Privacy Policy

Effective May 22, 2026. Last updated May 22, 2026.

The Distance Project ("TDP," "we," "our," or "us") is a Michigan nonprofit organization. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you visit thedistanceproject.org or interact with us, how we use that information, and the choices you have. By using our site, you agree to the terms below.

Who we are

The Distance Project is a Michigan nonprofit corporation, with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status pending. We support student-athletes in Track & Field, Cross Country, and youth running through equipment, scholarships, travel assistance, and community programs.

For privacy questions, write to info@thedistanceproject.org.

Information we collect

We collect information directly from you when you:

• Submit a donation (name, email, billing address, amount; payment card data is handled by Stripe and never stored on our servers)
• Submit an application for athlete support (athlete name, school, parent or guardian name and contact info, sport, statement of need, email)
• Submit a contact or volunteer form (name, email, phone, message)
• Sign up for our newsletter (email)
• Communicate with us by email

We also collect limited information automatically when you visit our site: IP address and approximate location, browser type and operating system, pages visited and time spent, and referring website. We do not use third-party advertising trackers. Our site analytics are first-party.

How we use your information

We use the information you provide to:

• Process and acknowledge your donation, send tax receipts, and issue annual giving statements
• Review applications for athlete support and communicate decisions
• Respond to inquiries, contact requests, and volunteer signups
• Send occasional updates about our work (you may unsubscribe at any time)
• Comply with applicable laws, including IRS reporting for charitable contributions
• Operate, secure, and improve our website

We do not sell, rent, or trade your information to anyone.

Sharing with service providers

We share limited information with vendors that help us operate: Stripe processes credit and debit card donations, InMotion Hosting hosts our website, and email delivery providers send our automated emails (receipts, statements, application updates). These providers are bound by their own privacy and security obligations and only receive what they need to do their job. We may also disclose information when required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of TDP, our beneficiaries, or others.

Children's privacy

Many of our beneficiaries are minors. Applications for athlete support are submitted by a parent or guardian on behalf of a minor athlete, and the parent or guardian's contact information is what we use to communicate. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 on our website. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us information directly, contact us and we will delete it. When we share information about funded athletes publicly (for example, in impact reports or campaign updates), we do so in anonymized or aggregated form, or only with explicit permission from a parent or guardian.

Donor privacy

Donor information is kept confidential. We will publicly acknowledge donors only with permission, and donors may give anonymously at any time. Lifetime giving history is visible only to authorized administrators. We do not exchange or sell donor lists.

Data retention

We retain donor records for as long as required by IRS regulations and Michigan nonprofit law (generally seven years for financial records). Application and beneficiary records are retained while support is active and for a reasonable period afterward for reporting and stewardship purposes. You may request deletion of your information at any time, subject to our legal obligations.

Security

We use industry-standard measures to protect your information, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), restricted administrative access, and payment processing by a PCI-compliant provider (Stripe). No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, however, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your rights

You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you, request correction of inaccurate information, request deletion of your information (subject to our legal recordkeeping obligations), unsubscribe from any non-transactional email at any time, and request that we stop processing your information. To exercise any of these rights, email info@thedistanceproject.org.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top. Significant changes will be noted on this page or communicated to active donors and applicants by email.

Contact

The Distance Project
info@thedistanceproject.org

This Privacy Policy is intended as a good-faith statement of our practices. It is not legal advice. We recommend that donors and applicants with specific legal concerns consult their own counsel.