Privacy Policy

Muckraker Foundation, Inc. (“Muckraker Foundation,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to investigative journalism in the public interest. We take privacy seriously, and this policy explains what limited information we collect through this website, how we use it, and the choices you have.

This policy applies to muckrakerfoundation.org and any communications you receive directly from us. It does not cover websites we link to, or the practices of donation processors and other third parties you may interact with through links from this site — those entities have their own policies, and we encourage you to read them.

Information We Collect

We try to collect as little information as possible. In practice, that comes down to two categories:

Information You Give Us

If you contact us by email, mail us a check, or reach out about a major gift or donor-advised fund, we collect whatever you choose to share — typically your name, email address, mailing address, phone number, and the content of your message. We use this information only to respond to you and to administer your gift.

Information Collected Automatically

Like most websites, our web server logs basic technical information about each visit: IP address, browser type, referring page, and the pages you viewed. We may also use cookies or similar technologies for essential site functionality and to understand aggregate traffic patterns. We do not use third-party advertising trackers, and we do not build behavioral profiles of visitors.

Cookies

You can configure your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when they are being sent. Some parts of the site may not function correctly without them, but our core content will remain accessible.

How We Use Information

We use the information described above to:

• respond to your inquiries and process your donations;
• send you receipts, acknowledgements, and follow-up communications you’ve requested;
• understand how visitors use the site so we can improve it;
• comply with legal obligations, including charitable-solicitation and tax-reporting requirements.

How We Share Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We share it only in these limited circumstances:

• Service providers who help us operate the foundation — for example, our payment processor, email service, accounting and legal advisors — and only with the information they need to do their work for us.
• Legal compliance. We may disclose information when required by law, subpoena, or court order, or where we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, the rights of others, or public safety.
• Aggregated, non-identifying information may be shared publicly — for example, in our annual report.

Donor Information

We treat donor information with extra care. We do not publish donor names or amounts without your consent, except where required by law. If you would like your gift to remain anonymous, please tell us at the time of giving.

Your Choices and Rights

You can opt out of our communications at any time by emailing us. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights:

• California residents may request information about the categories of personal information we share for direct-marketing purposes (“Shine the Light” law). We do not currently share personal information for third-party direct marketing.
• Nevada residents may submit a verified request to opt out of the sale of covered personal information. We do not sell such information.
• Residents of states with comprehensive privacy laws (including California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Texas, and others) may have additional rights to access, correct, or delete personal information we hold about them.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the information at the bottom of this page.

Data Security

We use reasonable administrative and technical measures to protect the limited personal information we hold. No method of transmitting or storing data over the internet is fully secure, however, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. Use of the site is at your own risk.

Children

This site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has provided us with information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The “last modified” date at the top of the page reflects the most recent revision. Material changes will be highlighted on the homepage when they are made.

Contact Us

Questions or concerns about this policy or our handling of your information? Reach us at the address and email listed in the footer of this site.