Privacy Policy

Effective date: July 21, 2026

The Welcome Center Foundation ("Welcome Center", "we", "us", or "our") is a Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and safeguard information when you visit thewelcomecenter.org (the "Site"), contact us, request services, upload documents, subscribe to our newsletter, or otherwise interact with us (collectively, the "Services"). By using the Services, you acknowledge you have read and understood this Policy.

1. Information we collect

We collect the following categories of information:

• Information you provide directly: name, email, phone number, mailing address, date of birth, country of origin, immigration or case-related details, family information, financial or tax information (when required for services such as tax preparation), donation information, and any other content you submit through forms, intake questionnaires, email, uploaded documents, or calls.
• Sensitive information: in the course of providing immigration, legal support, tax, or humanitarian services, you may voluntarily share sensitive personal information (e.g., immigration status, government-issued identifiers, biometric identifiers on documents, health, or household information). We treat this information as strictly confidential.
• Payment information: when you donate or pay fees, payment card details are collected and processed directly by our third-party processors (e.g., PayPal). We do not store full card numbers on our servers.
• Automatically collected information: IP address, device and browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, time on page, clicks, and approximate location, collected via cookies, pixels, and similar technologies.
• Information from third parties: analytics providers, CRM/marketing platforms (e.g., HubSpot), authentication providers, and partner organizations who refer clients to us.

2. How we use your information

• Provide, operate, and improve the Services and respond to inquiries.
• Assess eligibility for and deliver immigration, educational, and tax-related assistance.
• Process donations, fees, and produce receipts and tax acknowledgments.
• Send transactional messages (appointment confirmations, document requests, status updates).
• Send newsletters, program updates, and event invitations when you opt in.
• Comply with legal, regulatory, tax, audit, grant, and reporting obligations.
• Detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents.
• Aggregate or de-identify data for research, reporting to funders, and program evaluation.

3. Legal bases for processing

Where applicable law requires a legal basis (e.g., GDPR), we process personal information based on: your consent; the performance of a service you requested; our legitimate interests in operating the nonprofit; and compliance with legal obligations.

4. How we share information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only as follows:

• Service providers: hosting, email, CRM, analytics, secure document upload (e.g., Encyro), payment processing (e.g., PayPal), and case-management tools bound by confidentiality obligations.
• Legal and safety: to comply with subpoenas, court orders, or applicable law; to protect the rights, safety, or property of the Welcome Center, our clients, staff, or the public; and in connection with investigations of fraud or abuse.
• Professional advisors: auditors, attorneys, and accountants under confidentiality obligations.
• With your consent: for referrals to partner organizations or otherwise as you direct.
• Business transfers: in the unlikely event of a merger, dissolution, or transfer of programs, information may be transferred subject to this Policy.

We do not share immigration case information, tax information, or other sensitive personal details with third parties for marketing purposes.

5. No legal or tax advice

Information you submit through the Site does not create an attorney-client relationship or a tax preparer-client relationship until we agree in writing to represent or serve you. Do not send confidential information through unsecured channels; use our secure upload at encyro.com/twc.

6. Cookies and analytics

We use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies for essential site functionality, remembering preferences, measuring usage, and improving performance. You can control cookies through your browser settings; disabling cookies may impair certain features. Where required, we present a cookie banner and honor your choices.

7. Third-party links and services

The Site links to third-party websites and embeds third-party content (e.g., PayPal, HubSpot forms, YouTube). Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies. We are not responsible for third-party content or practices.

8. Data retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to provide the Services, meet legal, tax, grant, and audit obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Case files may be retained for the periods required by applicable law and professional standards. When information is no longer needed, we securely delete or de-identify it.

9. Security

We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information, including access controls, encryption in transit, secure document upload, and staff confidentiality obligations. No system is 100% secure; you use the Services at your own risk and should protect your account credentials.

10. Children's privacy

The Site is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental or guardian consent. If we learn we have collected such information, we will delete it. Parents or guardians may contact us to review or delete a child's information.

11. Your choices and rights

• Access, correction, deletion: you may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information.
• Marketing opt-out: unsubscribe from newsletters via the link in any email.
• Do Not Track: we currently do not respond to DNT browser signals.
• State-specific rights (e.g., California, Colorado, Virginia): you may have rights to know, correct, delete, opt out of certain processing, and appeal. We do not sell personal information or engage in "sharing" for cross-context behavioral advertising as defined by the CCPA/CPRA.
• EEA/UK residents: you may have rights under GDPR/UK GDPR, including the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.

To exercise any right, email hello@thewelcomecenter.org. We may verify your identity before responding.

12. International users

We operate in the United States. If you access the Services from outside the U.S., your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the U.S., which may have different data protection rules than your jurisdiction.

13. Donations

Donations are processed by third-party providers. We receive donor name, email, and donation amount for acknowledgment and recordkeeping. Payment card details are handled by the processor. Donations are generally tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law; consult your tax advisor. The Welcome Center Foundation is a Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

14. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time. We will post the updated version with a new effective date. Material changes will be highlighted on the Site or communicated by email where appropriate. Your continued use constitutes acceptance.

15. Contact us

The Welcome Center Foundation
8352 W State Road 84, Davie, FL 33324
Phone: 754-444-7767
Fax: (786) 636-3620
Email: hello@thewelcomecenter.org