Privacy Policy
Effective October 1, 2026
The White Squirrel Institute (WSI) is a fund of the Community Focus Foundation of Transylvania County, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This policy explains what information we collect on whitesquirrelinstitute.org, how we use it, and the choices you have.
Information you give us
We only collect personal information when you choose to share it, such as when you:
- Adopt a white squirrel or donate. We collect your name, email, mailing address, and phone number so we can process your gift, send your adoption certificate, and provide a receipt.
- Report a sighting. We collect your name and email plus any location, photos, or details you include.
- Join our email list. We collect your name and email address.
- Contact us or leave a comment. We collect what you send us. Comments, along with the name you provide, are public.
Payments
Payments are processed securely by Stripe. Your card information goes directly to them. WSI never sees or stores your full card number.
Information collected automatically
Like most websites, ours collects basic technical information, such as your browser type, device, general location, and the pages you visit. We use Google Analytics to understand how people use the site so we can improve it.
These tools use cookies. You can accept or decline non-essential cookies through the cookie banner on our site. For details, see our Cookie Policy.
How we use your information
We use your information to:
- Process adoptions and donations, and send certificates and receipts
- Respond to your messages and sighting reports
- Send out email newsletter, if you signed up
- Track the white squirrel population and improve the website
Who we share it with
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information.
We share it only with:
- The Community Focus Foundation, our fiscal sponsor, for donation records and tax receipts
- Service providers who help us run the site and our programs, including our web host SiteGround, payment processors Stripe, email service Brevo, and analytics Google. They may use your information only to provide those services.
- Authorities, when required by law
We send our newsletter a couple of times a year. Every email includes an unsubscribe link, and you can opt out at any time.
Your choices
You can ask us to see, correct, or delete the personal information we have about you. Email us and we’ll respond promptly. We may need to keep some records, such as donation records, for tax and legal purposes.
Security
Our site uses SSL encryption, and we limit who can access your information. No website can guarantee complete security, but we take reasonable steps to protect your data.
Children
Our site is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information. If you believe a child has shared information with us, please contact us and we’ll delete it.
Changes to this policy
If we update this policy, we’ll post the new version here with a new effective date.
Contact us
White Squirrel Institute
175 East Main St.
Brevard, NC 28712
whitesquirrelinstitute@gmail.com
(828) 548-0491