What we do - and don't do - with the information we gather from you.

As of June 1, 2006 this is for Markets Initiative's websites.

We can be reached at:
1726 Commercial Dr.
Vancouver, BC
V5N 4A3
Email: marketsinitiative@marketsinitiative.org
Phone: 604-253-7701 ex 23

The following describes the policies and practices of Markets Initiative with regard to the collection and use of personal information from users of www.marketsinitiative.org and/or www.ancientforestfriendly.com, e-newsletter subscribers, and donors. Throughout this page, the terms “we,” “us,” and “our” are meant to include Markets Initiative staff, contractors, and volunteers.

 
We have the utmost respect for your privacy and will not trade, sell or exchange your personal information with anyone. We only share your information with third parties we have contracted with to provide you services on our behalf, as described below under “With whom we share the information.”

When it comes to collection and use of personal information, our guiding questions are:

• “Will having this information help us better serve this individual?”
• “Do we have permission to use the information in this way?”
• “Is this use of the information required in order to fulfill the expectations of the individual?”

What information do we collect about you?

 
When you register
In order to subscribe to any of our e-newsletters, you need to sign up to receive them (this is free). During registration, you must supply us with your email address (which is your unique user name) and name. Optionally, you may also choose to provide other demographic information like zip/postal code, profession, and issue areas of interest.

 
When browsing the site
When you visit our website, we collect information about your session (e.g. session length, pages visited, files downloaded) based on the IP address of your computer. Our website uses cookies to facilitate this tracking. For an excellent description of cookies and how they work see Wikipedia on cookies.

This information is stored in log files. Log data is used in aggregate to analyze how people use our website.

 
When you donate
When you donate to Markets Initiative, whether online, by mail, or on the phone, we ask for your name, address, email address, phone number, and payment method. If you pay by check, we keep a photocopy of your check. If you pay by credit card, we keep a record of the transaction, but do not store your credit card number on our website. We also maintain pertinent information about you and your gifts in a secure database, including but not limited to gift amounts, dates, payment types, and any special gift terms or conditions.

 
When you participate in a survey, contest, or special offer
Several times a year, Markets Initiative hosts optional surveys, which may ask you for additional information about your experience, opinion, or demographics.

How do we use the information?

 
Aggregate information
Our goal is to help you be an effective advocate for, or broadcaster of ancient and endangered forest conservation and Ancient Forest Friendly publishing. Therefore, the majority of the information we collect, from website tracking to survey responses, has to do with what your interests are and how you use (or would like to use) our work. We analyze this data in aggregate and in segments and use this information in order to provide better research, content, design, organization, and delivery of our work to you.

 
Email addresses
If you subscribe to e-newsletters, your email address is your unique identifier, or user name. We may also send you by email occasional invitations to surveys, appeals for funds, and administrative or other notices regarding the website, its contents, and your registration. 

If you are subscribed to any one of our e-newsletters, we will use information you’ve provided to deliver and tailor them for you.

The “email this article” feature (designated in the bottom left on every page by a small graphic of an envelope) is an easy way for Markets Initiative visitors to send articles to friends and colleagues by email. The email address(es) that you provide to use this feature will only be used to send the requested article.

When you submit questions or comments to a Markets Initiative staff member by email (via a link on the website, e.g.), we will use your e-mail address to respond directly to you.

Except as explained in this policy, Markets Initiative does not send unsolicited e-mail.

 
Other individual information
When you participate in any public forum hosted by or on behalf of Markets Initiative, information you submit will be made publicly available and attributed to you. For example, if you provide a quote and give us permission to use it, both your quote and your name will be shown on the page for other website visitors to see. This information may be copied or shared by other people, and Markets Initiative has no control over who obtains the information or what they do with it.

If you supply us with your postal address you may receive periodic mailings from us with information on research and services, fundraising, or upcoming events. If you supply us with your telephone number we will only call you with information regarding business, donations, donor-member benefits, or to update contact information.

If you make a donation to Markets Initiative, we may acknowledge your generosity in our annual report, website, and other fundraising materials, unless you request at the time of your donation to be acknowledged anonymously. We will also use information you provided to deliver notes of thanks, tax receipts, and invitations to special events.

Who do we share this information with?

We may share aggregate information about our audience (e.g. demographics, interests, website usage) with donors, partners, website users or other interested parties. Please note that this is not personal information, only general summaries of the activities of our audience.

 
Third party service providers
We will not share individually-identifying personal information about you with third parties without your permission, with the exception of service providers or other organizations we contract with to fulfill services on our behalf (e.g. receiving donations or executing credit card transactions), or under the circumstances described in Compliance with Legal Requirements below.

 
Compliance with Legal Requirements
We may disclose personal information if we are required to by law, or we believe that such action is necessary to (a) comply with the law or with legal process, (b) protect and defend our rights and property, (c) protect against misuse or unauthorized use of www.marketsinitiative.org, www.ancientforestfriendly.com or Markets Initiative’s work, or (d) protect the personal safety or property of our users or the public. As such, if you attempt to pose as someone else, we may disclose information about you or your actions as part of an investigation into any harm done by your actions.

 
Security
When we transfer and receive certain types of sensitive information, such as financial information, we redirect visitors to a secure outside vendor’s server (currently Canadahelps.org). To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the appropriate use of information, we have put in place physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to protect the information we collect online.

 
Business Transitions
If Markets Initiative were to merge with or acquire another entity, or sell a portion of its assets, some information regarding donors, subscribers, registered website users, and/or website visitors may be transferred.

How you can manage the use of your information?

Our e-newsletters will have un-subscribe option at the bottom of each email sent. If you want to update your contact information with us, please email us.

If you feel that this site is not following its stated privacy policy, you may contact www.oipcbc.org  or contact us at the above addresses or phone number.

Miscellaneous

We do not currently partner with or have special relationships with any ad server companies.

Markets Initiative is not responsible for the content or the privacy policies of websites to which it links.

From time to time, we may use website visitor information for new, unanticipated uses not previously disclosed in our privacy notice. If our information practices change at some time in the future we will post the policy changes to our website to notify you of these changes. If you are concerned about how your information is used, you should check back at our website periodically.