Sheldon Arts Foundation Donor Privacy Policy

At THE SHELDON ARTS FOUNDATION, all information about donors and donations is handled with respect and confidentiality. We understand the importance of protecting the privacy of personal information, especially in today’s increasingly electronic environment. We respect and protect the privacy of our donors and adhere to the following guidelines, which are subject to change as needed.

Annually, we ask new and continuing donors to inform us if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, but we currently do not exchange, lend, rent or sell our donor lists to third party organizations.

Use of Donor Information:

Donor information is used to complete the transaction, record the donation, generate the appropriate tax receipt, and to appropriately acknowledge each gift donation. Donor records are also used for general record keeping and internal analysis. Credit card information is used to process the gift and then destroyed after the gift is processed.  Access to donor information within THE SHELDON is limited to staff with a need to know and confidentially agreements are used as necessary. Employees of THE SHELDON are not permitted to use information gathered in the process of seeking and receiving donations for any purpose other than to carry out the services they are performing for the benefit of THE SHELDON’S mission. Staff members are bound by a professional code of ethics and a “donor bill of rights.”

Donors who provide contact information such as postal address or email address or telephone number, may be periodically contacted through these methods. Contact may be related to donations or requests from the donor. The donor may also receive mailings about THE SHELDON, its programs, or about upcoming events. Donors may opt-out of this kind of contact by contacting the Development Department.

Our commitment to data security:

To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect. When a donation is made online, a secure connection is established and the donor’s information is encrypted. The secure connection is maintained until the transaction is completed or terminated.

Donor Recognition:

THE SHELDON is pleased to provide donors with recognition for their gifts through print, radio, electronic, spoken, and/or web-based media. However, a donor may choose to waive this recognition and make a gift anonymously. Please contact the Development Department if you would like your gift to be anonymous.

Email Opt-Out:

THE SHELDON communicates with donors on a regular basis via email. We provide the ability to opt-out at the bottom of every email sent.

Email Opt-In/Choice:

By default, donors who supply an email address are opted-in to THE SHELDON’S emails. If you have opted-out of THE SHELDON’S emails and wish to opt-in again, you may do so by contacting the Development Department.

If you have comments or questions regarding THE SHELDON’S Donor Privacy Policy, contact the Development Department at SDO@thesheldon.org or by calling 314.533.9900.

This policy was modified 2/11/21.