The Foster City Historical Society (“we,” “us,” or “our”) values your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or interact with our digital services.

1. Information We Collect

We only collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us or that is automatically generated during your visit to our site.

• Personal Information You Provide: When you join as a member, sign up for our newsletter, make a donation, register for an event, or contact us through our online forms, we may collect information such as your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, and payment details (processed securely via third-party processors).
• Automatic Usage Data: Like most websites, we may automatically collect non-identifiable information about how you interact with our site, including your IP address, browser type, device details, and pages visited.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect strictly to support the operational goals and mission of the Foster City Historical Society, specifically to:

• Process memberships, event registrations, and donations.
• Send newsletters, historical updates, and meeting announcements (if opted in).
• Respond to inquiries and historical research requests.
• Improve website functionality, accessibility, and user experience.

Our Commitment: We do not sell, rent, trade, or lease your personal information or email lists to third parties for commercial marketing purposes.

3. Cookies & Analytics

Our website may use cookies and basic web analytics (e.g., Google Analytics) to help us understand web traffic and visitor usage. You can choose to disable cookies through your individual browser settings without affecting your ability to view main site content.

4. Third-Party Service Providers

We may share necessary information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website and delivering services to you, such as:

• Payment Processors (e.g., PayPal, Stripe) for secure donations and memberships.
• Email Marketing Services (e.g., Mailchimp) to manage newsletter distributions.

These third parties have access to your personal information only to perform specific tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.

5. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational precautions to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure. However, please note that no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure.

6. External Links

Our website may contain links to external historical archives, local government resources, or partner organizations (such as the City of Foster City). We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of these external websites.

7. Your Choices & Rights

• Unsubscribe: You can opt out of receiving email newsletters or announcements at any time by clicking the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of our emails or by contacting us directly.
• Access & Correction: You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of the personal information we hold about you by contacting us.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Foster City Historical Society
P.O. Box 4592
Foster City, CA 94404
[email protected]