Privacy Policy
Effective date: November 12, 2026
Eshel, Inc. builds LGBTQ+ inclusive Orthodox Jewish communities. Many people who reach out to us are sharing something deeply personal, sometimes before they have told anyone else. We take that trust seriously. This policy explains what information we collect through eshelonline.org and our programs, how we use it, and the choices you have.
Information we collect
Information you give us. When you join our mailing list, register for an event, make a donation, fill out a contact form, join a support group, or apply to a program, you may give us your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, community or city, and anything you choose to write in a message or form.
Sensitive information. Some of what you share may reveal your sexual orientation, gender identity, religious practice, family situation or health. We collect this only when you choose to share it, and we treat it with extra care as described below.
Donation information. Donations are processed by our payment providers, Stripe and PayPal, through DepositFix, which records your donation details in our HubSpot account. We receive your name, contact details, gift amount and date. We do not receive or store your full card or bank account number.
Information collected automatically. Like most websites, ours records your IP address, browser type, device type, pages viewed and referring website. We use this to keep the site running, fix problems and understand which pages are most useful.
Cookies. Our site uses cookies and similar tools to remember your preferences and measure site traffic. We use Google Analytics and HubSpot’s tracking code to see which pages are visited and how people find us. If you have filled out one of our forms or clicked a link in our emails, HubSpot may connect your visits to your contact record so we can send you more relevant information. You can opt out of Google Analytics with Google’s browser add-on at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings; the site will still work, though some features may not.
How we use your information
- To respond to you and provide the support, programs and resources you ask for.
- To send newsletters, event announcements and updates you have signed up for.
- To allow you to register for events and support groups and send reminders.
- To process donations, send receipts and meet our legal and tax obligations.
- To understand and improve our website and programs.
- To protect the safety of our community and comply with the law.
We track email opens and clicks only to make our messages more relevant. We do not use your information for any purpose unrelated to Eshel’s mission.
Confidential support and support groups
Messages to our warmline ((724) 374-3501) and to support@eshelonline.org are seen only by the Eshel staff and trained volunteers who respond to them. We do not add warmline or support contacts to our mailing list unless you ask us to. Support-group participants agree to keep what others share in the group confidential, and we ask that you do not record or share sessions.
We may share information without your consent only if we believe someone is at serious, immediate risk of harm, or if the law requires it.
How we share information
We never sell, rent or trade your personal information. We never share information about your sexual orientation, gender identity, family situation or religious community with anyone outside Eshel without your explicit permission.
We share information only with:
- Service providers who help us operate, including HubSpot (newsletter, email and forms), WordPress and our website host (the Site and event registration), Stripe, PayPal and DepositFix (donations), and Google Analytics (site traffic). They may use your information only to provide services to us.
- Event co-hosts or partner organizations, only when you register for a co-hosted event and only what they need to run it.
- Authorities, when required by law or to protect someone’s safety.
We do not share our mailing list with other organizations.
Email and your choices
You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of every email, or by writing to info@eshelonline.org. You can also ask us to see, correct or delete the information we hold about you. We may keep basic donation records as long as tax law requires.
Data security
Our site uses SSL/TLS encryption for all traffic, including form submissions. We limit access to personal information to staff and volunteers who need it. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. If you are concerned about privacy, you may use a personal email address rather than a shared or work account when contacting us.
How long we keep information
We keep information only as long as we need it for the purposes above or as required by law.
Children and teens
Our website is not directed to children under 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. Teens 18 and older may contact us for support. If you believe a child under 18 has given us information, contact us and we will delete it.
Links to other websites
Our site links to other websites, including YouTube, Yente Over the Rainbow and partner organizations. We are not responsible for their privacy practices or content; please review their policies.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. We will post changes on this page with a new effective date. Continued use of the site after an update means you accept the revised policy.
Contact us
Questions about privacy, or a request to remove your information:
info@eshelonline.org