EMI’s Privacy Policy applies to persons from all countries, where permitted by local laws. This Privacy Policy has also been created to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the changes to EU privacy law related to all UK/EU persons.
We are committed to only using your personal information as detailed in this privacy policy. We welcome any feedback you may have at privacy@emiworld.org.
Your Privacy Is Important to Us
Engineering Ministries International (EMI) is committed to the highest standards of integrity in all fundraising efforts and to the ethical collection, retention and use of information about donors and donor prospects in the furtherance of our ministry. We are committed to balancing our needs to collect and record information with your right to privacy and security.
We ensure that we have appropriate technical controls in place to protect all the personal data you provide. Our network is routinely checked and monitored to prevent unauthorised access.
Access to your data is restricted and so is only accessible by authorised EMI staff members. Suitable training is provided for those with access to personal data.
However, we hope you understand that despite all our efforts, the internet is not always 100% secure. Therefore, you do submit data at your own risk.
When You Visit Our Website
On the EMI website, we do not require you to identify yourself or reveal any personal information, and we have no way of identifying you. We use a privacy-friendly website analytics software which doesn't use cookies and complies with the GDPR, ePrivacy (including PECR), COPPA and CCPA. If you provide personal information while using our website, we may use that to provide information or services that you have requested.
Social Media
We may collect information that you make available on social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter. We recommend that you review the privacy policy for these social media platforms to find out additional information for how your data is processed and used.
When You Provide Your Data
The only way we will obtain identifying information about you when you visit our site is if you choose to provide that information to EMI. You choose to do so when you send us an e-mail, make a donation, or create an EMI account.
We may use the personal data that we have collected about you to:
- Provide information about our work including updates of upcoming events
- Ask for financial or non-financial support, such as volunteering or prayer
- Process donations that you have given us
- Keep records of your relationship with us, i.e. attendance on project trips
- Classify supporters by location, experience, discipline, and other categories
- Analyse personal data we collect from you and use publicly available*
- information to aid our understanding of our supporters
*Publicly available information includes news articles, websites, blogs, fundraising sites, or information that you have given permission to other organisations to share (under their privacy policy), such as social media. We may use this information to identify those interested in providing financial or non-financial support to EMI based on interest to similar organisations.
The following is excerpted from the Engineering Ministries International Incorporating Policy Documents, which were approved by our Board of Directors in 1982. This is our guarantee that we will not misuse the information you entrust to us, and that we will never rent, exchange, sell or give your name to another person or organisation for their use.
Engineering Ministries International is a non-profit organisation receiving income through private donations. To ensure the privacy of these sources, donors and amounts of donations will not be disclosed outside of EMI.
Names and addresses of individuals and organisations in the database cannot be given to outside people / sources without permission from the individual / organisation.
When You Donate
EMI will collect any information needed to complete your transaction, receipt your gift and communicate back to you, in addition to retaining records for tax and accounting purposes. Our site uses a securely encrypted contribution response form. Credit card numbers are used only for contribution/payment processing and are not retained for other purposes. You will not receive other communications from EMI unless you create an EMI account and positively identify your preference to receive such communications.
Consent to Contact You
We may contact you via email or telephone only if you have given us consent to do so. We will only communicate with you in accordance with your preferences, which you are able to update or change at any time by updating your “Contact Information & Preferences” in your EMI account profile online or by contacting us via email privacy@emiworld.org.
Applying to Volunteer with Us
When you provide confidential information to us, such as your CV/resume or other information requested on your volunteer profile, we will use this information to help us better understand your interest areas and better connect you to volunteer opportunities. This information will not be distributed outside of EMI. We may also seek and use third party information, such as references, qualifications, licenses, criminal record checks, checking services, and verification of any information provided by you.
When you provide personal or sensitive information, such as religious beliefs, dietary restrictions, mobility requirements or health issues*, to volunteer or travel on a trip with us, we will store and disclose this information to:
- Deliver an appropriate level of volunteer information to EMI staff and any ministry partners you will be serving alongside, where necessary to provide safe trips and events for all included
- Monitor the quality of the volunteer experience (i.e. trip, event, internship)
- Support the recruitment process when a Christian community is necessary for the role
- Provide anonymised data to monitor compliance with equal opportunities policy
- Answer any questions or feedback
*We do not keep any medical records for volunteers, except personal information provided by the volunteer, such as dietary restrictions or health issues. It is the responsibility of the volunteer to contact their health care provider prior to attending an EMI trip or event to determine appropriate medical preparation (i.e. vaccinations). It is the responsibility of the volunteer to inform the appropriate EMI staff member (i.e. project leader or volunteer coordinator) of any medical conditions that they should be aware of (i.e. allergies). EMI may keep information provided by you regarding health for future involvement, but we do not require or collect any proof of vaccinations or other medical records for our volunteers.
How Long Do We Keep Your Data?
We will keep your information for only as long as it is necessary. We take account of legal obligations, tax considerations, records related to protection of vulnerable populations, and other reasonable requirements.
We will retain details of donations for 7 or more years to meet tax and accounting requirements, and we will retain sufficient records indefinitely for purposes of protecting vulnerable populations.
Where Do We Store Your Data?
We use a cloud-based system; therefore, data may be processed on a server outside your country of residence. We make sure that personal data is held in compliance with data protection regulations. We take all reasonable actions to ensure your data is stored and processed securely in accordance with this policy. By submitting your personal information, you agree to the transfer, storing, and processing of your information.
When Do We Share Your Data?
We do not share your personal information with other charities. We may pass on your information, if required, by law or by a regulatory body, such as a financial audit or law enforcement investigation. We may use IP address information to identify a user if we feel there are (or may be) any safety or security issues according to any legal requirements. We may employ third parties to process data, such as processing donations. These third parties are bound by contract to protect your data in line with their own policies.
How Do We Treat Children & Vulnerable Persons?
We do not actively seek to collect personal data belonging to children. If material is created that could lead to someone under age 18 providing their details, we request that their legal parent or guardian give their permission before any personal information is provided to us.
We understand the importance of identifying and supporting persons in vulnerable circumstances. EMI maintains personnel policies protecting vulnerable populations, and all EMI personnel are subject to background checks and/or other screening procedures.
Now May We Ask a Favour of You?
The articles, photographs, video footage, logos, etc. that you view on the EMI website are either the copyrighted property of EMI or are copyrighted by another company and used with their permission. Please honour these copyrights and do not reproduce these materials without our express written permission.
What You Can Do
You have the right to request to have your data removed from our database. You have the right to update your details and your preferences for receiving information, including the right to opt out of any communication. To do so, you can update your information or preferences through your EMI account profile or by contacting us via email. You have the right to request to view all data that we have about you. To see a copy of the personal information we hold, please contact us via email (privacy@emiworld.org).
If requested by you, we will delete all personal data we have about you that are not necessary to keep for record purposes (e.g. tax audits, protection of vulnerable populations, activity/participation records, etc.)
EU/UK citizens also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk.
Updating Our Policy
This policy was updated in July 2022. We may amend this policy as needed, including to take account of changes in legislation and data protection regulations. By continuing to use our website, you will have agreed to any changes to our policy.
We Want to Hear from You
We welcome your feedback and any comments or questions you may have on this policy. Please contact us via email (privacy@emiworld.org).