Illinois Forage and Grassland Council Privacy Policy

Illinois Forage and Grassland Council is committed to protecting the privacy of visitors to our website: https://illinoisforage.org (the “Site”). This Privacy Policy describes what information we collect, how we use it, how we protect it, and what choices you have.

Information We Collect

We may collect two types of information from users of our Site: (a) personally identifiable information, and (b) non-personally identifiable information.

a. Personally Identifiable Information
You may voluntarily provide us with personal data when you:

• Sign up for our newsletter or e-mail list,
• Contact us via email or contact form,
• Register for an event, workshop, or training, or
• Make a donation or otherwise provide financial information (if applicable).

This information may include: your name, email address, mailing address, phone number, organizational affiliation, and any other information you choose to share.

b. Non-Personally Identifiable Information
We collect certain information automatically as you navigate the Site, using standard web technologies, including Google Analytics and Squarespace Analytics. This may include:

• IP address,
• Browser type and version,
• Operating system,
• Referring/exit pages,
• Pages viewed on our Site, time spent on pages, and similar usage data,
• Information collected via cookies, web beacons, or other tracking technologies.

How We Use Your Information

We may use the information we collect for purposes such as:

• Communicating with you (e.g., newsletter, event announcements, research updates),
• Responding to your inquiries,
• Managing and improving the Site, including analyzing how users interact with our content,
• Conducting research, education, and outreach aligned with our mission,
• Complying with legal obligations, and
• Protecting the security and integrity of the Site.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies (such as web beacons) on our Sites to collect and store certain usage information. Cookies help us:

• Distinguish you from other users,
• Improve your experience on the Site, and
• Analyze Site traffic and usage patterns.

Managing Cookies: Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can choose to decline cookies, but please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality or performance of the Site. 

Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. However, we may share information in the following contexts:

• Service providers and vendors: We may share data with trusted third-party      vendors (e.g., email service providers, web hosting providers, analytics      services) who help us operate the Site or run our programs. 
• Legal compliance: We may disclose information if required by law or to      protect our legal rights.

Any third parties we share data with are contractually required to maintain the confidentiality and security of your data.

Data Retention

We keep your information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, or as required by law. For example, we may retain email addresses of newsletter subscribers until they unsubscribe, and we may keep usage data for analytics to help us improve the Sites.

Security

We take reasonable and appropriate measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. This includes technical, administrative, and organizational safeguards. 

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Rights and Choices

• Opting Out of Communications: If you no longer wish to receive our      communications (e.g., newsletter), you can unsubscribe at any time by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us directly.
• Accessing/ Correcting Information: You may request access to, correction, or      deletion of your personal data by contacting us (see Contact section below).
• Cookie Preferences: You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings.

Children’s Privacy

Our Sites are not specifically directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect or maintain personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. 

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will post the updated policy on the Sites and update the “Effective Date.” We encourage you to review this Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

Illinois Forage and Grassland Council
Email: ifgcforage@gmail.com