retention periods include:

  • Donor records: Retained for a minimum of seven years for tax and audit compliance
  • Program participant records: Retained for a minimum of seven years after program completion
  • Website analytics data: Retained for up to 26 months
  • Contact form submissions: Retained for up to two years unless the inquiry leads to an ongoing relationship

When personal information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it.

Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. These measures include:

  • Encryption of sensitive data in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
  • Access controls limiting data access to authorized personnel
  • Regular security assessments and vulnerability testing
  • Staff training on data protection and privacy practices

No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

  • Access: You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
  • Correction: You may request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
  • Deletion: You may request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal and contractual retention requirements.
  • Opt-out of communications: You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email or contacting us directly.
  • Cookie preferences: You may manage cookie settings through your browser.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the information provided below.

Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including employer partner sites, social media platforms, and payment processors. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or operational needs. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Us for Privacy Concerns

If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:

BridgeWorks Privacy Officer 1200 Opportunity Drive, Suite 400 Columbus, OH 43215 Email: privacy@bridgeworks.org Phone: (555) 234-5678

We will respond to all privacy-related inquiries within 30 business days.