Privacy Policy

Who this policy covers

This policy describes how Silicon Valley Center for Entrepreneurial Development (SVCED) — a 501(c)(3) public charity — handles personal information collected from donors, program applicants, grantees, partners, and visitors to this website. It does not cover the separate practices of our sibling organization, the Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce (SVBCC).

What we collect

We only collect information we actually need to run our programs and operate this site.

Information you give us

Your name, email, mailing address, phone, and payment details when you donate; program applications, references, and eligibility information when you apply; messages you send us through contact forms or email.

Information collected automatically

Basic technical data your browser sends on every visit — IP address, device and browser type, pages viewed, and referring page — used to keep the site secure and understand which pages are useful.

Cookies

Strictly necessary cookies to keep the site working, and — where applicable — privacy-respecting analytics. We do not use third-party advertising cookies.

How we use your information

We use personal information to process and acknowledge donations, evaluate program applications, communicate with participants and grantees, send receipts and required tax documentation, report to funders in aggregate, and improve our programs and this site.

When we share information

We do not sell personal information. Ever.

Service providers

Payment processors, email delivery, hosting, and analytics vendors — bound by contract to use the information only to provide their service to us.

Funders and auditors

Aggregate, de-identified program outcomes for grant reports. Individually identifiable information is only shared with a funder when a program participant has explicitly consented.

Legal requirements

When required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of SVCED, our participants, or the public.

How long we keep it

Donor records are retained as required by IRS recordkeeping rules for charitable contributions. Program application and participant records are retained for the period required by grant agreements and applicable law, then securely deleted or anonymized.

Your choices

You can ask us to access, correct, or delete personal information we hold about you, and you can unsubscribe from email updates at any time using the link in any message. Some records — for example completed donation receipts — we are legally required to retain even if you unsubscribe.

Youth program participants

Several of our programs serve youth. When a participant is under 18, we collect information only with parent or guardian consent and use it solely to operate the program. We do not knowingly market to children.

Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information — including encryption in transit, access controls, and limiting access to staff who need it. No system is perfectly secure; report a concern to security@svced.org.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as our programs and practices evolve. Material changes will be reflected in the "last updated" date below and, where appropriate, announced by email to affected donors and participants.

Contact us

Questions, requests, or concerns about this policy: privacy@svced.org. Postal mail: SVCED, San José, California.