Privacy Policy

Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mandir of North Carolina (SSMNC)
Effective Date: May 30, 2026

Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mandir of North Carolina (“SSMNC,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit religious organization committed to serving our devotees, patrons, trustees, volunteers, and the broader community. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you interact with SSMNC through our website, temple premises, donation systems, volunteer programs, educational programs, and religious services.

By engaging with SSMNC, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

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1. Information We Collect

We collect information in the following categories:

1.1 Contact & Identification Information

• Name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Mailing address
• Gender (optional)
• Communication preferences

1.2 Religious & Cultural Information

(Collected only when voluntarily provided)

• Gotra / Nakshatra
• Family member names
• Prayer requests
• Information required for priest services
• Information related to religious ceremonies

1.3 Donation & Membership Information

• Donation history
• Payment method (processed by third parties; we do not store card numbers)
• Membership category (Trustee, Patron, etc.)
• Anniversary and birthday (for blessings and recognition)

1.4 Event, Volunteer & Program Information

• Event registration details
• Volunteer interests and availability
• Youth education program information
• Student/child information provided by parents or guardians
• Work product, volunteer hours, or class participation details

1.5 Automatically Collected Information

Our hosting provider (GoDaddy) may automatically collect limited technical information such as:

• IP address
• Browser type
• Device information
• Pages visited
• Basic site analytics

This information is used for security, performance, and operational purposes. SSMNC does not control or customize GoDaddy’s built-in tracking.

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2. How We Collect Information

We collect information through:

• Website forms (WPForms, Google Forms, Microsoft Forms)
• Direct PayPal donation links
• UnityConnect CRM
• Clover terminals at the temple
• Zelle donations
• Email communications
• Event registrations
• Volunteer sign-ups
• Priest service requests
• In-person interactions at the temple

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3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

3.1 Provide Religious & Community Services

• Perform pujas, ceremonies, and prayer services
• Send personalized blessings on birthdays and anniversaries
• Communicate temple updates, events, and schedules
• Respond to your comments and questions

3.2 Manage Donations & Membership

• Process donations
• Issue donation receipts and annual tax letters
• Track membership categories (Trustees, Patrons, etc.)
• Maintain donor and membership records

3.3 Operate Temple Programs

• Manage volunteer activities
• Register participants for classes and events
• Coordinate youth education programs

3.4 Administrative & Legal Purposes

• Maintain organizational records
• Comply with IRS and state reporting requirements
• Ensure temple safety and operational integrity
• Improve our website and services

We do not use your information for advertising or commercial marketing.

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4. Sensitive Religious Information

SSMNC may collect religious or cultural information (such as gotra, nakshatra, or prayer requests) solely for the purpose of performing religious services.

We treat this information with heightened confidentiality and do not disclose it outside the organization unless required by law or explicitly requested by you.

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5. Donor Privacy & Public Recognition

• SSMNC does not publish donor lists.
• We do publish names of Patrons, Trustees, and Sponsors as part of recognition.
• You may request anonymity or a modified display name at any time.
• We continue to maintain accurate internal records even if you choose anonymity.

SSMNC does not sell or rent personal information to any third party.

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6. How We Share Information

We may share information with:

6.1 Service Providers

• UnityConnect CRM (donor & membership management)
• PayPal (online donations)
• Clover (in-person donations)
• Zelle/Wells Fargo (bank transfers)
• GoDaddy (website hosting)
• Microsoft 365 / OneDrive (email & file storage)
• Google Workspace (forms & storage)
• QuickBooks (financial records)
• Constant Contact (legacy email system, being phased out)

These providers process data on our behalf under their own privacy policies.

6.2 Legal & Compliance

We may disclose information:

• To comply with IRS, state, or federal requirements
• To respond to lawful requests from government agencies
• To protect the safety and integrity of the temple

6.3 Internal Access

Access to personal information is limited to:

• Board of Trustees (BOT)
• Board of Directors (BOD)
• Authorized volunteers and staff
• Priests (for service-related information only)

We do not share personal information with event vendors or external marketers.

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7. Children’s Privacy

We collect information about minors only when provided by a parent or legal guardian, such as for:

• Youth education programs
• Volunteer activities
• Priest services
• Event registrations

SSMNC is not a daycare. Minors should be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and parents/legal guardians are responsible for their children on temple premises. We follow applicable state and federal laws regarding children’s data and do not knowingly collect information directly from children under 13 without parental consent.

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8. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our website may use:

• Essential cookies (required for site functionality)
• Hosting-level analytics from GoDaddy
• Future analytics tools such as Google Analytics or Search Console

Some pages may include embedded content such as YouTube videos, maps, or social media widgets. Embedded content from other websites behaves in the same way as if you visited those websites directly, and those services may collect data according to their own privacy policies.

Users may limit certain tracking through browser privacy settings or third-party tracker-blocking tools. SSMNC does not use cookies for advertising or behavioral profiling.

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9. Data Storage & Retention

We store information in:

• WordPress (GoDaddy hosting)
• Microsoft 365 / OneDrive
• Google Workspace
• UnityConnect CRM
• PayPal / Clover
• QuickBooks
• Local temple computers
• Trustee/staff devices (limited access)
• Dropbox (legacy storage, being phased out)

SSMNC may retain donation, membership, volunteer, and service records indefinitely, as required for religious, operational, and IRS compliance purposes.

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10. Data Security

We implement reasonable safeguards, including:

• SSL/HTTPS encryption
• Wordfence security plugin
• Access controls for BOT/BOD and authorized volunteers
• Two-factor authentication on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
• Cloud-based backups maintained by service providers
• Regular security reviews

No system is 100% secure, but we take appropriate measures to protect your information.

10.1 Data Breach Response

If SSMNC becomes aware of a data breach involving personal information, we will take reasonable steps to investigate, contain, and address the incident. This may include securing affected systems, reviewing access logs, and coordinating with our service providers such as GoDaddy, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, UnityConnect, PayPal, and Clover.

We will notify affected individuals as required by applicable law and provide information about the nature of the breach, the data involved (if known), and steps they may take to protect themselves. We may also notify relevant authorities when legally required.

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11. Your Rights

You may request the following at any time:

11.1 Access

Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.

11.2 Correction

Request corrections to inaccurate or outdated information.

11.3 Deletion

Request deletion of your information, except:

• Donation records required for IRS compliance
• Membership records required for organizational history
• Information necessary for ongoing services

11.4 Communication Preferences

Opt out of emails, texts, or other communications.

11.5 Anonymity

Request anonymity for public recognition (Patrons, Trustees, Sponsors).

11.6 Withdraw Consent

Withdraw consent for optional data uses (for example, birthday blessings).

To exercise your rights, contact us at privacy@ssmnc.org.

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12. International Visitors

SSMNC is a U.S.-based organization. Our website and services are intended for individuals in the United States. We do not currently offer GDPR-specific rights or controls.

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13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Effective Date” at the top will reflect the latest version. Continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

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14. Contact Us

If you have questions about our Privacy Policy, please contact:

Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mandir of North Carolina
1150 SW Maynard Rd
Cary, NC 27513
Email: privacy@ssmnc.org
Phone: +1 919-386-1085