Privacy Policy
Last updated: April 16, 2026
1. Introduction
Zero Balance Fund ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website at https://zerobalancefund.org and use our services.
2. Information We Collect
Personal Information
We may collect the following personal information:
- Name and email address when you create an account
- Contact information when you submit a contact form
- Financial information related to donations (processed securely through Stripe)
- Student loan details if you submit an application for assistance
- Documents you upload in support of an application
Automatically Collected Information
When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, and pages viewed. We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Process donations and issue tax receipts
- Review and process applications for student loan assistance
- Communicate with you about your account, donations, or applications
- Send transactional emails (receipts, status updates, confirmations)
- Improve our website and services
- Comply with legal obligations and nonprofit reporting requirements
4. Information Sharing
We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share information with:
- Payment processors (Stripe) to process donations securely
- Loan servicers to disburse approved payments on behalf of applicants
- Service providers who assist us in operating our website and services, subject to confidentiality agreements
- Legal authorities when required by law or to protect our rights
5. Donor Privacy
We respect donor privacy. Donors may choose to give anonymously. We will never publicly disclose a donor's identity or donation amount without their explicit consent. Donor information is kept confidential and used only for transaction processing, tax receipts, and communication about Zero Balance Fund.
6. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures including encryption, secure connections (HTTPS), and access controls to protect your personal information. However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
7. Cookies
Our website uses cookies to maintain your session, remember your preferences, and analyze site usage. You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect your ability to use certain features of our website.
8. Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate information
- Request deletion of your personal information
- Opt out of non-essential communications
- Request a copy of your data in a portable format
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@zerobalancefund.org.
9. Children's Privacy
Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
11. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at privacy@zerobalancefund.org or through our contact page.