Privacy policy
What we collect when you use this website, why, how we protect it and the choices you have.
Last updated 15 October 2026.
The Michael and Mauritia Patcha Foundation ("The Patcha Foundation", "we") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Maryland, with an office in Douala, Cameroon. This policy explains what we collect when you use patchafoundation.org, why we collect it, how we protect it and the choices you have.
What we collect
- Messages. When you write to us through a contact form: your name, email, phone number if you give it, and your message.
- Volunteer applications. Your contact details, where you would like to help, your role and specialty, the languages you speak, your experience and, for clinical volunteers, your license number and a copy of your license if you choose to send one.
- Requests for help. When you ask for a wig, a breast prosthetic, a companion care visit or other support: your contact details and any health details you choose to share so we can help.
- Donations of goods. Your contact details, what you are giving and, if you send one, a photo of it.
- Gifts of money. Your name, email, the amount, the fund you choose and any tribute details. Card and bank details go straight to our payment processors (Stripe and PayPal). We never see or store your full card number.
- Newsletter. If you subscribe, your email address is kept by our newsletter service (Mailchimp).
- Technical details. Like most websites, our server receives your IP address when you visit. With form answers we keep only a one-way code made from it, not the address itself, to stop abuse.
How we use it
We use your details only to answer you, to organize volunteers, to run our programs and medical missions, to process gifts and send tax receipts, and to send our newsletter if you asked for it. We do not use your details for advertising.
How we protect it
- Form answers are stored encrypted.
- Files you send us (such as a copy of your license) are kept on private storage that cannot be reached from the web. Only signed-in members of our team with permission can open them.
- Sensitive answers, such as license numbers and health details, are visible only to the team members who need them.
- Our team signs in to the website's admin with two-step verification.
- The site uses a secure (https) connection.
Who we share it with
We never sell your details. We share them only with the services that help us run the foundation, and only what each one needs: Stripe and PayPal for payments, Mailchimp for the newsletter, Givebutter for campaigns hosted there, the company that sends our email, our web host, and Cloudflare, which checks that a form was sent by a person. When a volunteer or patient request concerns a medical mission in Cameroon, the mission team there may see the details needed to arrange it. We may also share information if the law requires it.
Cookies
We use only the cookies the website needs to work, such as keeping a form or your donor sign-in secure. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies.
How long we keep it
We keep your details only as long as we need them for the reason you gave them. Records of gifts are kept as long as US tax law requires.
Your choices
You can ask to see the details we hold about you, to correct them, or to delete them, by writing to info@patchafoundation.org. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time with the link in every issue.
Children
This website is not meant for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their details. A parent or guardian may contact us on a child's behalf.
Changes and contact
If we change this policy, we will update the date at the top. Questions are welcome at info@patchafoundation.org or by post to 2901 Cabin Creek Drive, Burtonsville, MD 20866.
