Privacy Policy

Democratic Governors Association
Privacy Policy

Last Updated: July 17, 2020

This Privacy Policy explains how information about you is collected, used and disclosed by Democratic Governors Association (“DGA”), and other affiliated organizations with respect to your use of the website located at www.democraticgovernors.org and the other websites, mobile sites,  and other online services that link to this Privacy Policy (collectively, the “Site”).

We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time.  If we make changes, we will notify you by revising the date at the top of the policy and, in some cases, we may provide you with additional notice (such as adding a statement to our homepage or sending you an email notification).  We encourage you to review the Privacy Policy whenever you access the Site to stay informed about our information practices and the ways you can help protect your privacy.

Collection of Information

Information You Provide to Us

We collect information you provide directly to us.  For example, we collect information if you fill out a form, make a donation, send us an email, sign up for an event, sign up to receive updates or SMS alerts, request information, sign a petition, sign up as a volunteer or otherwise communicate with us or through our platform.  The types of information we collect may include your name, contact information (including email address, social media handles, user names, postal address, phone number), payment information, and other information you choose to provide.

In addition, the Federal Election Commission (“FEC”) may require us to collect certain personal information from donors.  For example, the FEC requires us to collect (and disclose) the name, mailing address, occupation, and employer of all individuals whose donations exceed $200 per calendar year.

Information We Collect Automatically When You Use the Site

When you access or use our Site, we automatically collect information about you, including:

  • Log Information: We log information about your use of the Site, including the type of browser you use, access times, pages viewed, your IP address and the page you visited before navigating to our Site.
  • Device Information: We may collect information about the computer or mobile device you use to access our Site, including the hardware model, operating system and version, device identifiers and mobile network information.
  • Information Collected by Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies: We use various technologies to collect information, and this may include sending cookies to your computer or mobile device.  Cookies are small data files stored on your hard drive or in device memory that helps us to improve our Site and your experience, see which areas and features of our Site are popular and count visits.  We may also collect information using web beacons (also known as “tracking pixels” or “clear GIFs”).  Web beacons are electronic images that may be used in our Site or emails and help deliver cookies, count visits, understand usage and campaign effectiveness and determine whether an email has been opened and acted upon.  For more information about cookies, and how to disable them, please see “Your Choices” below.

Information We Collect From Other Sources

We may also obtain information from other sources and combine that with information we collect through our Site.  For example, we may collect information about you from third parties, including but not limited to campaigns, activist groups, and other organizations with whom we work and publicly available sources.  In addition, if you make a donation to Act Blue for our benefit (such as via the link on the Site), we will obtain certain information about you from Act Blue.

Use of Information

We may use information about you for various purposes, including to:

  • Provide, maintain, and improve our Site,
  • Send you technical notices, updates, security alerts, and support and administrative messages;
  • Provide and deliver the information you request, process donations and transactions, coordinate volunteers and volunteer events and opportunities, and connect you with campaigns, activist groups and other organizations;
  • Respond to your emails, submissions, comments, questions, and requests, provide customer service, request feedback, and otherwise contact you about your use of the Site;
  • Communicate with you and send you information about various campaigns, candidates, issues, events, resources, tools, products and services and otherwise provide you with information you request or that we think will be of interest to you;
  • Contact you if other information is necessary under Federal laws;
  • Monitor and analyze trends, usage and activities in connection with our Site;
  • Detect, investigate and prevent fraudulent transactions and other illegal activities and protect the rights and property of DGA and others;
  • Link or combine with information we get from others to help understand your needs and interests and match you with opportunities;
  • Personalize and improve the Site and provide advertisements, content or features that match user profiles or interests or that are based on the information you provide or the actions you take; and
  • Carry out any other purpose for which the information was collected.

DGA is based in the United States and the information we collect is governed by U.S. law. By accessing or using the Site or otherwise providing information to us, you consent to the processing and transfer of information in and to the U.S. and other countries.

Sharing of Information

We may share information about you as follows or as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy:

  • With vendors, consultants, and other service providers or volunteers who need access to such information to carry out work on our behalf;
  • With candidates, organizations, campaigns, groups or causes that we believe have similar political viewpoints, principles or objectives or share similar goals and with companies and organizations that support or facilitate communications and information sharing among such groups;
  • To report required information to the Federal Elections Commission, including name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employers of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year (for additional information, visit the FEC website at http://www.fec.gov);
  • When we believe in good faith that we are lawfully authorized or required to do so or that doing so is reasonably necessary or appropriate to comply with the law or legal processes or respond to lawful requests, claims or legal authorities, including responding to lawful subpoenas, warrants, or court orders;
  • If we believe your actions are inconsistent with the spirit or language of our user agreements or policies, or to protect the rights, property and safety of DGA, its employees, volunteers, constituents or others;
  • In connection with, or during negotiations of, any reorganization, formation of a successor organization, asset sale or transfer, financing or lending transaction or in any other situation where personal information may be disclosed or transferred as one of the assets of DGA; and
  • With your consent or at your direction, including if we notify you through our Site that the information you provide will be shared in a particular manner and you provide such information.

We may also share aggregated or anonymized information that does not directly identify you.

The above excludes text messaging originator opt-in data and consent, which information will not be shared with any third parties, provided that the foregoing does not apply to sharing (1) with vendors, consultants and other service providers who need access to such information to carry out work on our behalf (and who will not use such information for their own purposes); (2) if we believe disclosure is required by any applicable law, rule, or regulation or to comply with law enforcement or legal process; and (3) if the user consents to our sharing of such information.

Links to Other Websites

Our Site may contain links to other websites.  For example, we link to ActBlue to enable donations through ActBlue for our benefit, or we may link to sites of other organizations with whom we partner.  Any personal information you provide on such linked pages is provided directly to that third party and is subject to that third party’s privacy policy.  This Privacy Policy does not apply to such linked sites, and we are not responsible for the content or privacy and security practices and policies of these websites or any other sites that are linked to from the Site.  We encourage you to learn about their privacy and security practices and policies before providing them with personal information.

Social Sharing Features 

The Site may offer social sharing features and other integrated tools (such as the Facebook “Like” button), which let you share actions you take on our Site with other media, and vice versa.  The use of such features enables the sharing of information with your friends or the public, depending on the settings you establish with the entity that provides the social sharing feature.  For more information about the purpose and scope of data collection and processing in connection with social sharing features, please visit the privacy policies of the entities that provide these features.

Advertising and Analytics Services Provided by Others

We may allow third parties to use cookies, web beacons, or other technologies or otherwise collect information about you in order to provide analytics and advertising services, including serving ads on the Site or on other sites based on your visits to the Site and other sites across the Internet and across various mobile applications.  These entities may collect or receive information about your use of the Site and other websites and mobile applications, including your IP address, browser, device information, pages viewed, time spent on pages, links clicked and conversion information.  This information may be used by DGA and others to, among other things, analyze and track data, determine the popularity of certain content, deliver advertising and content targeted to your interests and better understand your online activity.

For example, we may use Google Analytics or other remarketing tools to advertise online. This enables third-party vendors, including Google, to show our ads on sites across the Internet.  Such third-party vendors, including Google, may use first-party cookies (such as the Google Analytics cookie) and third-party cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) together to inform, optimize, and serve ads based on your past visits to our Site.  For information on how you can opt out of Google’s use of cookies for interest-based ads please visit Google’s Ads Settings.

For more information about Internet-based ads, or to opt out of having your web browsing information used for behavioral advertising purposes, please visit www.aboutads.info/choices.

Security

DGA takes reasonable measures to help protect information about you from loss, theft, misuse and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction.

Your Choices

Cookies

Most web browsers are set to accept cookies by default.  If you prefer, you can usually choose to set your browser to remove or reject browser cookies.  Please note that if you choose to remove or reject cookies, this could affect the availability and functionality of our Site.

Promotional Communications

You may opt out of receiving updates and newsletters by email by following the instructions in those emails, and you may stop receiving SMS alerts by texting STOP at any time.  If you opt out, we may still send you other types of emails, such as those about your use of the Site or any donations or transactions.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at info@dga.net.

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATIONTERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE

Date of Last Revision: October 7, 2017

PLEASE READ THESE TERMS OF USE CAREFULLY. BY ACCESSING OR USING THIS WEB SITE OR MOBILE SITE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS DESCRIBED HEREIN AND ALL TERMS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO ALL OF THESE TERMS, DO NOT USE THIS WEB SITE OR MOBILE SITE.

This website or mobile site is operated by the Democratic Governors Association and/or its affiliated organizations (“DGA,” “we,” or us”). These Terms of Use (“Terms”) apply solely to your access to, and use of, the www.democraticgovernors.org Web site operated by DGA and other Web sites, mobile sites and other online services which link to these Terms (collectively the “Site”).  These Terms do not alter in any way the terms or conditions of any other agreement you may have with DGA for products, services or otherwise.

We reserve the right to change or modify any of the terms and conditions contained in the Terms or any policy or guideline of the Site, at any time and in our sole discretion. Any changes or modification will be effective immediately upon posting of the revisions on the Site, and you waive any right you may have to receive specific notice of such changes or modifications.  Your continued use of the Site following the posting of changes or modifications will confirm your acceptance of such changes or modifications.

  1. Privacy Policy. Please refer to our Privacy Policy at democraticgovernors.org/privacy-policy/ for information on how we collect, use and disclose personally identifiable information from our users.
  2. Copyright and Limited License. Unless otherwise indicated in the Site, the Site and all content and other materials on the Site, including, without limitation, DGA’s logo, and all designs, text, graphics, pictures, information, data, software, tools, widgets, sound files, other files and the selection and arrangement thereof (collectively, the “Site Materials”) are the proprietary property of DGA or its licensors or users and are protected by U.S. and international copyright laws.

You are granted a limited, non-sublicensable license to access and use the Site and the Site Materials for your informational, non-commercial and personal use only. Such license is subject to these Terms and does not include: (a) any resale or commercial use of the Site or the Site Materials therein; (b) the reproduction, distribution, public performance or public display of any Site Materials, except as expressly permitted on the Site; (c) modifying or otherwise making any derivative uses of the Site and the Site Materials, or any portion thereof; (d) use of any data mining, robots or similar data gathering or extraction methods; (e) downloading (other than the page caching) of any portion of the Site, the Site Materials or any information contained therein, except as expressly permitted on the Site; or (f) any use of the Site or the Site Materials other than for its intended purpose.  Any use of the Site or the Site Materials other than as specifically authorized herein, without the prior written permission of DGA, is strictly prohibited and will terminate the license granted herein.  Such unauthorized use may also violate applicable laws including without limitation copyright and trademark laws and applicable communications regulations and statutes.  Unless explicitly stated herein, nothing in these Terms shall be construed as conferring any license to intellectual property rights, whether by estoppel, implication or otherwise.  This license is revocable at any time.

  1. Trademarks. All logos and slogans contained in the Site are trademarks of DGA, its suppliers or licensors, or other third parties and may not be copied, imitated or used, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of DGA or the applicable trademark holder. You may not use any metatags or any other “hidden text” utilizing “DGA” or any other name, trademark or product or service name of DGA without our prior written permission.  In addition, the look and feel of the Site, including all page headers, custom graphics, button icons and scripts, is the service mark, trademark and/or trade dress of DGA and may not be copied, imitated or used, in whole or in part, without our prior written permission.  All other trademarks, registered trademarks, product names and company names or logos mentioned in the Site are the property of their respective owners.  Reference to any products, services, processes or other information, by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, and supplier or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation thereof by us.
  2. Hyperlinks. You may not use an DGA logo or other proprietary graphic of DGA to link to the Site without the express written permission of DGA.  Further, you may not use, frame or utilize framing techniques to enclose any DGA trademark, logo or other proprietary information, including the images found at the Site, the content of any text or the layout/design of any page or form contained on a page on the Site without DGA’s express written consent.  Except as noted above, you are not conveyed any right or license by implication, estoppel or otherwise in or under any patent, trademark, copyright or proprietary right of DGA or any third party.

DGA makes no claim or representation regarding, and accepts no responsibility for, the quality, content, nature, or reliability of third-party Web sites accessible by hyperlink from the Site, or Web sites linking to the Site.  Such sites are not under the control of DGA and DGA is not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site, or any review, changes or updates to such sites.  DGA provides these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply affiliation, endorsement, or adoption by DGA of any site or any information contained therein.  When you leave the Site, you should be aware that our terms and policies no longer govern.  You should review the applicable terms and policies, including privacy and data gathering practices, of any site to which you navigate from the Site.

  1. Third Party Content and Information. We may make third party information and other content available on or through the Site (the “Third Party Content”) as a service to those interested in this information and we may provide information regarding or link to third-party activities, events, organizations, or websites.  Your dealings or correspondence with such third parties are solely between you and such third party.  DGA does not control, endorse or adopt any Third Party Content, and makes no representation or warranties of any kind regarding the Third Party Content, including without limitation regarding its accuracy or completeness.  You acknowledge and agree that DGA is not responsible or liable in any manner for any Third Party Content and undertakes no responsibility to update or review any Third Party Content. Users use such Third Party Content contained therein at their own risk.
  2. Submissions. You acknowledge and agree that any feedback, questions, comments, suggestions, ideas, or other information or materials regarding the Site or DGA that are provided by you in the form of email or other submissions to DGA, are non-confidential and shall become the sole property of DGA.  DGA shall own exclusive rights, including all intellectual property rights, and shall be entitled to the unrestricted use and dissemination of these materials for any purpose without acknowledgment or compensation to you.
  3. Disclaimers. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED TO THE CONTRARY IN A WRITING BY DGA, THE SITE, THE SITE MATERIALS CONTAINED THEREIN AND THE SERVICES PROVIDED ON OR IN CONNECTION THEREWITH (THE “SERVICES”) ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.  DGA DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT AND AS TO ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF THE INFORMATION, CONTENT, FORMS OR OTHER SITE MATERIALS ACCESSED THROUGH THE SITE.  DGA DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT THE SITE, THE SITE MATERIALS OR THE SERVICES ARE ACCURATE, COMPLETE, RELIABLE, CURRENT OR ERROR-FREE.

WHILE DGA ATTEMPTS TO MAKE YOUR ACCESS AND USE OF THE SITE AND SERVICES SAFE, DGA CANNOT AND DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT THE SITE, THE SITE MATERIALS OR THE SERVER(S) ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS; THEREFORE, YOU SHOULD USE INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED SOFTWARE TO DETECT AND DISINFECT VIRUSES FROM ANY DOWNLOAD.

DGA IS ALSO NOT RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE IN ANY MANNER FOR ANY THIRD PARTY ACTIVITIES OR EVENTS LISTED ON THE SITE OR FOR THE CONDUCT OF ANY EVENT OR ACTIVITY ORGANIZERS OR OTHER USERS OF THE SITE.

DGA reserves the right to change any and all content contained in the Site and any Services offered through the Site at any time without notice.  Reference to any products, services, processes or other information, by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, supplier or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation thereof, or any affiliation therewith, by DGA.

  1. Limitation of Liability. IN NO EVENT SHALL DGA, OR OUR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR VOLUNTEERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF USE, LOSS OF PROFITS OR LOSS OF DATA, WHETHER IN AN ACTION IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SITE, THE SERVICES, THE CONTENT OR THE SITE MATERIALS CONTAINED IN OR ACCESSED THROUGH THE SITE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY DAMAGES CAUSED BY OR RESULTING FROM RELIANCE BY USER ON ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM DGA, OR THAT RESULT FROM MISTAKES, OMISSIONS, INTERRUPTIONS, DELETION OF FILES OR EMAIL, ERRORS, DEFECTS, VIRUSES, DELAYS IN OPERATION OR TRANSMISSION OR ANY FAILURE OF PERFORMANCE, WHETHER OR NOT RESULTING FROM ACTS OF GOD, COMMUNICATIONS FAILURE, THEFT, DESTRUCTION OR UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO DGA’S RECORDS, PROGRAMS OR SERVICES.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF DGA, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, WARRANTY, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, WHETHER ACTIVE, PASSIVE OR IMPUTED), PRODUCT LIABILITY, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHER THEORY, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SITE OR THE SITE MATERIALS EXCEED ANY COMPENSATION YOU PAY, IF ANY, TO DGA FOR ACCESS TO OR USE OF THE SITE.
  2. Applicable Law and Venue. These Terms and your use of the Site shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia applicable to agreements made and to be entirely performed within the District of Columbia, without resort to its conflict of law provisions.  You agree that any action at law or in equity arising out of or relating to these Terms shall be filed only in the state and federal courts located in District of Columbia and you hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consent and submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of these Terms.
  3. Termination. Notwithstanding any of these Terms, DGA reserves the right, without notice and in its sole discretion, to terminate your license to use the Site, and to block or prevent your access to and use of the Site.
  4. Severability. If any provision of these Terms shall be deemed unlawful, void or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from these Terms and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.
  5. Questions & Contact Information. Questions or comments about the Site may be directed to info@democraticgovernors.org.