Privacy Policy | Black Dollar Initiative

Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 29, 2026

This Privacy Notice for Black Dollar Initiative (“we,” “us,” or “our”) describes how and why we might access, collect, store, use, and/or share (“process”) your personal information when you use our services (“Services”), including when you:

  • Visit our website at www.wearebdi.org or any website of ours that links to this Privacy Notice
  • Engage with our research, data tools, publications, or public-interest reporting
  • Submit information to us (e.g., tips, questions, contact requests, or participation in surveys/research activities)
  • Engage with us in other related ways, including events or communications

Questions or concerns? Reading this Privacy Notice will help you understand your privacy rights and choices. We are responsible for decisions about how your personal information is processed. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Services. If you still have any questions or concerns, please contact us at [email protected].

Summary of Key Points

This summary provides key points from our Privacy Notice. You can find more details about any topic by using the table of contents.

  • What personal information do we process? We may process personal information depending on how you interact with us and the Services, the choices you make, and the features you use.
  • Do we process sensitive personal information? We may collect limited sensitive personal information, such as race or ethnicity, only when users voluntarily provide it through optional assessments or surveys. This information is collected with explicit user consent and is used solely for research, analysis, and aggregate reporting purposes. We do not use sensitive personal information to identify individuals, and any public-facing insights are shared only in de-identified or aggregated form. Our research may analyze race-related information at the corporate, aggregate, or publicly reported level (not at the individual user level).
  • Do we collect information from third parties? We may collect and analyze information from publicly available sources (e.g., corporate disclosures, government filings, and other lawful public records) for research and public-interest purposes.
  • How do we process your information? To provide, improve, and administer our Services, communicate with you, for security and fraud prevention, to comply with law, and for public-interest research and reporting where applicable.
  • When and with whom do we share personal information? We may share information in specific situations and with categories of service providers (e.g., hosting, analytics, storage) as described below.
  • How do we keep your information safe? We use reasonable organizational and technical measures, but no online service can be guaranteed 100% secure.
  • What are your rights? Depending on where you live, you may have rights regarding your personal information.
  • How do you exercise your rights? Contact us at https://wearebdi.org/about-us/ or [email protected].

Table of Contents

  1. What information do we collect?
  2. How do we process your information?
  3. What legal bases do we rely on to process your personal information?
  4. When and with whom do we share your personal information?
  5. Do we use cookies and other tracking technologies?
  6. How long do we keep your information?
  7. How do we keep your information safe?
  8. Do we collect information from minors?
  9. What are your privacy rights?
  10. Controls for do-not-track features
  11. Do United States residents have specific privacy rights?
  12. Public-interest research & ethical data use
  13. Do we make updates to this notice?
  14. How can you contact us about this notice?
  15. How can you review, update, or delete the data we collect from you?

1. What information do we collect?

Personal information you disclose to us

In Short: We collect personal information that you provide to us.

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you contact us, submit an inquiry, participate in a survey or research activity, sign up for updates, or otherwise communicate with us.

Personal Information Provided by You. The personal information we collect may include:

  • Names
  • Email addresses
  • Phone numbers (if provided)
  • Business contact information (if provided)
  • Information you choose to include in messages, tips, submissions, or forms

Sensitive Information. We may collect limited sensitive personal information, such as race or ethnicity, only when users voluntarily provide it through optional assessments. This information is collected with explicit user consent and is used solely for research, analysis, and aggregate reporting purposes. We do not use sensitive personal information to identify individuals, and any public-facing insights are shared only in de-identified or aggregated form.

Information automatically collected

In Short: Some information (such as your IP address and/or browser/device characteristics) is collected automatically when you visit our Services.

We automatically collect certain information when you visit, use, or navigate the Services. This information does not reveal your specific identity (like your name or contact information) but may include device and usage information, such as IP address, browser and device characteristics, operating system, language preferences, referring URLs, country, approximate location, and information about how and when you use our Services.

Information from public and third-party sources (research)

In Short: We may collect information from publicly available sources for research and reporting.

As part of our public-interest research and analysis, we may collect and analyze information from publicly available sources, such as corporate disclosures (e.g., ESG/CSR reports), government filings, lawful public records, and other published materials. This data is typically about organizations and programs, not individual users.

2. How do we process your information?

In Short: We process your information to provide, improve, and administer our Services, communicate with you, for security and fraud prevention, to comply with law, and for public-interest research and reporting where applicable.

  • To respond to inquiries and provide support.
  • To deliver and improve our Services.
  • To send administrative information (e.g., policy updates, service notices).
  • To protect our Services (security, fraud prevention, debugging).
  • To identify usage trends and improve site performance and content.
  • To conduct public-interest research and reporting using publicly available information where applicable.
  • To comply with legal obligations.

3. What legal bases do we rely on to process your personal information?

In Short: We process your personal information only when we believe it is necessary and we have a valid legal reason under applicable law, such as consent, contract necessity, legitimate interests, legal obligations, and (where applicable) public-interest research and journalism.

If you are located in the EU or UK: We may rely on the following legal bases:

  • Consent (you may withdraw at any time where applicable)
  • Performance of a Contract (if applicable)
  • Legitimate Interests (e.g., site security, improving Services)
  • Legal Obligations
  • Vital Interests
  • Public-interest research and journalism exemptions (where applicable under law)

If you are located in Canada: We may process your information with express or implied consent, or as otherwise permitted by law.

4. When and with whom do we share your personal information?

In Short: We may share information in specific situations and with categories of service providers.

Vendors and Service Providers. We may share data with third-party vendors that help us operate our Services, such as:

  • Cloud computing and hosting
  • Website analytics
  • Data storage and security providers
  • Communication tools (email/contact form routing)

Business Transfers. If we engage in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

5. Do we use cookies and other tracking technologies?

In Short: We may use cookies and similar technologies to collect and store information.

We may use cookies and similar tracking technologies (like pixels) to maintain site functionality, prevent fraud, improve performance, and understand usage.

Google Analytics

We may use Google Analytics to track and analyze website usage. To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across websites, visit: Google Analytics Opt-out. For more information, visit Google’s Privacy & Terms pages.

6. How long do we keep your information?

In Short: We keep your information as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Notice unless required by law.

We retain personal information for as long as necessary for the purposes set out in this notice, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. For research and public-interest reporting, some information may be retained to preserve the integrity of published analysis, respond to legal obligations, or maintain records of consent where applicable.

7. How do we keep your information safe?

In Short: We use reasonable security measures designed to protect your personal information, but no online system is 100% secure.

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures designed to protect personal information. However, no electronic transmission or storage technology can be guaranteed to be fully secure.

8. Do we collect information from minors?

In Short: We do not knowingly collect data from or market to children under 18.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you believe a minor has provided personal information, please contact us at [email protected].

9. What are your privacy rights?

In Short: Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or limit processing of your personal information.

You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information where applicable. To make a request, contact us at https://wearebdi.org/about-us/ or [email protected].

10. Controls for do-not-track features

Most web browsers include a Do-Not-Track (“DNT”) feature. Because there is no uniform standard for DNT, we do not currently respond to DNT signals. If standards change, we will update this notice.

11. Do United States residents have specific privacy rights?

In Short: If you are a resident of certain U.S. states, you may have rights regarding your personal information under applicable laws.

This section can remain substantially the same as your original policy, including categories of personal information and state-specific rights. If you want, paste your “Section 11” table back in here and I’ll reformat it cleanly for the BDI page so it reads well in WordPress.

12. Public-interest research & ethical data use

We collect and use information with the intent to promote transparency, public-interest research, accountability, and shared value. We do not use personal information to exploit, manipulate, or unfairly disadvantage individuals or communities.

Where we publish research findings, we aim to use aggregated, de-identified, or contextualized information. We may analyze race-related corporate data that is publicly reported or lawfully obtained for research and accountability purposes. Our tags, classifications, and summaries are not endorsements.

13. Do we make updates to this notice?

In Short: Yes, we may update this notice from time to time.

We may update this Privacy Notice. The updated version will be indicated by an updated “Last updated” date. We encourage you to review this notice periodically.

14. How can you contact us about this notice?

If you have questions or comments about this notice, you may contact us at:

15. How can you review, update, or delete the data we collect from you?

Depending on applicable laws, you may have the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal information we hold about you. To make a request, visit https://wearebdi.org/about-us/ or email [email protected].

Note: This page is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.