1. Introduction

GetScholared ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our scholarship matching platform and services. Please read this policy carefully.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We collect information that you provide directly to us, including:

• Name and contact information (email address, phone number)
• Date of birth and age
• Educational information (school, GPA, intended major, education level)
• Demographic information (gender, ethnicity, citizenship status)
• Financial information (for scholarship matching purposes)
• Essays and application materials you create using our service
• Payment information (processed securely through Stripe)

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you use our Service, we automatically collect:

• Device information (IP address, browser type, operating system)
• Usage data (pages visited, features used, time spent)
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies
• Log data (access times, error logs)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Match you with relevant scholarships based on your profile
• Provide AI-powered essay assistance and application support
• Process payments and manage your account
• Send you notifications about deadlines and matched scholarships
• Improve and personalize our services
• Communicate with you about your account and our services
• Analyze usage patterns and optimize our platform
• Comply with legal obligations and prevent fraud
• Develop new features and services

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 We Do Not Sell Your Data

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

4.2 We May Share Information With:

• Service Providers: Third-party vendors who help us operate our service (e.g., Stripe for payments, Supabase for data storage, OpenAI for AI features)
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government request
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
• With Your Consent: When you explicitly authorize us to share your information

4.3 Scholarship Providers

When you click "Apply Now" on a scholarship, you will be directed to the scholarship provider's website. We do not automatically share your information with scholarship providers. Any information you submit through their application portal is governed by their privacy policy.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption of data in transit (SSL/TLS) and at rest
• Secure authentication through Supabase
• Regular security audits and monitoring
• Access controls and employee training
• Payment processing through PCI-compliant Stripe

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Privacy Rights

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal requirements)
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications
• Data Portability: Request your data in a machine-readable format
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing where applicable

To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@getscholared.com. We will respond within 30 days.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Maintain your session and keep you logged in
• Remember your preferences and settings
• Analyze how you use our service
• Improve user experience and performance

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of our service.

8. Third-Party Services

Our service integrates with third-party services that have their own privacy policies:

• Stripe: Payment processing (see Stripe's Privacy Policy)
• Supabase: Database and authentication (see Supabase's Privacy Policy)
• OpenAI: AI-powered features (see OpenAI's Privacy Policy)

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party services. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

9. Children's Privacy

Our service is intended for users aged 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete such information. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

10. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations. When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within 90 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal, accounting, or security purposes.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. By using our service, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and other countries where we operate.

12. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information is collected, used, and shared
• Right to delete personal information
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell your data)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the new policy on our website and updating the "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of our service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Email: privacy@getscholared.com
Support Email: support@getscholared.com
Website: www.getscholared.com