Last updated: June 10, 2026
WestNet Humanitarian Services (“WHS,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of the personal information entrusted to us by our donors, volunteers, beneficiaries, partners, and website visitors. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and your rights regarding your data.
WHS is a registered non-profit operating in Canada (CRA Charity 720627231RR0001), the United States (IRS 501(c)(3) EIN 98-1896282), and internationally. This policy applies to all personal information collected through our websites (westnet.ngo, westnet.ca/humanity), donation platforms, email communications, and offline interactions.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Information You Provide
- Donor Information: Name, email address, mailing address, phone number, and payment information (credit/debit card number, PayPal account) when you make a donation.
- Contact Inquiries: Name, email, and message content when you submit a contact form or email us.
- Volunteer Applications: Name, contact details, skills, availability, and any information you choose to provide.
- Corporate/Partner Inquiries: Organization name, contact person, role, and partnership interest details.
- Event Registration: Name, contact details, dietary or accessibility requirements where applicable.
1.2 Information Collected Automatically
- Device & Browser Data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, screen resolution, and referring URL.
- Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, clicks, and navigation paths.
- Geolocation: Approximate location derived from your IP address, used to display relevant content (e.g., currency, language) and comply with regional regulations.
- Cookies & Local Storage: We use cookies and browser local storage to remember your form inputs (name, address) for convenience and to enable basic site analytics. We do not use third-party advertising cookies.
1.3 Payment Information
Credit card and payment details are processed securely by our third-party payment processors (Stripe, PayPal). We do not store complete credit card numbers on our servers. We retain only the last four digits, card type, and transaction reference for receipt and audit purposes.
2. How We Use Your Information
- Process donations and issue tax receipts as required by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
- Send donation confirmations, receipts, and periodic updates about how your contribution is being used (you may opt out at any time).
- Respond to your inquiries and provide requested information about our programs and services.
- Improve our website and services based on aggregate usage patterns.
- Comply with legal obligations, including financial reporting, audit requirements, and anti-fraud measures.
- Communicate about humanitarian emergencies, campaigns, and organizational updates where you have provided consent or where we have a legitimate interest.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.
3. Legal Basis for Processing
We process personal data under the following legal bases:
- Consent: When you voluntarily provide your information (e.g., making a donation, subscribing to updates).
- Contractual Necessity: To process your donation and issue a receipt.
- Legal Obligation: To comply with tax laws, charity regulations, and financial reporting requirements.
- Legitimate Interest: To improve our services, prevent fraud, and communicate about our humanitarian mission.
4. Information Sharing
We may share your information with:
- Payment Processors: Stripe, Inc. and PayPal, Inc. process donations on our behalf. Their use of your data is governed by their respective privacy policies.
- Service Providers: Email delivery services, web hosting, and IT support providers who assist in our operations, bound by confidentiality agreements.
- Regulatory Authorities: CRA, IRS, Alberta Charities, and Minnesota Secretary of State as required by law for charity compliance and auditing.
- Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or governmental regulation.
We do not share donor lists with other organizations.
5. Data Retention
- Donation records: Retained for a minimum of 7 years as required by CRA and IRS regulations for charitable organizations.
- Contact inquiries: Retained for up to 3 years unless you request earlier deletion.
- Website analytics: Aggregated and anonymized data retained indefinitely; identifiable visitor logs retained for up to 12 months.
- Email communications: Retained as long as your subscription is active, plus 1 year after unsubscribe.
6. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information, including:
- 256-bit TLS/SSL encryption for all data transmitted between your browser and our servers.
- PCI-DSS compliant payment processing through Stripe and PayPal.
- Access controls limiting employee access to personal data on a need-to-know basis.
- Regular security assessments of our infrastructure.
- Encrypted storage of sensitive data at rest.
While we take all reasonable precautions, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but will promptly notify affected individuals and relevant authorities in the event of a data breach, as required by applicable law.
7. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights:
- Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Deletion: Request deletion of your data, subject to legal retention requirements.
- Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time by clicking “unsubscribe” in any email or contacting us directly.
- Data Portability: Request your data in a machine-readable format.
- Restriction: Request that we limit processing of your data in certain circumstances.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@westnet.ngo. We will respond within 30 days.
8. Cookies
Our website uses the following types of cookies:
- Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function (session management, form state). Cannot be disabled.
- Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences (language, pre-filled form data) for convenience.
- Analytics: We may use basic, privacy-respecting analytics to understand how visitors use our site. We do not use Google Analytics or any third-party advertising/tracking cookies.
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some website functionality.
9. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., social media platforms, payment processors, partner organizations). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.
10. Children’s Privacy
Our donation platform is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete it promptly.
11. International Data Transfers
WHS operates across multiple jurisdictions (Canada, United States, Lebanon, Palestine, Switzerland). Your data may be transferred to and processed in any of these countries. We ensure that any such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and that adequate safeguards are in place.
12. Canadian Privacy Law (PIPEDA)
For Canadian donors and visitors, we comply with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable provincial privacy legislation (including Alberta’s PIPA). You have the right to access and correct your personal information and to file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
13. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was most recently revised. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
14. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
WestNet Humanitarian Services
CRA Registered Charity: 720627231RR0001 | IRS 501(c)(3) EIN: 98-1896282
Alberta Non-Profit License: #357480 | Minnesota File: #1613718000020