Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Rising Achiever. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, use our services, or interact with us. Your privacy is of the utmost importance to us, and we are committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your rights.

This policy applies to all users of our services, including award nominees, applicants, partners, and visitors to our website. By using our services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. Data We Collect

We collect information that you provide directly to us, information we collect automatically, and information we may receive from third parties.

A. Information You Provide to Us:

• Personal Identification Information: Name, email address, phone number, mailing address, and professional title.
• Nomination and Application Data: Information submitted as part of an award nomination or application, which may include professional history, accomplishments, project details, photos, videos, and supporting documents.
• Communication Data: Information you provide when you contact us for support, make an inquiry, or communicate with us in any other way.
• Payment Information: If you use our paid services, we collect payment information through our secure payment processing partners. We do not store credit card details on our servers.

B. Information We Collect Automatically:

• Log and Usage Data: We automatically collect information when you access and use our website, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, and the dates/times of your visits.
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our website and hold certain information. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our service.

3. How We Use Your Data

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

• To Provide and Manage Our Services: To process award nominations, manage applications, and deliver our core services.
• To Communicate with You: To respond to your inquiries, send you service-related updates, and provide customer support.
• For Marketing and Promotion: With your consent, we may use your information to send you newsletters, marketing materials, and information about events or services that may interest you. We may also use information from award winners (such as name, company, and photo) for promotional purposes on our website and other marketing channels.
• To Improve Our Services: To analyze usage trends and preferences, helping us improve our website, services, and user experience.
• To Ensure Security and Compliance: To maintain the security of our platform, prevent fraud, and comply with our legal obligations.

4. How We Share Your Data

We do not sell your personal data. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

• With Service Providers: We may share your data with third-party vendors and service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as payment processing, data analysis, email delivery, and hosting services. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we specify.
• With Judging Panels and Partners: Information submitted for award nominations will be shared with our internal review teams and external judging panels for evaluation purposes.
• For Legal Reasons: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or a government agency).
• With Your Consent: We may disclose your personal information for any other purpose with your explicit consent.

5. Data Security

We implement a variety of administrative, technical, and physical security measures to protect the security of your personal information. While we have taken reasonable steps to secure the personal data you provide to us, please be aware that no security system is impenetrable, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of our databases.

6. Data Retention

We will retain your personal data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. We will retain and use your data to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

7. Your Data Protection Rights (GDPR)

If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA), you have certain data protection rights. Rising Achiever aims to take reasonable steps to allow you to correct, amend, delete, or limit the use of your Personal Data. Your rights include:

• The right to access, update, or delete the information we have on you.
• The right of rectification. You have the right to have your information corrected if that information is inaccurate or incomplete.
• The right to object. You have the right to object to our processing of your Personal Data.
• The right of restriction. You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal information.
• The right to data portability. You have the right to be provided with a copy of the information we have on you in a structured, machine-readable, and commonly used format.
• The right to withdraw consent. You also have the right to withdraw your consent at any time where Rising Achiever relied on your consent to process your personal information.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@risingachiver.org

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help us understand your preferences and improve our site’s functionality. For more details, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to other websites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party’s site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.

10. Children’s Privacy

Our services are not intended for use by anyone under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children. If we become aware that we have collected Personal Data from a child without verification of parental consent, we take steps to remove that information from our servers.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information, including Personal Data, may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ from those of your jurisdiction. Your consent to this Privacy Policy followed by your submission of such information represents your agreement to that transfer.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the “Last Updated” date at the top. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

• Email: info@risingachiver.org