1. Introduction
Garden Tool Donation Finder ("we", "our", or "the website") is committed to transparent and responsible data handling. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and protect information when you visit and interact with https://gardendonate.online/.
We believe in data minimization: we do not require user accounts, passwords, or credit card numbers, and we only process information that is necessary to deliver our informational content, search helpers, and donor utilities.
2. Information We Collect and How We Use It
A. ZIP Code & Location Searches
Our website features location search tools designed to help you find nearby donation outlets:
- Manual Input: When you manually enter a ZIP code, city, or state in our search forms, this data is processed locally within your web browser to formulate outbound search queries (e.g. to Google Maps). We do not record, store, or sell your search queries on our servers, nor do we associate search queries with your personal identity.
- Browser Geolocation Feature: If you explicitly click the "Use My Location" button, your browser prompts you for permission to access your geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude). If you grant permission, these coordinates are used via a reverse geocoding API solely to resolve an approximate postal code or city name for the search input box. We do not store or track your GPS coordinates on our servers.
B. Donor Utilities & Calculators
When you use the Fair Market Value Estimator, Equipment Safety Checklist, Decision Wizard, or Donation Receipt Builder on our Donation Tools page, all calculations and item listings are processed entirely client-side in your browser. None of the item descriptions, custom valuation figures, or names entered into the receipt builder are transmitted to or stored on our servers.
C. Contact Form Inquiries
If you choose to submit feedback, report a broken link, or suggest an update via our Contact Us form, we collect your name, email address, inquiry topic, and message content. This information is used solely to respond to your specific inquiry, verify reported listing updates, and improve website quality. We do not share or sell your contact information to third parties for marketing purposes.
D. Technical Log Data
Like virtually all web servers, our hosting environment automatically logs standard technical information when you access our pages. This may include your Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type and version, device operating system, referring URL, pages viewed, and date/time stamps. This data is used solely for system administration, site security, bot mitigation, and server performance diagnostics.
3. Google Analytics & Anonymous Usage Metrics
We use Google Analytics (a web analytics service provided by Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA) with measurement ID G-3V9ND28MWL.
Google Analytics uses cookies and anonymous client identifiers to help us understand aggregated website traffic patterns, such as which donation guides are most helpful, how long visitors stay on pages, and which interactive features are utilized. Google Analytics processes information including your IP address (with IP anonymization enabled where applicable), device type, screen resolution, and navigation events.
You can prevent Google Analytics from collecting your browsing data across all websites by installing the official Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on.
4. Cookies and Web Technologies
A cookie is a small text file placed on your device by your web browser when visiting a website. Our website uses cookies in the following ways:
- Analytics Cookies: Placed by Google Analytics to distinguish unique sessions and calculate anonymous aggregate visitor counts.
- Functional Preferences: Temporary in-browser state storage that allows interactive tools (such as checklist states or filters) to function smoothly during your visit.
Managing Cookies: You can configure your web browser to refuse all cookies, alert you when a cookie is placed, or delete existing cookies. Instructions for doing so are available in your browser's "Help", "Settings", or "Privacy" menus. Note that disabling cookies may affect certain analytics or interactive functions, though core informational articles will remain accessible.
5. Future Third-Party Advertising (Google AdSense Readiness)
While our website is currently focused on providing free donor guides, in the future we may display advertisements served by reputable third-party advertising networks, such as Google AdSense, to help support the ongoing maintenance of our free educational content.
If third-party advertising is activated:
- Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this website or other websites on the Internet.
- Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve personalized or contextual ads to users based on their visits to our site and/or other sites across the web.
- Users may opt out of personalized advertising at any time by visiting Google Ads Settings or through the Network Advertising Initiative at optout.networkadvertising.org or aboutads.info.
6. Third-Party Links & External Organizations
Our website contains links to third-party organizations, including Habitat for Humanity ReStores, Goodwill Industries, The Salvation Army, tool lending libraries, community gardens, Google Maps, and OpenStreetMap. Once you click an outbound link and leave our domain, your browsing activity is governed by the privacy policies and terms of those third-party websites. We encourage you to review their privacy statements before submitting personal information or scheduling pickups.
7. Data Security
We implement standard, industry-recognized technical and operational security measures — including HTTPS encryption (Transport Layer Security / SSL) across all pages — to safeguard data transmitted between your browser and our servers. While no method of digital transmission or storage is 100% impenetrable, we actively monitor our systems to protect against unauthorized access or alteration.
8. Children's Privacy
Our website is an informational guide designed for general adult audiences interested in home, garden, and tool donation. We do not knowingly solicit or collect personal information from children under the age of 13 in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately so we can promptly delete it.
9. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your geographic location (such as under the European Union General Data Protection Regulation / GDPR or the California Consumer Privacy Act / CCPA), you may have certain rights regarding your personal data, including:
- The right to know what personal data is held about you.
- The right to request correction or deletion of your contact communications.
- The right to opt out of third-party analytics or future targeted advertising cookies.
To exercise any of these rights or ask questions about our data practices, please send a message through our Contact Us page.
10. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our website features, analytical tools, or legal requirements. When updates occur, we will revise the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of the website following any posted modifications constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
11. Contact Us Regarding Privacy
If you have questions, comments, or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, please visit our Contact Page and submit an inquiry.