Privacy Policy & Donor Disclosure
Effective Date: January 1, 2026 · Fire Fighters Foundation of Houston (501(c)(3))
This Privacy Policy describes how your personal information is collected, used, and safeguarded when you visit, interact with, or make a contribution to the Fire Fighters Foundation of Houston at fffhouston.org (the “Site”).
The Foundation is a volunteer-governed 501(c)(3) public charity. We do not sell, rent, or trade donor lists or personal information with any third parties. Your contributions directly fund life-saving equipment for the Houston Fire Department.
1. Personal Information We Collect
When you visit the Site, we automatically collect certain information about your device, including details regarding your web browser, IP address, time zone, and cookies installed on your device. Additionally, as you browse the Site, we collect information about the pages viewed, referring sites or search terms, and how you interact with our content. We refer to this automatically-collected information as “Device Information.”
We collect Device Information using the following technologies:
- Log files: Track actions occurring on the Site, capturing IP addresses, browser types, Internet service providers, referring/exit pages, and date/time stamps.
- Security and analytics beacons: Digital markers used to ensure uptime, detect automated threats, and measure page performance.
2. Donation & Order Information
When you make a contribution or attempt to donate through the Site, we collect certain information necessary to process your charitable gift, including your name, billing address, payment details (processed securely via PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant partners), email address, and phone number. We refer to this as “Donation Information.”
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the Donation Information we collect to:
- Process your tax-deductible contribution and issue official 501(c)(3) receipts for your tax records.
- Communicate with you regarding your gift, annual giving statements, or honoring memorial honorees.
- Screen transactions for fraud, risk, or duplicate charges.
- Provide updates on equipment deliveries and foundation impact when you have opted in to receive updates.
4. Sharing Your Personal Information
We share your personal information only with trusted service providers who help us operate the Site and fulfill our non-profit mission:
- Payment Gateways (Donorbox / Stripe / PayPal): Industry-standard, Level 1 PCI-compliant processors that handle payment credentials directly without exposing sensitive card data to our servers.
- Analytics (Google Analytics): Used anonymously to understand site usage and improve navigation. You can read more about how Google handles information at Google Privacy Policy.
- Legal Compliance: We may disclose information if required to comply with applicable laws, subpoenas, or lawful government requests.
5. Data Security & Retention
We implement industry-standard encryption (TLS/HTTPS) and administrative safeguards to keep your personal information secure. Access is strictly limited to authorized board members and staff who require the data to issue tax receipts or manage corporate partnerships.
When you donate through the Site, we maintain your record for accounting, audit, and tax purposes as required by IRS regulations for 501(c)(3) non-profit entities unless and until you request that we remove or anonymize your non-accounting details.
6. Your Rights & Options
You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you, to verify your donation history, or to request corrections or updates to your contact details. If you wish to exercise these rights, please reach out to us using the contact details below.
7. Contact Information
For any questions about our privacy practices, our 501(c)(3) filings, or to update your donor record, please contact: