Privacy Policy

Web User Privacy Rights

SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. is strongly committed to protecting the privacy of its online users: members, donors, the media, and others. We do not collect personally identifiable information except when it is knowingly provided by such individuals (i.e. via web forms and chat bots). We do not share voluntarily provided, personally identifiable information or personally identifiable health or consumer information for any purpose other than its intended use. The only exception is described under "Donations and Fundraising Events" (below). SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. believes that privacy on the web is important, and we encourage you to read our privacy policy carefully, so that you will clearly understand our commitment and our method of collecting and using information. We continuously try to improve the security of our information systems. While we have many security measures to protect electronically transmitted information and frequently review and try to improve the security of our site, we can't guarantee that a third party won't gain access to information provided on/to this Web site. This privacy statement, updated February 13, 2020 describes the information we collect and how we use it.

Information Collection and Use

Web Log File Data

We collect some basic web log file data about site visitors. This information includes domain names, web site traffic patterns and server usage statistics. This information is used for site management and administration and to improve the content and overall performance and user-experience on our site.

Data Security

SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. makes every reasonable effort to ensure that all of the transactions that occur on our web site are secure. We store personally identifiable data with Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption to protect information you may submit on our site. SSL is the industry standard protocol. All off-line information is securely stored and is accessible only by authorized staff.

Online Forms

SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. provides forms on our web site which may request confidential information. These online forms are located on a secure site and comply with required security standards, which ensures security and privacy of an individual's information. For all instances where a purchase is required the transaction of credit card information and payment processing will be managed by an authorized third party processing partner or financial institution. SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. does not store credit card information within an owned digital database. For your convenience, you may request a printed version of any online form on the “web sites” from mcdigital@shrinenet.org.

Subscription to Newsletter or Press Releases

If you subscribe to a newsletter, publication or press release published by SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. and distributed via email, we will keep your email address in a private distribution list. Messages sent electronically do not reveal recipients' email addresses or any other personal information. SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. will only send messages to individuals who have opted-in to subscribe and who have provided their email address to us directly. We do not use this email address list for any other purpose, and we only add individuals at their request. At any time, you may opt-out by using the unsubscribe link provided on our web site and in the publication email, which will remove your information from the distribution list for that publication.

"Cookies" and How We Use Them

Cookies are packets of information that a web site transfers to a user's computer for record-keeping purposes. They are a means of keeping track of users' preferences for content and alerting them to new content areas. The data collected may be used to show relevant SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. content on other websites and social media platforms. Additionally, the cookies may gather non-identifiable demographic information for the sole use of SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. Most browsers allow you to turn off cookies if you do not want them tracking your preferences. The SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. web sites (shrinersinternational.com and beashrinernow.com) set and access cookies. They are used only to enhance the usability of the site and may be applied for continued marketing campaigns across the internet. You can still use this site if you turn the cookies off.

Donations and Fundraising Events

When you donate to SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC., or Shriners International Education Foundation or register for a fundraising event, we ask you to voluntarily provide your name, address, telephone number, email address and credit card number so we can process your donation or event registration, send you a receipt or confirmation and communicate with you if necessary. If you'd like, you can provide that information another way (by phone or regular mail). When you make a gift on our site(s), your information goes into a database maintained by SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC., the philanthropic resource for SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN and SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION. SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. may then send you email or mailings about other opportunities to support related causes. You may opt out using any of the opt-out methods, such as check-box opt-outs, or follow opt-out links, included in any fundraising solicitation.

Third-Party Service Providers

SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. may engage reputable third-party vendors to help us manage our web sites and allow us to better service our members and visitors. The organization never shares with third parties any personally identifiable information you provide when making a purchase, registration or donation online, except as required by law.

Links to Other Sites

This site has links to other sites we think may be of interest to our visitors. Their purpose is to provide visitors with convenient access to other sites that might interest them. A link to another site does not imply an endorsement of the site's content or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of sites not owned by SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.. We encourage you to be aware of that when you leave our site and to read privacy statements at any sites that collect personally identifiable data.

Email Communication

SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. does not collect your email address unless you voluntarily provide your information via our web forms and click Next or Submit it to us or choose to communicate with us via email. We do not sell or rent any email addresses. We try to respond to email messages requiring a response within five business days. If you email SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC., your message and email address will be forwarded to the appropriate department. Please do not email credit card information, user name and password information or patient health information, as that information is confidential and should only be transferred through encrypted communications.

How we Use the Information

SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. uses the information you provide to fulfill your online request, facilitate customer service and inform you of our programs and events.

We inform the companies that help the SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. with donations made by credit card that they may not share or use personally identifiable information for any other purpose.

We do not share any third-party or personally identifiable information you provide with gifts in honor or memory of a loved one.

We do not share any personally identifiable information we may collect in surveys, although we may share aggregated survey results with analysts, as described above. The aggregate data cannot be used to identify individuals and participation in the survey is voluntary.

It is possible that we could be forced to disclose personally identifiable user information in response to a search warrant, subpoena, or court order; that can happen to any organization keeping records. Disclosures may also be appropriate to protect our legal rights and the security or integrity of our Web site, or to avoid liability. Those kinds of disclosures are highly unlikely, but possible.

Links to Other Sites

This site has links to other sites we think may be of interest to our visitors. Their purpose is to provide visitors with convenient access to other sites that might interest them. A link to another site does not imply an endorsement of the site's content or services.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of sites not owned by SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. We encourage you to be aware of that when you leave our site and to read privacy statements at any sites that collect personally identifiable data.

Security

SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. stores personally identifiable data with Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption to protect credit card and other information you may submit from this site. SSL is the industry standard security protocol. All off-line information is securely stored and is accessible only by authorized SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. staff.

Policy Changes

SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. necessarily reserves the right to change this policy from time to time, without advance notice. We will promptly post any changes to our privacy policy on all sites owned by SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC..

Deletion and Removal of Information

Non-identifiable information in our aggregate database will not be deleted. Like all responsible website site publishers, we maintain backup files as a protection against natural disasters, equipment failures, or other disruptions. Backup files protect you and us because they lower the risk of losing valuable data. Removing a record from our main files does not remove that record from any backup systems. It may take up to six months before all information in a backup record is completely erased through the normal recycling of backup files. In the meantime, as long as backup records exist, they receive the same privacy and security protections as our other records.

Questions or Comments?

Questions about SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC., or our privacy policy, may be directed to:

SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 2900 North Rocky Point Drive Tampa, FL 33607 813-281-0300

Sharing Your Concerns

We are committed to providing our members and website visitors the best user experience possible. If you see something that doesn’t make sense, or if something worries you, please speak with any member of our team or local Shriners chapter leadership. Never be afraid to raise a concern or ask questions.

We want to hear from you if you are not satisfied. You may speak to leadership at your local Shriners chapter or, contact a SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. staff member in our Membership Office by:

Email: membership@shrinenet.org
Phone: 813-281-0300; Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Mail:
Membership Office SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 2900 North Rocky Point Drive Tampa, FL 33607

Formal Grievance (complaint or concern)

You also have the right to file a formal grievance or complaint, verbally or in writing to Membership and Administration

All grievances will be reviewed in a timely manner.

Submit your grievance to Membership and Administration, either verbally or in writing.
We will let you know how long it will take us to review and respond.
We will provide a written response to your concern which will include:
Name of the Shriners International, Inc. contact person
Steps that were taken to address the complaint
Outline of the results
Date actions were completed

Grievances About Privacy and Confidentiality
You can file a complaint about our personally identifiable information practices by calling SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. Membership and Administration, at 813-281-0300.

You can also report a privacy concern with the following outside organization:

The Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Health & Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201

Toll-Free Call Center: 1-800-368-1019 TTD Number: 1-800-537-7697 https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint/index.html