Privacy Policy

The Minds Matter's Privacy Policy was last updated on February 24, 2014.

Minds Matter National, Inc. ("Minds Matter National") and the affiliated chapters of Minds Matter National (collectively, "Minds Matter") operate a website and software platform located at websites operated by Minds Matter (the "Program"). In conjunction with the operation of the Program, Minds Matter may, from time to time or on a regular basis, work and consult with, receive support from and obtain hosting and other technological services from one or several affiliated or unaffiliated third party entities ("Third Party Entities"). We want you to be familiar with Minds Matter's policies (collectively, this "Policy") with respect to the collection, use and disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information and Non-Personally Identifiable Information (each as defined below). By using the Program or otherwise providing Personally Identifiable Information or Non-Personally Identifiable Information (each as defined below), you agree to the terms and conditions of this Policy, including, without limitation, with respect to such information previously provided to Minds Matter. If you do not agree to the terms and conditions of this Policy or the policies of any Third Party Entity, please do not use the Program or otherwise provide such information to Minds Matter. Minds Matter reserves the right to change this Policy without prior notice. You can determine when this Policy was last revised by referring to the "Last Updated" legend at the top of this web page. Any changes to this Policy will become effective upon the posting of a revised Policy on the Program. Your use of the Program or provision of personal information to Minds Matter following such changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy then in effect.

Please be aware that any Personally Identifiable Information submitted through the Program or otherwise is collected by Minds Matter and may also be collected by one or more Third Party Entities. This Policy describes only Minds Matter's practices in connection with Personally Identifiable Information that is stored by the Program. This Policy does not address the collection, use and/or disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information by any Third Party Entities. Please review the applicable Third Party Entity's privacy policy for more information regarding such Third Party Entity's own privacy practices. Minds Matter shall have no liability with respect to the use or misuse of Personally Identifiable Information by such Third Party Entity or any failure to comply with such Third Party Entity's privacy policy. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS POLICY DOES NOT ADDRESS THE PRIVACY OR INFORMATION PRACTICES OF ANY THIRD PARTY ENTITIES. MOREOVER, ANY PRIVACY POLICY OF ANY THIRD PARTY ENTITY DOES NOT APPLY TO MINDS MATTER AND ITS DATA COLLECTION, USE AND DISCLOSURE PRACTICES.

This Policy also does not address Minds Matter's practices regarding information that Minds Matter collects through any web site, or by any other means, other than information collected in any fashion that is stored by the Program.

1. Types of Information That Are Collected.

Two basic types of information are stored by Minds Matter through the Program: "Personally Identifiable Information" (or "PII") and "Non-Personally Identifiable Information" (or "Non-PII"). Personally Identifiable Information is information that identifies a person as an individual, including, but not limited to, an individual's name, birthdate, social security number, credit card information and federal income tax documentation. Non-Personally Identifiable Information is demographic information, IP addresses and any other information that does not reveal a person's specific identity, including, without limitation, aggregated or anonymized information of the foregoing types of information as well as other types of information.

  • Personally Identifiable Information. In order for you to use the Program and in certain other circumstances, Minds Matter may require that you furnish PII, which is collected and stored by Minds Matter and may be simultaneously collected by Third Party Entities. Minds Matter stores PII from you through the Program, such as your name, postal address, telephone number and e-mail address (and, in some cases, your social security number) in connection with your registration with the Program and in other circumstances in connection with maintaining such information. If you are signing up to be a mentor or a mentee, you may also be required to provide other PII, such as the name and contact information of your references. By providing such PII through the Program or otherwise, you represent that you have obtained the consent of the person whose PII you are providing or, if the person is under eighteen (18) years of age, you represent that you are, or have obtained the consent of, the parent or guardian of the person under eighteen (18) years of age. In all cases, please ensure that you have made clear to the person (or, if applicable, to the parent/guardian) the implications of providing such consent.
  • Non-Personally Identifiable Information. When you visit and interact with the Program, Non-PII may be collected by Minds Matter from sources such as IP addresses, environmental variables (such as your MAC address, computer type (Windows or Macintosh), screen resolution, OS version, Internet browser, and Internet browser version), "cookies" as well as so-called "pixel tags," "web beacons," "clear GIFs" and other similar technologies to better serve you with more tailored information and facilitate your ongoing access to and use of the Program. If you do not want information collected through the use of cookies, most web browsers allow users to automatically decline cookies, or to be given the choice of declining or accepting the transfer of a particular cookie, or cookies from a particular web site, to your computer. Please be aware that if you disable cookies, you may not be able to use all of the features and functionality of Program. Non-PII (for example, your interests, your geographic location, etc.) may also be collected when you provide such information through the Program or otherwise. Such information constitutes Non-PII because, unless combined with PII, it does not personally identify you or any other user. Additionally, Minds Matter may aggregate PII in a manner such that any aggregated data does not personally identify you or any other user of Program. For example, Minds Matter may use PII of individual users and aggregate such data in order to calculate the percentage of Minds Matter's users who have a particular telephone area code. Such aggregate information is considered Non-PII for purposes of this Policy.

2. How Information That We Collect Is Used by Minds Matter.

  1. Personally Identifiable Information. Minds Matter may use PII in the following ways (including by using Third Party Entities and other vendors):
    1. Furtherance of Minds Matter's Mission. Minds Matter will use your PII in connection with the evaluation and selection of, and the collaboration, communication and relationship generally with, participants in its programs and initiatives from time to time.
    2. Administration of the Program. Minds Matter may use your PII in order to administer and provide the Program.
    3. Fulfillment of Requests. Minds Matter may use your PII to fulfill your requests (for instance, to respond to your questions).
    4. Administrative Communications. From time to time, in Minds Matter's sole discretion, Minds Matter may use your PII to send you important information regarding the Program, changes to the terms, conditions, policies and/or other administrative information of Minds Matter. Because this information may be important to your use of the Program, you may not opt-out of receiving such communications.
    5. Internal Purposes. Minds Matter may also use PII about you for Minds Matter's internal purposes, such as data analysis, program development and evaluation, audits and similar purposes.
  2. Non-Personally Identifiable Information. Because Non-PII does not personally identify you, Minds Matter may use such information for any purpose. In addition, Minds Matter reserves the right to share, for free or for compensation, such Non‑PII, which does not personally identify you, with any third party, for any purpose.

In some instances, Minds Matter may combine Non-PII with PII (such as combining your name with your geographic location). Such combined information, if any, will be treated by Minds Matter as PII for the purposes of this Policy.

3. How Personally Identifiable Information Is Disclosed by Minds Matter.

  1. Administrators. Please note that some of the administrators who oversee the Program will have access to all information submitted through or stored in the Program, including all PII stored by the Program.
  2. Third Party Entities. As mentioned above, Minds Matter may, from time to time or on a regular basis, work and consult with, receive support from and obtain hosting and other technological services from one or several Third Party Entities. Such Third Party Entities may receive PII directly from user submissions to the Program and/or Minds Matter may provide PII to such Third Party Entities in order for Third Party Entities to provide Minds Matter with certain services or support.
  3. Assignment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Policy to the contrary, Minds Matter reserves the right to transfer any and all information, including PII, that Minds Matter collects through or in connection with the Program or otherwise, or that may be stored by Minds Matter, to a third party in the event of any reorganization, merger, sale, joint venture, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or any portion of Minds Matter's business or assets (including without limitation in connection with any bankruptcy or similar proceedings)
  4. Law enforcement; emergencies; compliance. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Policy to the contrary, Minds Matter reserves the right to disclose PII to others as Minds Matter believes to be appropriate, including (a) under applicable law; (b) when necessary to comply with any legal process; (c) in order to respond to governmental or regulatory requests; (d) in order to enforce Minds Matter's policies and procedures; (e) in order to protect Minds Matter's operations; (f) when necessary to protect the rights, privacy, safety or property of Minds Matter, you or others; and (g) to permit Minds Matter to pursue available remedies or limit the damages that Minds Matter, you or others may sustain. For example, Minds Matter may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, disclose PII about you to law enforcement agencies to assist them in identifying individuals who have been or may be engaged in unlawful activities.

4. Other Important Notices Regarding Minds Matter's Privacy Practices.

  1. Third Party Sites. The Program may contain links to third party web sites, including web pages on third-party social networking web sites (for example, Facebook). These linked sites are not under Minds Matter's control and Minds Matter is not responsible for the privacy practices or the contents of any such linked site, or any link contained in any linked site. Minds Matter provides such links only as a convenience, and the inclusion of a link on Program does not imply endorsement of the linked site by Minds Matter. If you provide any PII through any such third party web site, your transaction will occur on such third party's web site (and not on the Program) and the PII you provide will be collected by, and controlled by the privacy policy of, that third party. Minds Matter recommends that you familiarize yourself with the privacy policies and practices of any such third parties. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS POLICY DOES NOT ADDRESS THE PRIVACY OR INFORMATION PRACTICES OF ANY THIRD PARTIES, INCLUDING ANY THIRD PARTY PROGRAM OPERATORS.
  2. Security. Minds Matter seeks to have security measures and tools, such as firewalls, in place to help protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under Minds Matter's control. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet or data storage system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, although Minds Matter strives to protect your PII, Minds Matter cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to Minds Matters through or in connection with the Program or otherwise or any information, including PII, that may be stored by Minds Matter. You acknowledge and agree that any information you transmit through the Program or upload for storage in connection with the Program or otherwise made available to Minds Matter is so transmitted, stored or made available at your own risk. If you have reason to believe that your use of the Program or any other interaction you may have with Minds Matter may be, or is at risk of becoming, insecure (for example, if you feel that the security of any account you might have with Minds Matter has been compromised), you must immediately notify Minds Matter of the problem by contacting us in accordance with Section 4(g) below. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS POLICY DOES NOT ADDRESS, AND MINDS MATTER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR, THE DATA SECURITY PRACTICES OF ANY THIRD PARTY ENTITIES.
  3. Changing or Suppressing PII about you. If you would like to review, correct, update or suppress PII that you have previously provided through the Program or otherwise, you may do so, subject to the next paragraph, by contacting Minds Matter National in accordance with Section 4.7 below. Please note that Minds Matter may retain certain information for recordkeeping purposes, and residual information may remain within Minds Matter's databases and other records, which will not be removed therefrom. Minds Matter also reserves the right, from time to time, to contact former users of the Program. Finally, Minds Matter is not responsible for removing information from the databases of Third Party Entities or of third parties with whom Minds Matter has already shared or which have been provided PII about you.
  4. Jurisdictional Issues. The Program is controlled and operated by Minds Matter National from the United States, and is not intended to subject Minds Matter to the laws or jurisdiction of any state, country or territory other than that of the United States. Minds Matter does not represent or warrant that the Program, or any part thereof, is appropriate or available for use in any particular jurisdiction. Those who choose to access the Program do so on their own initiative and at their own risk, and are responsible for complying with all local laws, rules and regulations. Minds Matter may limit the Program's availability, in whole or in part, to any person, geographic area or jurisdiction Minds Matter chooses, at any time and in our sole discretion.
  5. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. Minds Matter abides by the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. In the event that Minds Matter learns that we have collected information from any child under the age of 13 without verification of parental consent, Minds Matter will use reasonable efforts to delete this information from the Program.
  6. DISCLAIMERS; NO WARRANTIES; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. Minds Matter is providing the Program "as is" without any express or implied warranties including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. Minds Matter does not guarantee that the Program will be safe, secure or error-free or that the Program will operate without disruptions, delays or imperfections. Minds Matter is not responsible for the actions, content, information or data of third parties and you release Minds Matter and the directors, officers, employees, AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES of Minds Matter from any claims and damages, known and unknown, arising out of or in any way connected with any claim you have against any such third parties. IF YOU ARE A CALIFORNIA RESIDENT, YOU WAIVE FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE §1542, WHICH SAYS: "A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR."  MINDS MATTER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR OTHER CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS POLICY OR THE PROGRAM, EVEN IF MINDS MATTER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  MINDS MATTER'S AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF THIS POLICY OR THE PROGRAM WILL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100).  APPLICABLE LAW MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY OR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IN SUCH CASES, MINDS MATTER'S LIABILITY WILL BE LIMITED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
  7. Disputes; Indemnification. You will resolve any claim, cause of action or dispute ("Claim") you have with us arising out of or relating to this Policy or the Program exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York or a state court located in New York County, and you agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of litigating all such Claims.  The laws of the State of New York will govern this Policy, as well as any Claim that might arise between you and Minds Matter, without regard to conflict of law provisions.  If anyone brings a Claim against Minds Matter related to information provided, or failure to provide information, by or on behalf of you through the Program or otherwise, you will indemnify and hold Minds Matter harmless from and against all damages, losses, and expenses of any kind (including reasonable legal fees and costs) related to such Claim.
  8. Contacting Us. If you have any questions regarding this Policy, please contact Minds Matter National by e-mail at admin@mindsmatter.org. Please note that e-mail communications will not necessarily be secure; accordingly, you should not include any sensitive information in any e-mail correspondence with Minds Matter National.