Privacy Policy

Effective Date: July 22, 2026

Who We Are

The Image of God Institute is a nonprofit Catholic apostolate that invites Christians to a greater awareness of our identity as human persons created in the image of God. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect through imageofgodinstitute.org, how we use it, and the choices you have.

By using this website, you agree to the practices described below.

Information We Collect

Information You Give Us

We collect information you voluntarily provide when you interact with the Institute, including when you:

• Submit our contact form
• Submit a prayer request
• Subscribe to our newsletter or email updates
• Register for a retreat, conference, seminar, or parish event
• Make a donation or inquire about planned giving
• Email us directly

Depending on the form, this may include your name, email address, mailing address, phone number, parish or diocese, event preferences, and any message or intention you choose to share with us.

Information Collected Automatically

Like most websites, ours automatically records certain technical information when you visit. This may include your IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, referring website, pages viewed, and the dates and times of your visits. We use this information in aggregate to understand how the site is used and to keep it running securely.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to remember your preferences, keep the site functioning properly, and measure general traffic patterns. Third-party services we use, such as website analytics and embedded video players, may also set cookies.

You can disable or delete cookies through your browser settings. Some parts of the site may not work as intended if you do.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Respond to your questions, requests, and messages
• Pray for the intentions you submit
• Send newsletters, event announcements, and formation resources you have asked to receive
• Process donations and send acknowledgments and tax receipts
• Register and communicate with you about retreats, conferences, and parish events
• Maintain donor and participant records
• Improve our website, programs, and outreach
• Comply with legal, accounting, and reporting obligations

We do not use your information for automated decision-making or profiling.

Prayer Requests

Prayer requests submitted through our website are received by the Institute and are treated with care and discretion. We do not publish prayer requests, share the names or details of those who submit them, or use prayer request submissions for fundraising or marketing purposes.

Please do not include sensitive medical, financial, or legal details in a prayer request. Share only what you are comfortable entrusting to us.

Donations and Payment Processing

Online donations are processed through a third-party payment platform. When you give online, your payment card and billing information is collected and processed directly by that provider under its own privacy and security practices. The Image of God Institute does not receive or store your full payment card number.

We do receive donor information such as your name, contact details, and gift history so that we can acknowledge your generosity, issue receipts, and maintain accurate financial records.

We do not sell, rent, trade, or exchange our donor list.

Email and Newsletter Communications

If you subscribe to our newsletter or provide your email address through one of our forms, we may send you updates about the Institute’s programs, events, articles, and mission.

Every marketing email includes an unsubscribe link. You may opt out at any time, or email us and we will remove you promptly. We may still send you transactional messages, such as donation receipts or event confirmations, after you unsubscribe.

How We Share Information

We share personal information only in limited circumstances:

• With service providers who help us operate the Institute, such as our website host, email platform, event registration tools, and donation processor, and only as needed to perform those services
• With professional advisors such as accountants or auditors, in the ordinary course of nonprofit administration
• When required by law, subpoena, or valid legal process, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of the Institute or others
• In connection with a merger, reorganization, or transfer of the Institute’s assets to another nonprofit entity

We do not sell your personal information.

Third-Party Services and Links

Our website contains embedded content, such as videos, and links to other websites. Embedded content behaves as if you had visited the third-party website directly, and those sites may collect data about you, use cookies, and track your interaction with that content.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of websites we do not operate. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any site you visit.

Children’s Privacy

Our website is intended for a general adult audience. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If a parent or guardian believes a child has provided us information, please contact us and we will delete it.

For retreats, conferences, or parish programs involving minors, registration is completed by a parent or guardian, and any information collected is used solely to administer that program.

Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as it is needed to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, including maintaining donor and participant records and meeting legal, tax, and accounting requirements. When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to delete it or remove identifying details.

Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the information we collect, including secure hosting and encrypted connections. No method of transmission or storage over the internet is completely secure, however, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Privacy Choices and Rights

You may:

• Ask what personal information we hold about you
• Request that we correct or update your information
• Request that we delete your information, subject to our record-keeping obligations
• Unsubscribe from our email communications at any time
• Ask that we stop contacting you by mail or phone

To make a request, email us at michael@imageofgodinstitute.org. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request.

Residents of California and Other States

Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under state privacy laws, including the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to request deletion, and the right to be free from discrimination for exercising those rights. The Image of God Institute does not sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.

Visitors from Outside the United States

Our website is operated in the United States. If you visit from another country, your information will be transferred to and processed in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from those in your home country.

Do Not Track

Our website does not currently respond to Do Not Track signals from web browsers, as no common standard for these signals has been adopted.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the effective date at the top of