GoFundMe Cookie Policy
Effective Date: September 1, 2024
This Cookie Policy (“Cookie Policy”) describes how GoFundMe Group Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries, including Classy, Inc., GoFundMe, Inc. and GoFundMe Ireland Ltd (collectively “GoFundMe,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) uses cookies and similar technologies when you interact with our websites, websites hosted by us on behalf of our non-profit clients and mobile apps (collectively, the “Sites”), and your choices regarding our use of cookies. We will refer to the cookies and other technologies identified here collectively as “Cookies” for purposes of this Cookie Policy.
About Cookies
A cookie is a small text file of letters and numbers stored on your browser or device. When you interact with the Sites, we try to make that experience simple and meaningful. Our Sites use Cookies to distinguish you from other visitors to our Sites. This helps us to provide you with website functionality, understand our visitors, and improve our Sites.
When you visit our Sites, both first-party and third-party Cookies may be placed on your browser or device. First-party Cookies are those placed directly by us or from our website domain. Third-party Cookies are those placed by our vendors or partners, which may include social networking services. Both types of Cookies allow us or our vendors or partners to access information about your device and visit. We use both persistent Cookies and session Cookies. Persistent Cookies stay on your browser until they are deleted or expire. Session Cookies last until you close our Sites or browser.
We use Cookies for the following purposes:
- Strictly Necessary or Essential Cookies. These are essential Cookies that are enabled by default because they are necessary to operate our Sites. They include, for example, Cookies that enable you to log in, complete forms, display our content, and make donations. They also enable us to identify and prevent security risks and comply with our legal obligations.
- Functional Cookies. These Cookies allow us to enable additional functionality (e.g., third-party video or audio), remember your settings and preferences (e.g., language or region), and customize or personalize your experience (e.g., greeting you or recommending content based on prior visits).
- Analytics Cookies. These Cookies allow us to recognize and count visitors and understand how you interact with our Sites. They help us to know how visitors reach our Sites, analyze usage patterns, and improve our Sites (e.g., by ensuring that users find what they are looking for). These Cookies may also be used to limit the number of times you see our online advertisements and to measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns.
- Advertising Cookies. These Cookies use information about your activity on our Sites (e.g., pages you view and links you click) to deliver advertisements that are relevant to your interests and optimize our ad campaigns on third-party websites and apps. This includes our ads on social media platforms. These Cookies may also share information through social media “share” or other similar features on our Sites, or when you engage with our content on or through a social media platform such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and X/Twitter. If you disable these Cookies, you may still see our ads on third-party websites or apps, but they will be less relevant to you.
We also use pixels, JavaScript tags, and similar tracking technologies on our Sites. Pixels (also known as clear GIFs) are tiny images embedded in a webpage and can be used to place cookies on a browser or device. JavaScript tags are snippets of code that are embedded in a webpage. Both pixels and JavaScript tags require calling a server (a computer that delivers web pages), which provides us or our vendor or partner with information about your device and visit. Similarly, our website and email campaigns use tracking URLs (also known as tracking links), which are used to track the performance of marketing and advertising campaigns across websites and engagement channels. If you use our mobile app, we may also use mobile device identifiers consisting of numbers and letters to recognize your device.
Why We Use Cookies
We use Cookies to collect information about your access to and use of the Sites, including to: (1) allow you to navigate and use all the features provided by our Sites; (2) customize elements of the layout and/or content within the Sites and remember that you have visited us before; (3) identify the number of unique visitors we receive; (4) improve the Sites and learn which functions of the Sites are most popular with users; (5) understand how you use the Sites (e.g., by learning how long you spend on the Sites and where you have come to the Sites from) and (6) marketing our Sites and other services to you.
We use web analytics vendors on our Sites, such as those of Google Analytics, to help us analyze how users use the Sites, including by noting the website from which you arrive, and providing certain features to you including Google Signal features such as user ID tracking, dynamic remarketing, interest-based advertising, audience targeting, behavioral reporting, demographics and interests reporting, user segment analysis, device reporting, display advertising, and video ads reporting. The information collected by the technology will be disclosed to or collected directly by these vendors, who use the information to evaluate your use of the Sites. This may result in you seeing advertisements for our Sites when you visit other websites. To limit Google Analytics from using your information for analytics, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on by clicking here. You can also adjust your advertising settings by clicking here.
We use vendors to help us understand and analyze how visitors use our services, and to improve the Sites. They may collect the following types of information from users of our Sites: device IP Address, device screen size, device type (unique device identifiers), browser information, geographic location, preferred language used to display the Sites, and details about your use of the Sites.
As we adopt additional technologies, we may gather additional information through other methods. We will notify you of such changes with updates to this Cookie Policy.
Your Cookie Preferences
You may choose to disable Cookies we use that are not essential. If you disable or opt out of our use of Cookies, some or all of our Sites may not work as intended.
Some web and mobile device browsers automatically accept Cookies but, if you prefer, you can change your browser to prevent that or to notify you each time a cookie is set.
Depending on your location, you may receive a cookie notification when you first visit our Sites. By clicking “Accept” or “Okay” in that notification, you consent to the use of all cookies described there. Where applicable, you may also choose to “Reject” cookies, which will disable all non-necessary cookies. You can change these choices at any time using our cookie preferences tool. If you do not see a notification, you consent to the use of cookies and similar technologies for the purposes described in this Cookie Policy by continuing to visit or use our Sites.
You can also consult the “Help” section of your browser for more information (e.g., Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari). The Digital Advertising Alliance (“DAA”) and Network Advertising Initiative (“NAI”) offer tools for you to choose whether participating third parties may use your information for targeted advertising. To opt out of such use by such third parties, visit the DAA AdChoices Tool at youradchoices.com/control and the NAI Consumer Opt-Out Tool at optout.networkadvertising.org. For European Economic Area (EEA) and United Kingdom users, visit youronlinechoices.eu. For Canadian users, visit youradchoices.ca/en/tools. In connection with Cookies operated by social networking services, you can visit your settings with each of the social networking services to exercise your choice about those technologies.
We do not control any of the above third-party mechanisms or opt-out links and are not responsible for any choices you make using these mechanisms or the continued availability or accuracy of these mechanisms. If your browsers are configured to reject Cookies when you visit these opt-out pages, or you subsequently erase your Cookies, use a different computer, or change web browsers, your opt-out may no longer be effective.
Some mobile operating systems (e.g., Android and iOS) allow you to delete or opt out of using your mobile advertising identifier for certain advertising activities or related purposes. You can generally find information on device identifier choices in your mobile operating system menu under “Settings” > “Privacy” or a similar option on your mobile device. If you are accessing our services through a mobile device, you can also update your privacy settings on your device by setting the “Limit Ad Tracking” and Diagnostics and Usage setting property located in the settings screen of your Apple iPhone or iPad, or by resetting your Android ID through apps that are available in the Play Store. You can also limit information collection by uninstalling the App on your device and you can use the standard uninstall process available as part of your device for this purpose.
Please note that because these opt-out mechanisms are specific to the device or browser on which they are exercised, you will need to opt out on every browser and device that you use.
Cookie Preferences
Depending on applicable law, you may be able to disable cookies for functionality, analytics, and/or advertising in your cookie preferences here.
Cookie Statement: Information About Our Use Of Cookies And Other Technologies
Effective Date: 6/11/2019
Like many websites, our Services (as defined in ourPrivacy Policy) use “cookies” and other small files (as further described below) to help us customize your experience, analyze our web traffic, and improve our offerings. These cookies distinguish you from other users of our Services. Websites are now required to obtain explicit consent when using or storing cookies (or similar technologies) on your computer or mobile device if you are located in the European Union. This policy intends to provide our visitors with clear and comprehensive information about the cookies we use and the purposes for using those cookies. For more information on how we use your personal information, see our Privacy Policy. This Cookie Statement is and will be treated as part of our Terms of Service and is automatically incorporated therein.
For further information about this Cookie Statement, please contact: mailto:[email protected] or fill out a web form here.
What is a cookie?
Cookies are small data files that are stored by the web browser (for example, Chrome, Internet Explorer, or Safari) on your computer, mobile device, tablet, or other internet-enabled device. Cookies allow a web server to transfer data to a device for recordkeeping and other purposes. They allow websites to store things like user preferences. You can think of cookies as providing a ‘memory’ for the website, so that it can recognize you when you come back and respond appropriately.
What is a web beacon?
Web beacons, such as clear GIFs, web bugs, tracking pixels, or pixel tags, are tiny graphics with a unique identifier, similar in function to cookies, and are used to track the online movements of web users. In contrast to cookies, which are stored on a user’s computer hard drive, web beacons are embedded invisibly on web pages and are about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. We facilitate our clients’ ability to learn more about your interest in their campaigns at their request through their use of these web beacons on our Services. In many instances, these technologies are reliant on cookies to function properly. As a result, declining cookies will impair their functioning.
How are these technologies used?
All of these technologies perform important and useful functions. Namely, they:
- make it possible to provide personalized pages for visitors;
- help advertisers avoid repeatedly serving the same ads to the same visitor;
- help website owners determine which sections of their sites are more appealing;
- help advertisers learn which advertisements are of interest to our end users;
- help us track e-mail response rates, measure the success of our marketing campaigns, identify when our e-mails are viewed and track whether our e-mails are forwarded; and
- once you have logged in, identify you, so that you can navigate to secure areas of our Services.
Key concepts
WHAT IS DEVICE IDENTIFICATION?
Device identification is a technology that identifies devices by collecting information from the browser on the device, such as the browser version, operating system, IP address, installed fonts, time zone, and more. These pieces of information are used to uniquely identify a device. The device identification generated through the device identification process may be stored in a cookie.
WHAT IS ONLINE BEHAVIORAL ADVERTISING?
Online behavioral advertising refers to the practice of online advertisers and website operators using information collected through both first and third party cookies for the purpose of building user behavior profiles and for delivering targeted advertising and content to users based on user preferences.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COOKIES?
First and third-party cookies: whether a cookie is ‘first’ or ‘third’ party refers to the domain placing the cookie. First-party cookies are those set by a website that is being visited by the user at the time (e.g., cookies placed by www.classy.org).
Third-party cookies are cookies that are set by a domain other than that of the website being visited by the user. If a user visits a website and another entity sets a cookie through that website this would be a third-party cookie. Third party cookies enable third party features or functionality to be provided on or through the website (e.g., advertising, interactive content, and analytics). The parties that set these third party cookies can recognize your computer both when it visits the applicable website and also when it visits certain other websites.
Persistent cookies remain on a user’s device for the period of time specified in the cookie. They are activated each time that the user visits the website that created that particular cookie.
Session cookies allow website operators to link the actions of a user during a browser session. A browser session starts when users open a browser window and finishes when they close the browser window. Session cookies are created temporarily. Once you close the browser, all session cookies are deleted.
Local storage objects and Flash cookies are different from browser cookies because of the amount of data, type of data, and how data is stored. These cookies, among other things, collect and store information about your use of our Services, fraud prevention, and for other Site or Application operations. Cookie management tools provided by your browser will not remove Flash cookies. To learn how to manage privacy and storage settings for Flash cookies click here: http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager.html#117118.
Please note that setting the Flash Player to restrict or limit acceptance of Flash cookies may reduce or impede the functionality of some Flash applications, including, potentially, Flash applications used in connection with our Services.
What cookies do we use and why?
The cookies used on our site are categorized as follows:
- Strictly Necessary
- Performance
- Functionality
- Targeting
Strictly Necessary
“Strictly Necessary” cookies let you navigate the Services and use essential features like secure areas and shopping baskets. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. These cookies do not gather any information about you that could be used for marketing or identifying where you’ve been on the internet.
We use these Strictly Necessary cookies to:
- remember the goods and services you requested when you get to the checkout page;
- identify you as being logged in to our Services;
- make sure you connect to the intended part of our Services when we make any changes to the way the Services work;
- route users to specific applications of a Service or specific servers; and
- remember information you have entered on forms when you navigate to different pages during a web browser session.
Accepting these cookies is a condition of using the Services, so if you block these cookies, you may not be able to use the Services as you intend, and security controls may not function properly or fully during your visit.
Performance
“Performance” cookies collect information about how you use our Services (e.g., which pages you visit and if you experience any errors). These cookies are only used to help us improve how our Services work, understand what interests our users, and measure the effectiveness of our advertising.
We use Performance cookies for:
- web analytics: to provide statistics on how our Services are used;
- error management: to help us improve the Services by measuring any errors that occur;
- testing designs: to test different designs of our Services;
- ad response rates: to see how effective our advertisements are, including those pointing to our sites;
- Content management: to help optimize the delivery of certain media, such as video; and
- Affiliate tracking: to provide feedback to partners that one of our visitors also visited their website. This can include details of any products purchased.
Some of our Performance cookies are managed for us by third parties. Where this is the case, we don’t permit the third party to use the cookies for any purpose other than those listed above.
For example, Classy uses Google Analytics. You can review how Google may use your data at www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/ (or any other URL Google may use to display its partner privacy policy from time to time).
Functionality
“Functionality” cookies are used to provide services or to remember settings to improve your visit.
We use Functionality cookies to:
- show you when you’re logged in to the Services;
- remember settings you’ve applied, such as layout, text size, preferences, and colors;
- remember volume settings when playing video; and
- remember if we’ve already asked you if you want to fill in a survey.
Some of these cookies are managed for us by third parties. Where this is the case, we don’t permit the third party to use the cookies for any purpose other than those listed above.
Targeting
“Targeting” cookies are linked to services provided by third parties. These cookies are placed through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant ads on third party websites. They work by uniquely identifying your browser and device. If you block these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
We use Targeting cookies to:
- link to social networks like Facebook that may subsequently use information about your visit to target advertising to you on third party websites;
- enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting, or events you might attend, through third party social networking and other websites;
- provide advertisers, whether directly or through a third party such as a media agency, ad network, or exchange with information on your visit so that they can present you with advertisements in which you may be interested; and
- provide information to third party data aggregators for the purposes of matching, audience research and the creation of audience segments.
Our clients may also employ technology that is used to measure the effectiveness of advertisements. You can control whether or not these cookies are used but blocking them may prevent us from offering you some services or targeted advertising.
How to delete and block our cookies
You block cookies by activating the setting on your browser that allows you to refuse cookies. However, if you use your browser settings to block all cookies (including essential cookies) you may not be able to access all or parts of our Services. Unless you have adjusted your browser setting so that it will refuse cookies, our system will issue cookies as soon you visit our Services. Turning off or deleting cookies will not prevent device identification and related data collection from occurring.
Turning off the browser’s cookies will prevent web beacons and cookies from measuring the relevance and effectiveness of our Sites/emails and advertising as well as the tailored advertising brought to you by our partners. You may also not be able to use all the interactive features of our Sites/emails if cookies are disabled. Consumers who no longer wish to receive tailored advertisements from us, third party advertising networks, or, if you would like more information about this practice, please visit www.aboutads.info.
Can I withdraw my consent?
Once you have given us your consent to the use of cookies, we store a cookie on your computer or device to remember this for next time. Your consent will expire periodically. If you wish to withdraw your consent at any time, you will need to delete your cookies using your internet browser settings, or if you are in the European Union, you will have the option to use our Website Cookie Preference Tool, as described below.
How can I opt out of having cookies placed on my device(s)?
You can exercise your cookie preferences by visiting the OneTrust preference center by clicking this link: http://preferences-mgr.truste.com/ and/or Classy’s Cookie Preferences. For further information about deleting or blocking cookies, please visit: https://cookiepedia.co.uk/how-to-manage-cookies or https://www.aboutcookies.org/how-to-delete-cookies/.
Choices
To obtain information about opting-out of targeted advertising, you may contact one of the following industry groups:
- Digital Advertising Alliance (“DAA”): https://www.aboutads.info/choices/
- Network Advertising Institute (“NAI”): http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/
- European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance (“EDAA”): http://www.youronlinechoices.eu/ and http://www.edaa.eu/
Please note that when using the ad industry opt-out tools above, such opting-out only applies to members of that specific industry group and only those members will no longer deliver targeted content or ads to you. It does not mean you will no longer receive any targeted content or ads on our Sites or other websites. You may continue to receive advertisements, for example, based on the particular website that you are viewing. Also, if your browsers are configured to block cookies when you visit this opt-out page, or you subsequently erase your cookies, use a different computer or change web browsers, your opt-out may no longer be effective.
More information about cookies
Useful information about cookies can be found at: https://www.allaboutcookies.org
Information on the ICC (UK) UK cookie guide can be found at: hhttps://www.cookielaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/icc_uk_cookiesguide_revnov.pdf
How often will we update this Cookie Statement?
We may update this Cookie Statement from time to time in order to reflect, for example, changes to the cookies we use or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Please therefore re-visit this Cookie Statement regularly to stay informed about our use of cookies and related technologies.