Privacy Policy & Code of Ethics

Privacy Policy

College Track (“CT”) is committed to protecting the privacy of its supporters, including our donors, volunteers, employees and other stakeholders. We value the trust of those we deal with and of the public, and we recognize that maintaining this trust requires us to be transparent and accountable in maintaining the confidentiality of the personal information you choose to share with us.

This privacy policy statement outlines the principles that College Track applies in order to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of your personal information.

Information We Collect

Anonymous Information – CT may collect anonymous information about users who visit our website and aggregate this anonymous information for statistical analysis. 

  • CT uses cookies from third-parties to analyze trends in how our website is accessed and utilized. Information monitored includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, geographic location of visitors (country, city), browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, time spent on pages, and keywords used to find our site via search engines. This information is anonymous and cannot be directly linked to individual users. 
    • We use Google Analytics to help us understand how people use our website.  The information is anonymous and is only used for statistical purposes, and it helps us to analyze patterns of user activity and develop a better user experience. 

Personally Identifiable Information – Personally Identifiable Information (“PII” or “Your Information”) is any representation of information that permits your identity to be reasonably inferred by either direct or indirect means. 

  • If you provide CT with personal information when you visit our website, we may enter your information into one of our databases so we can contact you to obtain your input, provide information about our services and events, or request donations.
  • PII can also be collected from volunteers and publicly available sources.
  • CT does not sell, trade, or share our supporters’ personally identifiable information with any other entity. 

How We Collect Your Information – Your right to privacy is important to us.  We will not sell, rent, loan or otherwise share any personally identifying information you provide with any individual or organization. CT collects your Information only when you voluntarily provide it to us in the following ways:  

  • Register on our website and/or donor online systems;
  • Register for one of our of events;
  • Fill out a form, survey or application;
  • Make a donation;
  • Respond to other communications for us to better understand your interests and needs.

All information provided through our website is transmitted using SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption to provide security and privacy when you access fund information, initiate online fund transactions or send secure messages.

Limiting Use and Disclosure – We will limit the amount and type of personal information collected to that which is necessary, and will only collect personal information by fair and lawful means. Personal information will not be used or disclosed for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual or as required by law.

No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All other categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.

How Long We Keep Your Information – We keep your personal information for as long as necessary to accomplish the uses described in this Policy, and as consistent with applicable law. 

Information We Share to the Public

CT adheres to the highest standards of ethical practices in our operations, and is dedicated to protecting the privacy of all our online users. 

Please note that lists of our donors, other than those published in the annual report, are not available to the public; and we do not reveal the name of anonymous donors or funds to the recipient of a grant. CT complies with all provisions regarding public information under Internal Revenue Code 6104.

No Liability for Acts of Third Parties

Although CT will use all reasonable efforts to safeguard the confidentiality of Your Information, transmissions made by means of the Internet cannot be made absolutely secure. CT will have no liability for disclosure of Your Information due to errors in transmission or unauthorized acts of third parties.

Your Consent

By using our website, you consent to our privacy policy.  We reserve the right to modify or amend the terms of this privacy policy without notice. Your continued use of our website following the posting of changes to this privacy policy will mean you accept those changes. 

Opt-Out

If you would like to revoke your consent (where applicable), you can do so by contacting us at:

483 9th Street, Ste. 200, Oakland, CA 94607 or email us at: privacy@collegetrack.org

CT reserves the right, in its sole discretion and without any obligation, to modify or correct any errors or omissions in any portion of the website, including its terms of use and privacy policy.

Last revised: 11.20.22

Statement of Principles and Code of Ethics*

College Track conducts its mission within the highest standards of ethical behavior, exceeding the standards required by law. As a nonprofit public benefit corporation organized under the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable purposes, College Track adheres to the principles stated below. All of these principles provide a foundation for the Code of Ethics that follows.

Our Nine Principles

College Track’s Code of Ethics integrates the following principles:

  1. Putting our student’s well-being and success first
  2. Commitment to excellence
  3. Commitment to maintaining ethical standards
  4. Respect for the worth and dignity of individuals
  5. Inclusiveness, pluralism, diversity, equality of opportunity, and social justice
  6. Transparency, integrity and honesty
  7. Responsible stewardship of resources
  8. Compassion
  9. Accountability to the public, donors, beneficiaries and all stakeholders

Our Code of Ethics

I. Personal and Professional Integrity

All stakeholders in College Track (students and families, staff, board members, volunteers, suppliers and others interacting with the organization) act with honesty, integrity and openness. College Track promotes a working environment that principles respect, fairness and integrity.

II. Mission

College Track has a clearly stated mission and purpose, approved by the board of directors, in pursuit of the public good as follows: Empower students from underserved communities to graduate from college.

All of its programs support that mission and all who work for or on behalf of the organization understand and prioritize that mission and purpose. The mission is responsive to the constituency and communities served by the organization and of value to society at large. The mission rests on a foundational goal of empowering others.

III. Governance

College Track’s Board of Directors sets the mission and strategic direction and hires, dismisses and regularly evaluates performance of the chief executive officer. The Board of Directors prudently oversees its finances, operations, executive compensation,and policies (including conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest). The Board of Directors also

  • Recruits members who have the requisite skills to carry out their governance responsibilities for the benefit of College Track
  • Engages the chief executive officer and staff to provide the Board of Directors with timely and comprehensive information to carry out its duties effectively
  • Implements practices to verify with senior management that College Track conducts all transactions and dealings with integrity and honesty and in accordance with this Code
  • Adopts policies (officially and in writing) and promotes a working environment requiring working relationships with board members, staff, volunteers, and program beneficiaries that are based on this Code

IV. Legal Compliance

College Track is knowledgeable of and complies with all applicable laws and regulations.

V. Fundraising and Responsible Stewardship

College Track thoughtfully stewards its donors, resources and other relationships. College Track expends funds responsibly and consistently with donor intent and respects the privacy and confidentiality of individual donors as appropriate. College Track also

  • Implements policies and practices requiring all relationships with individuals representing College Track to be professional in nature
  • Spends a reasonable percentage of its annual budget on: mission-related programs; administrative expenses to ensure effective financial oversight, competent staff, and professional advising; and reasonable and appropriate staff compensation
  • Regularly reviews all spending practices and policies (including those relating to fundraising) for fairness, reasonableness and appropriateness to fulfilling its mission.

VI. Openness and Disclosure

College Track strives to provide comprehensive and timely information that is accurate in all material respects to the public, donors and potential donors, the media, and all stakeholders. College Track strives to respond in a timely manner to reasonable requests for information.

VII. Inclusiveness and Diversity

College Track has a policy of promoting inclusiveness and diversity. College Track takes meaningful steps to promote inclusiveness and diversity in its hiring, retention, promotion, board recruitment and constituencies served.

VIII. Listening and Speaking Up

College Track prioritizes listening to others and promotes an environment conducive to free expression of diverse and dissenting points of view. Based in large part on the Independent Sector Model Statement of Values and Code of Ethics for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Organizations.

*Based in large part on the Independent Sector Model Statement of Values and Code of Ethics for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Organizations.