Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Account Information

When you create a LiftUp account, we collect:

• Email address — used for authentication, verification, and communication.
• Password — stored in an encrypted (hashed) format; we never see your plain-text password.
• Full name — collected during registration for identification purposes.

1.2 Profile Information

When you create a donation profile, you may provide:

• Display name and username
• Biographical text
• Profile and header images
• PayPal email address (for receiving payouts)

This profile information is publicly visible on your donation page once published.

1.3 Donation Information

When you make a donation, we collect:

• Donor name (optional; can be anonymous)
• Donor email address
• Donation amount
• Optional donor message
• PayPal transaction/order ID

1.4 Technical Data

We automatically collect certain technical information when you use the platform:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Device information
• Pages visited and timestamps
• Cookies and similar technologies

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Account management: To create, verify, and manage your account.
• Service delivery: To display your donation profile, process donations, and facilitate payouts.
• Communication: To send verification emails, password resets, donation notifications, and important platform updates.
• Payment processing: To process donations through PayPal and facilitate the 85/15 revenue split.
• Security: To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access.
• Legal compliance: To comply with applicable laws and respond to legal requests.
• Platform improvement: To analyze usage patterns and improve our services.

3. How We Share Your Information

3.1 PayPal

We share necessary transaction information with PayPal to process donations and payouts. PayPal processes payments according to its own Privacy Policy and terms.

3.2 Public Information

Your published donation profile — including display name, bio, images, and total raised — is publicly visible to anyone who visits your donation link. Donor names (unless anonymous) and messages may also be visible to the profile owner.

3.3 Service Providers

We may share information with third-party service providers who assist us in operating the platform (e.g., hosting, analytics, email delivery). These providers are bound by confidentiality obligations and may only use your data to provide services to us.

3.4 Legal Disclosures

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.

3.5 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity, subject to this Privacy Policy.

4. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encrypted (hashed) password storage
• Secure token-based authentication
• HTTPS/TLS encryption for data in transit
• Access controls limiting data access to authorized personnel only
• Regular security reviews and updates

However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

5. Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to maintain your login session, remember your preferences, and analyze platform usage. You can configure your browser to refuse cookies, but this may affect your ability to use certain features of the platform.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services. If you delete your account, we will remove your personal data from our active systems within a reasonable timeframe, except where retention is required by law. Transaction records may be retained for longer periods for legal, tax, and audit purposes.

7. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data.
• Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Objection: Object to certain processing of your data.
• Withdrawal of consent: Withdraw consent for processing based on consent.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us through the platform's support channels. You may also delete your account at any time through the Settings page.

8. Children's Privacy

LiftUp is not intended for use by individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.

9. International Data Transfer

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. We take reasonable steps to ensure your data is protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable law, including through appropriate transfer mechanisms where required.

10. Third-Party Links

The platform may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., PayPal). We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting a notice on the platform or sending an email. Your continued use of LiftUp after changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us through the platform's support channels.