Privacy Policy
How we collect, use, and protect your personal information.
Effective date: July 7, 2026
1. Introduction
HELP TO SELF HELP TRUST respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information shared by visitors, donors, volunteers, partners, beneficiaries, and other users of this website.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, protect, and manage your information when you visit our website or interact with us through donation forms, contact forms, volunteer forms, CSR enquiry forms, newsletter forms, or other communication channels.
By using this website, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
2. Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of information:
Personal Information
This may include:
- Full name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Address
- Location
- Organization or company name
- Designation
- Volunteer interest details
- CSR enquiry details
- Message or enquiry details
Donation Information
When you make a donation, we may collect:
- Donor name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Donation amount
- Donation purpose
- Donation type
- Transaction ID or UTR number
- Payment mode
- Payment screenshot or receipt
- PAN number, if required for 80G receipt
- 80G certificate request preference
Website Usage Information
We may collect basic technical information such as:
- IP address
- Browser type
- Device type
- Pages visited
- Date and time of visit
- Referral source
This information helps us improve website performance, security, and user experience.
3. How We Use Your Information
We may use your information for the following purposes:
- To respond to your enquiries
- To process and verify donations
- To issue donation receipts
- To process 80G-related requests where applicable
- To maintain accounting and compliance records
- To contact donors, volunteers, partners, or CSR representatives
- To manage volunteer applications
- To manage CSR or partnership enquiries
- To send updates, newsletters, or programme information if you have opted in
- To improve website content and user experience
- To prevent fraud, misuse, or unauthorized activity
- To comply with legal, tax, audit, regulatory, or reporting requirements
4. Donation and Payment Information
HELP TO SELF HELP TRUST may request payment-related details such as transaction ID, payment screenshot, donation amount, and donor information for verification and receipt generation.
We do not ask for sensitive banking passwords, card PINs, OTPs, or net banking login details.
Please do not share confidential banking credentials through our forms, email, WhatsApp, or any other communication channel.
5. PAN and 80G Information
If you request an 80G receipt or certificate, we may collect your PAN number and donation details.
This information is used only for:
- Donation receipt processing
- Tax-related documentation
- Legal and compliance requirements
- Accounting and audit records
Tax benefits are subject to applicable laws, eligibility, and required documentation.
6. Cookies and Tracking
Our website may use cookies or similar technologies to improve user experience, understand website traffic, and support basic website functionality.
You may disable cookies in your browser settings. However, some website features may not work properly if cookies are disabled.
7. Sharing of Information
We do not sell your personal information.
We may share information only when necessary with:
- Authorized Trust staff or administrators
- Auditors, accountants, or legal advisors
- Government, tax, or regulatory authorities when required
- Payment, email, hosting, or technology service providers who help us operate the website
- Partners or programme teams only when required for approved activities and with suitable care
We will not publicly display your personal details without your consent.
8. Data Security
We take reasonable steps to protect your information from unauthorized access, misuse, loss, alteration, or disclosure.
Security measures may include:
- Admin login protection
- Password-protected access
- Role-based permissions
- Secure file upload restrictions
- Database access control
- Regular review of admin activity
- Limited access to sensitive donation and donor information
However, no online system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Users are advised to share information carefully.
9. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.
Donation, receipt, legal, tax, audit, and compliance records may be retained for longer periods as required by applicable law.
Enquiry and volunteer data may be retained for communication, follow-up, reporting, and administrative purposes unless deletion is requested and legally permitted.
10. Your Rights
You may contact us to request:
- Access to your personal information
- Correction of inaccurate information
- Update of your contact details
- Withdrawal from newsletter or communication lists
- Deletion of personal information, where legally permitted
- Clarification on how your information is used
Some information may not be deleted immediately if it is required for legal, audit, tax, donation, or compliance purposes.
11. Children's Information
Our website is not intended to collect personal information from children without appropriate consent from a parent, guardian, institution, or authorized representative.
If any child-related information is collected for programme purposes, it will be handled with care and used only for legitimate trust activities, reporting, or impact documentation, subject to appropriate permissions.
12. Photos, Videos, and Testimonials
We may use photographs, videos, stories, or testimonials from programmes, events, beneficiaries, volunteers, or partners for awareness, reporting, and communication purposes.
Where required, we will seek permission before using identifiable personal stories, testimonials, or images.
If you want any image or testimonial removed from our website, please contact us.
13. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, payment platforms, social media pages, or partner websites.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of third-party websites. Users are advised to read the privacy policies of those websites before sharing information.
14. Updates to This Privacy Policy
HELP TO SELF HELP TRUST may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
Any changes will be posted on this page with the updated effective date. Continued use of the website after changes means you accept the revised Privacy Policy.
15. Contact Us
For privacy-related questions, correction requests, deletion requests, or concerns about how your information is handled, please contact us through the contact details provided below or via the Contact page on this website.
HELP TO SELF HELP TRUST
Email: contact@helptoselfhelptrust.org
Phone: +91 98650 86296 / +91 87540 60638
Address: 53/27, Pope Andavar Street, Chetpet, Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India - 606801