Last Updated: June 30, 2026

Peer Minds (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of our website visitors, donors, volunteers, and program participants. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website https://peerminds.org/ (the “Website”) or apply for our peer mentorship programs.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us when you interact with our Website, fill out forms, or communicate with us.

A. Personal Information You Provide:

• Program Applications (Mentors & Mentees): Name, email address, age/date of birth, location, background information, interest areas, and heritage/cultural affiliation (shared voluntarily to assist with cultural matching).

• Donations: Peer Minds may receive your name, email address, billing information, donation amount, and transaction details. The payment provider collects and processes payment card information directly, and Peer Minds does not store it. (Note: Our third-party payment processors securely process payment details; we do not store your credit card information on our servers).

• Contact & Newsletters: Name and email address when you sign up for updates or submit an inquiry.

B. Automatically Collected Information:

When you visit the Website, our servers automatically record standard log data, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring pages, and the dates/times of your visits. We may use cookies to improve website functionality and user experience.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to advance our nonprofit mission, specifically to:

• Review mentor and mentee interest forms, communicate program updates, and support future screening or matching if the mentorship pilot becomes active.

• Communicate with you regarding program updates, newsletter subscriptions, or inquiries.

• Process secure financial donations and issue tax-deductible receipts.

• Monitor, analyze, and improve website performance, security, and usability.

• Comply with legal obligations, grant reporting mandates, or non-profit compliance standards.

3. Children’s Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

Our mission deeply involves youth and young adults. We take the privacy of minors seriously and comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

• Under 13: We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children under the age of 13 without verified parental or guardian consent. If a child under 13 has provided us with personal data through online forms, we will delete that information immediately upon discovery.

• Parental Rights: Parents or legal guardians have the right to review, request the deletion of, or refuse further collection of their child’s personal information. To exercise these rights, please contact us at info@peerminds.org.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We respect your privacy. We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We only share your data under the following limited circumstances:

• Third-Party Service Providers: We share data with trusted service providers who help us operate our website, handle email delivery, or securely process donations (e.g., WordPress plugins, Stripe, or PayPal). These providers are legally bound to keep your data confidential.

• Program Matching: Basic connection details (such as first name and email) are shared between approved peer mentors and mentees once a verified, consented match is made.

• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required to do so by law, court order, or to protect the safety, rights, and security of our users, volunteers, or the public.

5. Data Security

We implement a variety of administrative, technical, and physical security measures (including SSL encryption across our entire domain) to maintain the safety of your personal information. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Data Rights and Opt-Out Options

Depending on your location, you may have specific rights regarding your personal data, including:

• Access & Correction: The right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you or request corrections to inaccurate info.

• Deletion: The right to request that we delete your personal info from our active active files.

• Opt-Out: You can unsubscribe from our newsletters or marketing communications at any time by clicking the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of our emails or contacting us directly.

7. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. We will notify you of any changes by updating the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

8. Contacting Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, please reach out to us:

• Email: info@peerminds.org

• Headquarters: New York, NY, USA