Privacy Policy
Last Updated: August 25, 2026
Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex (“Friends of Montezuma,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices available to you when you visit friendsofmontezuma.org, become a member, make a donation, register for an event, volunteer, participate in a program, or otherwise interact with Friends of Montezuma.
Information We Collect
We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us. Depending on how you interact with Friends of Montezuma, this may include:
- Your name
- Email address
- Mailing address
- Phone number
- Membership information
- Event and program registration information
- Volunteer interests and information
- Muckrace team and participant information
- Donation amounts and transaction information
- Information you submit through forms, surveys, or communications with us
Our website may also automatically collect limited technical information, such as browser and device information, IP address, referring pages, and information about how visitors use the site.
How We Use Your Information
We use personal information as reasonably necessary to operate Friends of Montezuma and its programs, including to:
- Process new memberships and membership renewals
- Register participants for events and programs
- Administer the Montezuma Muckrace and other fundraising activities
- Coordinate volunteers
- Process and acknowledge donations
- Maintain membership, donation, and organizational records
- Respond to questions and requests
- Send newsletters, event announcements, fundraising information, and organizational updates
- Operate, maintain, and improve our website
- Meet applicable financial, tax, recordkeeping, and legal requirements
Donations and Payments
Friends of Montezuma uses third-party services, including PayPal and GoFundMe Pro, to process certain donations, fundraising activities, membership payments, event fees, and other transactions.
When you make a payment through one of these services, payment information such as your credit or debit card number is processed by the payment provider. Friends of Montezuma does not directly store complete payment card information submitted through these payment services.
We may receive information about the transaction from the payment provider, such as your name, contact information, donation or payment amount, transaction date, and transaction status. We may retain this information for membership, fundraising, accounting, acknowledgment, and recordkeeping purposes.
Your use of a third-party payment or fundraising service is also subject to that provider’s privacy policy and terms.
Website Forms
Our website uses online forms to collect information for activities such as memberships, donations, event registrations, waivers, volunteer opportunities, and other programs.
Information submitted through these forms may be stored on our website and/or sent to authorized Friends of Montezuma representatives so that we can process your submission.
Some forms may also transmit information to third-party services when necessary to complete a payment, registration, fundraising activity, or other requested service.
Please do not submit sensitive personal information through a website form unless the form specifically requests it.
Muckrace and Fundraising Pages
Participants in the Montezuma Muckrace and other fundraising activities may provide information such as participant names, team names, email addresses, team membership, and fundraising information.
Certain information associated with fundraising activities may be displayed publicly. For example, team names, team fundraising pages, fundraising totals, or other information intended to identify or promote a fundraising team may appear on Friends of Montezuma or GoFundMe Pro fundraising pages.
Information that is not intended for public display, such as contact information submitted for registration or administration purposes, will not ordinarily be published.
Email and Other Communications
If you provide your email address, we may use it to communicate with you about memberships, donations, registrations, volunteer activities, Friends of Montezuma programs, events, fundraising campaigns, and organizational news.
We may use Google Workspace and other service providers to manage organizational email and communications.
You may unsubscribe from promotional or newsletter emails using the unsubscribe option included in those communications when available, or by contacting us.
We may continue to send necessary administrative or transactional communications related to something you have requested, such as an event registration, donation, or membership.
Cookies and Website Technology
Like most websites, friendsofmontezuma.org may use cookies and similar technologies.
Cookies may be used to:
- Provide basic website functionality
- Remember website preferences
- Support forms and other interactive features
- Help protect the website from spam or abuse
- Understand website traffic and usage
- Support third-party services embedded in the website
Some cookies may be placed by third-party services used by our website.
You can control or delete cookies using your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect how some portions of the website function.
Website Hosting and Service Providers
Friends of Montezuma relies on third-party service providers to operate its website and organizational activities. These may include services for:
- Website hosting
- Website forms
- Email and productivity tools
- Payment processing
- Online fundraising
- Website security
- Analytics and website performance
These providers may process limited personal information on our behalf when necessary to provide their services.
How We Share Information
Friends of Montezuma does not sell or rent your personal information.
We may share information with service providers when reasonably necessary to operate our website, process transactions, manage memberships or registrations, conduct fundraising activities, communicate with supporters, or provide other organizational services.
We may also disclose information if required by law or when reasonably necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of Friends of Montezuma, our members, volunteers, supporters, website visitors, or others.
Other Organizations and Third-Party Websites
Friends of Montezuma works with and provides information about organizations involved with the Montezuma Wetlands Complex, including government agencies, conservation organizations, and community partners.
Our website also contains links to websites and services operated by other organizations.
A link to another website does not mean that Friends of Montezuma controls that website’s privacy practices. When you leave our website or interact directly with another service, that organization’s privacy policy applies.
Children’s Privacy
Friends of Montezuma offers educational, recreational, and community activities that may involve children and families.
We do not knowingly use our website to collect personal information directly from children under 13 without the involvement or consent of a parent or legal guardian.
For programs involving minors, registration information and required permissions should be submitted by a parent, guardian, or other authorized adult.
If you believe a child has submitted personal information to us without appropriate authorization, please contact us so we can address the situation.
Data Security
We take reasonable administrative and technical measures to protect personal information under our control.
However, no website, email system, electronic transmission, or data storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected and for legitimate organizational needs such as membership administration, event records, donation history, accounting, tax reporting, and other recordkeeping requirements.
Information that is no longer reasonably necessary may be deleted or anonymized.
Your Choices
You may contact Friends of Montezuma to request that we:
- Correct or update personal information we maintain about you
- Remove you from non-essential email communications
- Answer questions about information you have provided to us
- Delete personal information when appropriate and when we are not required to retain it for financial, legal, or legitimate organizational purposes
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time as our website, programs, or services change.
When we make changes, we will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how Friends of Montezuma handles personal information, please contact us through our website or at:
Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex
c/o Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
3395 US Route 20
Seneca Falls, NY 13148
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