Privacy Policy
Information We Collect
Information You Provide Directly
When you use our contact form, apply for a partnership, or communicate with us by email or phone, you may provide us with personal information including your name, email address, phone number, job title, and the name of your school or organization. We collect only what you choose to share.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit goingbeyondthecouch.com, certain technical information is collected automatically through cookies and standard server logs, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages visited, and time spent on the site. This information is used in aggregate to understand how our website is used and to improve it.
Information from Program Participants
Going Beyond the Couch delivers programs through licensed partner schools and organizations. Any data collected from students or youth program participants in the course of program delivery is governed by a separate data-sharing agreement with the partner institution. We do not collect personal information directly from minors through this website.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- To respond to your inquiries, partnership applications, and service requests
- To deliver contracted program services and provide implementation support to partner organizations
- To send program updates, newsletters, or educational resources you have requested (you may unsubscribe at any time)
- To process purchase orders and manage billing and vendor relationships
- To improve the content, functionality, and user experience of our website
- To comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations
We do not use your information for automated decision-making, profiling, or targeted advertising purposes.
How We Share Your Information
Going Beyond the Couch does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share information only in the following limited circumstances:
- Service Providers: We work with trusted third-party vendors who assist with website hosting, email communication, payment processing, and document delivery. These vendors are contractually required to protect your data and may only use it to provide services on our behalf.
- Partner Organizations: If you apply for or enter into a program partnership, relevant contact and organizational information may be shared between the parties for the purpose of administering the partnership.
- Legal Obligations: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of Going Beyond the Couch, our partners, or the public.
- Business Transfers: In the unlikely event of a merger, acquisition, or transfer of business assets, user information may be part of the transferred assets, subject to the same privacy protections described in this policy.
Minors and COPPA
The goingbeyondthecouch.com website is not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through this website. We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
Information collected in the course of delivering our school-based programs — including any student data shared by partner institutions — is handled under separate data-sharing agreements with those institutions and is subject to applicable federal and state student privacy laws, including FERPA and any state-level equivalents.
If you believe a child under the age of 13 has submitted personal information through our website without parental consent, please contact us immediately at the address below and we will take prompt steps to remove that information.
Your Rights and Choices
You have the right to:
- Request access to the personal information we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Request deletion of your personal information, subject to any legal retention requirements
- Opt out of marketing communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link in any email or by contacting us directly
- Withdraw consent for any processing based on consent, where applicable
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in the Contact section below. We will respond within a reasonable time and in accordance with applicable law.
Data Security and Retention
We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, to comply with legal obligations, to resolve disputes, and to enforce our agreements. When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to delete or anonymize it.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to operate and improve the site. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We use the following categories of cookies:
- Necessary Cookies: Required for the site to function. These cannot be disabled.
- Analytical Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with the site (e.g., page views, traffic sources). This data is aggregated and anonymized.
- Functional Cookies: Support features such as form retention and preference settings.
You may manage your cookie preferences at any time through the cookie consent banner on our website or through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect site functionality.
Third-Party Links
Our website contains links to third-party sites including Amazon, speakyourpowernow.com, and other resources. This Privacy Policy applies only to goingbeyondthecouch.com. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of any third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any sites you visit.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the effective date at the top of this page. Material changes will be communicated through a prominent notice on the website or, where appropriate, by direct notification. Your continued use of the site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.
Questions or Concerns
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data rights, please contact us:
