CISHA Policies

Privacy Policy

We collect only the information required to deliver programs responsibly and keep your data protected.

Last updated: March 6, 2026Science of Self-Knowledge (CISHA)

This policy explains what personal information CISHA gathers through our website, events, email lists, and donation platforms. It also outlines how we safeguard that data, when we may share it, and the controls available to you.

Information We Collect

We gather the minimum data necessary to register participants, coordinate volunteers, and process donations.

Contact & profile details

Names, email addresses, phone numbers, preferred pronouns, and volunteer skills are collected when you complete our forms. Retreat applications may also ask for dietary needs or accessibility notes so we can accommodate you.

Donation & transaction records

When you contribute through PayPal or another processor, CISHA receives confirmation of the gift, the amount, and the billing details required to issue a charitable receipt. Payment card numbers are never stored on CISHA servers.

Usage analytics

Our website logs anonymized metrics (pages visited, approximate geography, device type) to understand which resources are most helpful. This data cannot identify you individually and is aggregated for reporting.

How We Use Your Information

Program delivery

Contact information enables us to send confirmations, event logistics, or urgent updates (for example, weather-related changes). We retain sign-up history to tailor follow-up resources.

Community communication

Email newsletters share satsang schedules, seva opportunities, and appeals. Every message includes an unsubscribe link; once you opt out, we stop marketing communications within 48 hours.

Regulatory purposes

Donation data is stored for the period required by the Canada Revenue Agency and provincial regulators. Access is limited to vetted finance volunteers and encrypted at rest.

Sharing & Retention

  • We do not rent or sell member lists. Vendors receive only the data required to provide their service (for example, PayPal for donations or MailerLite for newsletters).
  • Personal data is hosted on Canadian or US servers that meet SOC 2 or ISO 27001 standards.
  • Volunteer applications and contact records are reviewed annually; entries with no activity for 24 months are securely deleted.

Your Choices

Access or correction

Email privacy@scienceofselfknowledge.org to request a copy of the data we hold about you or to correct inaccuracies.

Consent management

Update your email preferences using the unsubscribe link or by contacting us directly. Event-specific consent (photo, recording, emergency contacts) can be withdrawn at any time.

Questions about this page? Email privacy@scienceofselfknowledge.org and a CISHA volunteer will respond within two business days.

Next steps

Need help with a privacy question?

Our privacy lead can review access requests, deletion inquiries, or questions about international transfers.

Email the privacy team