Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Hope Integrated Social Development Organization ("HISDO", "we", "us", or "our") is a registered Ethiopian NGO committed to protecting the privacy of everyone who visits our website, donates to our programmes, subscribes to our updates, or otherwise interacts with us.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use and protect it, and the choices you have. By using hisdo.org or any HISDO service, you agree to the practices described here.

2. Information We Collect

Information you give us directly

• Contact form: your name, email address, subject, and message.
• Donations: your name, email, phone (optional), country, payment details (processed securely by our payment partners — we do not store full card numbers), and any programme designation you choose.
• Newsletter signup: your email address.
• Sponsorship or partnership enquiries: any details you choose to share with our team.

Information collected automatically

• Device and browser information, IP address, and general location (country/region level).
• Pages visited, time spent on the site, and referring pages, via cookies and similar technologies (see our Cookie Policy).

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Process and receipt your donations, and allocate gifts to the programme you designate.
• Respond to enquiries submitted through our contact form.
• Send programme updates and impact stories to newsletter subscribers (you can unsubscribe at any time).
• Improve our website's usability, content, and performance.
• Meet our legal, financial reporting, and regulatory obligations as a registered NGO under the FDRE Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO).
• Protect against fraud, abuse, and security incidents.

4. Cookies & Tracking

We use a small number of cookies to keep the site functioning correctly and to remember your cookie preference. We do not currently use third-party advertising cookies. Full details, including how to manage your preferences, are available in our Cookie Policy.

5. How We Share Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share information with:

• Payment processors and mobile money providers (e.g. telebirr, CBE Birr, Awash Bank, card processors) solely to complete your donation transaction.
• Service providers who help us operate the website, send communications, or process data on our behalf, under confidentiality obligations.
• Government authorities or auditors where required by Ethiopian law or by our donors' compliance and reporting requirements.
• Partner organisations only with your explicit consent, such as when you apply for a joint programme.

6. Data Security

We apply reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your information, including encrypted (SSL/TLS) connections for donation and form submissions, restricted internal access to donor data, and regular review of our security practices. No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy, including to satisfy financial record-keeping and donor reporting requirements, after which it is securely deleted or anonymised.

8. Your Rights & Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request deletion of your personal information, subject to our legal and financial record-keeping obligations.
• Opt out of newsletter or marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link in any email, or by contacting us directly.
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent (e.g. cookies).

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 12.

9. Children's Privacy

While HISDO's programmes serve children, our website is directed at adults (donors, partners, and the public). We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children through our website. Any information about children shared with us in the course of our programmes is collected and protected under our child safeguarding policy and handled with additional care.

10. International Data Transfers

As an Ethiopia-based organisation working with international donors and partners, your information may be processed in Ethiopia or in other countries where our service providers operate. We take steps to ensure such transfers are protected consistently with this policy.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal reasons. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when it was last revised. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please contact us: