Privacy Policy

Who We Are & What This Policy Covers

The Global Institute for Consciousness and Human Energy ("GIFCHE"), Gaia Healers, and Gaia Seekers (collectively, "we," "us," or "our") are committed to protecting the privacy of every individual who interacts with our organizations, websites, programs, and services.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and safeguard your personal information across all our digital properties and physical programs. It applies to:

Information We Collect

We collect personal information when you voluntarily provide it, and in some cases automatically when you interact with our websites. The categories of information we collect include:

Information You Provide Directly

• Full name, email address, phone number, and mailing address
• Account credentials when creating a profile on any of our platforms
• Messages and inquiries submitted through contact forms
• Volunteer applications, event registrations, and course enrollments
• Subscription preferences for newsletters and research updates

Donation & Payment Information

• Donation amounts, frequency, and designated fund preferences
• Billing name and address associated with your payment method
• Payment card details — processed securely by our third-party payment processor; we do not store full card numbers on our servers
• Transaction IDs and receipts required for tax-deductible donation records
• Employer matching program information, if applicable

Research Participant Information

• Study enrollment data including consent forms and eligibility responses
• Health and wellness information voluntarily disclosed as part of a research protocol
• Biofield, biometric, or physiological data collected during authorized research sessions
• Session notes, outcomes data, and follow-up survey responses
• Anonymized or de-identified data used in aggregate research analysis and publications

Automatically Collected Information

• IP address, browser type, device type, and operating system
• Pages visited, time spent on site, and referring URLs
• Cookie identifiers and similar tracking technologies (see Section 5)
• Geographic location at the country or region level

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information only for legitimate purposes related to our mission and operations:

Operations & Communications

• Responding to inquiries, support requests, and feedback you submit
• Sending transactional communications including donation receipts, event confirmations, and account notifications
• Delivering newsletters, research updates, and program announcements you have opted into
• Administering volunteer programs, internships, and community memberships

Donation Processing & Compliance

• Processing and recording charitable donations and issuing tax-deductible receipts
• Maintaining financial records as required by IRS regulations for 501(c)(3) organizations
• Fulfilling donor recognition commitments (e.g., website listing for Patron and Benefactor donors)
• Preventing fraud and ensuring the security of financial transactions

Research Programs

• Conducting authorized research studies under applicable institutional review protocols
• Analyzing aggregated, anonymized data to advance the science of consciousness and human energy
• Publishing research findings — only with de-identified data unless explicit written consent is provided for identified use
• Maintaining research records as required by scientific and ethical standards

Platform Improvement

• Analyzing website usage to improve content, navigation, and user experience
• Monitoring for and addressing technical errors, security vulnerabilities, and abuse

When & With Whom We Share Your Information

We do not share your personal information except in the limited circumstances described below:

Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party vendors who assist in operating our websites and delivering our programs — including payment processors, email delivery platforms, CRM systems (including GoHighLevel), and website hosting providers. These vendors are contractually required to process your data only as instructed and to maintain appropriate security standards.

Research Partners

When you enroll in a research study, your data may be shared with affiliated university or institutional research partners directly involved in that study. Such sharing is governed by your signed informed consent and applicable research ethics agreements. De-identified data may be included in published research without separate notification.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, court order, or governmental authority, or if we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, safety, or property of our organizations, users, or the public.

Organizational Affiliates

Information may be shared between GIFCHE, Gaia Healers, and Gaia Seekers for coordinated program delivery, unified communications, and operational purposes consistent with this Privacy Policy.

Cookies & Similar Technologies

Our websites use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience and help us understand how our platforms are used.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential cookies — required for basic website functionality such as session management and form submissions
• Analytics cookies — used to track page visits, traffic sources, and user behavior in aggregate (e.g., Google Analytics)
• Preference cookies — remember your settings and preferences between visits
• Marketing cookies — used where applicable to understand the effectiveness of outreach campaigns

You may control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling essential cookies may affect website functionality. You may also opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on.

How Long We Keep Your Data

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, or as required by law:

• Donation and financial records are retained for a minimum of 7 years as required by IRS regulations
• Research participant data is retained for the period specified in your informed consent agreement, typically 5–10 years in accordance with scientific standards
• Contact form and communication records are retained for up to 3 years from last interaction
• Website analytics data is retained in anonymized form for up to 26 months
• Account data is retained until you request deletion or your account becomes inactive for 3+ years

Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access — Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Correction — Request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion — Request that we delete your personal data, subject to legal retention requirements
• Opt-out — Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time via the unsubscribe link in any email or by contacting us directly
• Portability — Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Restriction — Request that we limit the processing of your data in certain circumstances

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 9. We will respond to all verifiable requests within 30 days.

How We Protect Your Information

We implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These include SSL/TLS encryption for data in transit, access controls limiting who can view sensitive information, and regular security assessments of our systems and vendors.

While we take reasonable precautions, no method of internet transmission or electronic storage is completely secure. We encourage you to use strong passwords and to contact us immediately if you suspect any unauthorized use of your account or personal data.

Children's Privacy

Our websites and programs are not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently received personal information from a child under 13, we will delete it promptly. If you believe we may have collected information from a minor, please contact us immediately.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or organizational structure. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify you by email or prominent notice on our website. Your continued use of our services after any update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact Us About Privacy

If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal information, please reach out to us directly: