Our Commitment to Your Privacy

American Atheists (“we,” “us,” or “our”) takes your privacy seriously. This policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and what choices you have.

This policy covers information collected through our website, apps, online forms, and portals (our “Sites”), as well as through your offline interactions with us.

By using our Sites, you agree to this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Service. Our Sites may link to third-party websites — those sites have their own privacy policies, and we encourage you to read them.

“Personal information” means any information that identifies you or could reasonably be linked to you.

What Information We Collect

What you give us directly.

When you become a member, donate, attend an event, buy merchandise, fill out a survey, or sign up for email updates, you may share:

  • Contact details (name, email, mailing address, phone number)
  • Account credentials (username and password)
  • Employment or education information (employer, job title)
  • Demographic information
  • Location data, if you enable it on a mobile app
  • Other information you choose to share, which may include sensitive details like race, ethnicity, health conditions, gender identity, or sexual orientation

Payment information (credit card, bank account details) is handled by a third-party payment processor, not stored directly by us.

What we collect automatically.

When you visit our Sites, we automatically collect certain technical data, including your IP address, browser type, general location (city/state/zip), and how you navigate our pages. We use cookies and similar tracking tools to understand how people use our Sites and to improve your experience. See the Cookies section below for more.

What we get from other sources.

We may receive basic contact information (name, email, mailing address) from partner organizations and public sources. We use this information to send you updates, action alerts, and information about our work.

What we collect in person.

If you visit our offices or attend an event, we may collect your name, address, phone number, or government ID for check-in and security purposes. We also use security cameras in our facilities. We don’t share this information with third parties for marketing purposes.

Cookies & Tracking

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. We use them to keep you logged in, understand how our Sites are used, and personalize your experience.

We may also use web beacons (tiny images) and track activity across pages to improve our content and communications.

Managing cookies: You can manage or block cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect how some parts of our Sites work. Our Sites don’t currently respond to browser “Do Not Track” signals, but we are working to recognize Colorado’s Universal Opt-Out Mechanism.

How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

  • Communicate with you about our work, campaigns, and events
  • Process donations, memberships, and merchandise orders
  • Send newsletters, action alerts, and fundraising appeals
  • Help you take civic action (like contacting your representatives or signing a petition)
  • Analyze and improve our Sites and programs
  • Protect the safety and security of our organization and members
  • Comply with legal obligations

We may also create anonymized, aggregate data that cannot identify any individual.

How We Share Your Information

We share your information only in the following circumstances:

Service providers.

We work with vendors who help us process payments, run our website, provide customer service, and support our operations. They are only allowed to use your information for the specific service they’re performing for us.

Other users.

Content you post publicly on our Sites — like comments or messages — may be visible to other visitors.

Law enforcement and legal requirements.

We may disclose your information when required by law, court order, or legal process.

Safety and fraud prevention.

We may share information when necessary to investigate fraud, protect someone’s safety, or protect our organization’s rights and property.

Organizational changes.

If American Atheists undergoes a significant organizational change, your information may be part of that transition.

A few important things we never do.

  • We do not sell your personal information.
  • We do not share your data for cross-context behavioral advertising.
  • We do not share your mobile phone information with third parties for marketing purposes.

How Long We Keep Your Information

We keep your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law. We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your data — but no system is perfectly secure. If you believe your information has been compromised, please contact us right away.

SMS Messages

By opting into SMS from a web form or other medium, you are agreeing to receive occasional and periodic SMS messages from American Atheists. This includes SMS messages for conversations, promotions, action alerts, and other reasons. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Message HELP for help. Reply STOP to any message to opt out.

Managing Communications from Us

You may receive communications from us if you’ve signed up, donated, attended an event, become a member, or had your information shared by a partner organization.

You can opt out of promotional emails, texts, or mailings at any time — just use the unsubscribe link in our emails or reply STOP to any text. Please allow up to 10 days for us to process your request.

Note: Some communications — like service notices and administrative updates — are not optional, as they relate to your account or membership.

Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

  • Know what personal information we’ve collected about you
  • Access a copy of your data
  • Delete your personal information
  • Correct inaccurate information
  • Restrict how we use your data
  • Opt out of data sales or targeted advertising

These rights apply to residents of California and many other U.S. states with comprehensive privacy laws, as well as individuals in many countries outside the U.S. Even if you’re not in one of those places, we’ll consider any request you make.

To submit a request, contact us using the information below. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling your request. You may also designate an authorized agent to make a request on your behalf.

California residents may also request (once per year, free of charge) a list of any personal information we’ve shared with third parties for direct marketing purposes under California’s Shine the Light law.

Children

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe your child has provided us information, please contact us and we will delete it.

International Visitors

Our servers are located in the United States. If you access our Sites from outside the U.S., your information will be transferred to and processed in the U.S. under U.S. law.

Updates to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we’ll revise the “last updated” date at the top of this page. For significant changes, we’ll notify you by email or by posting a prominent notice on our Sites.

Contact Us

To exercise your privacy rights or submit a data request:
[email protected]

For questions about this policy or our data practices:
[email protected]

Or by mail or phone:
American Atheists
PO Box 1010
Cranford, NJ 07016
908.276.7300