Privacy Policy
Overview
New Hope Cancer Support Foundation, Inc. ("New Hope," "we," "us," or "our") is a nonprofit organization based in Columbus, Nebraska. We are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of everyone who interacts with our organization -- including patients, caregivers, volunteers, donors, and website visitors.
This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and what rights you have. It applies to information collected through our website at newhopecolumbus.org, our assistance application process, our volunteer and contact forms, and any other direct interactions with our organization.
By using our website or submitting information to us, you agree to the practices described in this policy.
Information We Collect
We collect information in two ways: information you give us directly, and information collected automatically when you visit our website.
Information you provide to us
Contact information -- your name, email address, phone number, and city and state, when you fill out any form on our website
Assistance application information -- your cancer diagnosis type, your current situation, the type of support you are seeking, and any other details you share in your application
Volunteer information -- your name, contact details, and your reasons for wanting to get involved
Donor information -- name, contact information, and payment details when you make a donation (payment processing is handled by a third-party provider; we do not store full payment card details)
Communications -- any messages, emails, or other correspondence you send us directly
Information collected automatically
Usage data -- pages visited, time spent on the site, and general browsing behavior, collected through standard website analytics tools
Device information -- browser type, operating system, and IP address
Cookies -- small files placed on your device to help the site function and improve your experience (see Section 7)
We only collect information that is necessary for the purpose it is being gathered for. We do not collect more than we need.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
To review and respond to assistance applications
To coordinate the delivery of gift cards, wig referrals, and other support services
To follow up with volunteers and connect them with opportunities
To respond to questions, inquiries, and messages sent to us
To process donations and send acknowledgment receipts
To send occasional updates about New Hope programs and events, where you have expressed interest in hearing from us
To improve our website and better understand how people use it
To comply with our legal obligations as a nonprofit organization
We will not use your information for any purpose that contradicts the reason you originally provided it.
Sharing Your Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. Ever. We share information only in the following limited circumstances:
Partner organizations
When you request a referral to one of our partner organizations -- such as Karla's Krowns for wig support -- we may share your name and contact information with that partner solely for the purpose of fulfilling your request. We will always tell you when this is happening and will not make a referral without your knowledge.
Service providers
We work with a small number of trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our website, process donations, and manage communications. These providers are contractually prohibited from using your information for any purpose other than the service they provide to us.
Legal requirements
We may disclose information if required to do so by law, or if we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to comply with a legal obligation, protect the rights or safety of our organization or others, or respond to a lawful request from a government authority.
We will never share your personal or health-related information with advertisers, data brokers, or any third party for commercial purposes.
Health Information
Some of the information you share with us -- such as your cancer diagnosis or treatment situation -- is sensitive health information. We treat this information with the highest level of care and confidentiality.
This information is used solely to evaluate your request for assistance and to connect you with appropriate support. It is reviewed only by members of our team who are directly involved in processing your application.
Please note that as a nonprofit support organization, New Hope Cancer Support Foundation is not a covered healthcare entity under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). However, we voluntarily uphold the spirit of those protections and handle all health-related information with strict confidentiality.
Health information you share with us will never be shared with employers, insurers, or any party not directly involved in fulfilling your request for support.
Data Security
We take reasonable and appropriate measures to protect the personal information we collect from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. These measures include:
Encrypted data transmission (SSL/TLS) on all forms and pages of our website
Limiting access to personal information to team members who need it to do their work
Using reputable, security-conscious third-party platforms for form submissions and donation processing
Regularly reviewing our data practices as our organization grows
No method of data transmission or storage is completely secure. While we do our best to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. If you have concerns about sharing sensitive information online, you are always welcome to contact us directly by phone.
Cookies & Website Use
Our website uses cookies -- small text files stored on your device -- to help the site function and to understand how visitors use it. We use cookies for the following purposes:
Essential cookies -- required for the website to function; these cannot be disabled
Analytics cookies -- help us understand which pages are visited and how people navigate the site, so we can improve the experience
We do not use advertising or tracking cookies. We do not build advertising profiles based on your browsing behavior.
You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some functionality of the website but will not prevent you from accessing content or submitting forms.
Your Rights
You have the right to:
Access the personal information we hold about you
Correct any information that is inaccurate or incomplete
Request deletion of your personal information, subject to any legal obligations we may have to retain certain records
Withdraw consent for any communications you have opted into, at any time
Ask questions about how your information is being used
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 11. We will respond to all requests within a reasonable timeframe and at no cost to you.
Children's Privacy
Our website and services are not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental or guardian consent.
If a child under 13 is the patient on whose behalf an assistance application is submitted, we collect only the information provided by a parent, guardian, or authorized adult caregiver. That information is handled with the same confidentiality as all other personal information.
If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, please contact us and we will take steps to delete it promptly.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time as our organization grows or as legal requirements change. 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. Continued use of our website or services after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
For significant changes that affect how we handle sensitive information, we will make reasonable efforts to notify affected individuals directly.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise your rights, or have concerns about how your information has been handled, please reach out. We are a small team and we take these matters seriously.