Privacy Policy

The Bee Bridge (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is a small, early-stage nonprofit organization based in Fort Worth and North Texas (EIN: 42-2731103). Our application for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status has been submitted; IRS approval is pending. We operate thebeebridge.org and related services, including our member portal at members.thebeebridge.org.

This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. We aim to be clear and honest about our practices — we are a small team building community programs, not a large commercial platform.

Information We Collect

We collect personal information in a few specific ways:

Information you provide directly

• Contact and inquiry forms: name, email address, inquiry type, subject, and message content when you reach out through our website.
• Member portal: if you are an approved member, we collect registration and account information (such as name, email, and membership details) and activity related to your use of member tools and resources.
• Volunteer and program interest: information you submit when expressing interest in volunteering, education programs, bee yard hosting, or similar opportunities.
• Donation waitlist and future donations: if you join our donation waitlist or make a donation once our 501(c)(3) recognition is fully active, we may collect name, email, and payment-related information processed through a third-party payment service.
• Bee removal requests: contact details and information about a removal request, and any photos you choose to upload.

Information collected automatically

• Website usage data: basic technical information such as browser type, device type, pages visited, and approximate location derived from IP address.
• Cookies and similar technologies: small files stored on your device to help the site function, remember preferences, and understand how visitors use our pages.

How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to:

• Respond to inquiries, volunteer interest, and program requests
• Operate and administer approved member accounts and portal features
• Run our website, programs, and community education initiatives
• Send updates about our work when you have asked to hear from us or given consent
• Process donations and maintain donation records when that functionality is active
• Improve the website experience and understand how our content is used
• Protect the security and integrity of our services
• Comply with applicable legal obligations

We do not sell your personal information. We do not rent or trade it to third parties for their own marketing purposes.

Sharing and Disclosure

We may share personal information only in limited circumstances:

• Service providers: we use carefully selected third-party vendors to help us operate the website, member portal, email communications, data storage, authentication, hosting, security, analytics, and payment processing (when donations are enabled). These providers process information on our behalf only as needed to perform their services and are contractually or otherwise required to protect it. We do not publicly disclose our specific technology vendors as a security precaution.
• Legal requirements: when required by law, regulation, legal process, or to protect the rights, safety, and property of The Bee Bridge, our users, or the public.
• Organizational changes: in connection with a merger, reorganization, or transfer of nonprofit operations, with appropriate notice where required.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar tools for essential site functionality, session management (including member login), and basic analytics. You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect how some features work, particularly in the member portal.

We do not use cookies to sell your data. Any analytics we use are intended to help us understand site usage and improve our educational content and programs.

Data Security

We take reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures to protect personal information, including access controls, encrypted connections, and limiting access to staff and volunteers who need it for their roles. Our infrastructure relies on third-party providers that maintain their own security programs; we select vendors we believe follow responsible industry practices. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security — but we work to safeguard data responsibly given our size and resources.

Data Retention

We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy, to meet legal or recordkeeping requirements, or to resolve disputes. Contact form messages and member records are retained according to our operational needs and nonprofit recordkeeping practices.

Your Rights and Choices

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to:

• Request access to personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of certain information, subject to legal and operational limits
• Opt out of non-essential communications
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise these rights, contact us using the information below. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe. If you are a member portal user, you may also be able to update certain account details directly within the portal.

Children's Privacy

Our website and member portal are not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without appropriate parental consent. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us and we will take steps to delete it.

Our educational programs may involve schools and families. When we work with minors in program settings, we handle information in line with applicable requirements and program agreements.

Third-Party Links

Our website may link to external sites (for example, social media or partner resources). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their policies.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time as our programs, technology, or legal requirements change. When we make material changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Web: thebeebridge.org/contact
• The Bee Bridge — Fort Worth & North Texas, Texas, USA