Supporting research to treat, prevent, and cure digestive diseases. 

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Privacy Policy

Updated: March 11, 2025

This Policy covers the following topics:

PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT | HOW WE USE PERSONAL INFORMATION | HOW WE SHARE PERSONAL INFORMATION | RETENTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION | SECURITY OF PERSONAL INFORMATION | CHILDREN’S PRIVACY | LINKS TO WEBSITES AND APPS | YOUR RIGHTS AND THE CHOICES YOU CAN MAKE

PERSONAL INFORMATION – AN OVERVIEW

We collect personal information when you visit our website – Home – GI Research Foundation. For the purposes of this Policy, “personal information” means any information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked directly or indirectly, with a particular consumer or household.

Why We Collect Personal Information

    • To further our mission: to treat, prevent, and cure digestive diseases. In collaboration with the physicians and scientists at the University of Chicago Medicine Digestive Diseases Center, we fund innovative clinical and laboratory research, leading to groundbreaking discoveries that transform lives.
    • to communicate with you on a more personal level,
    • better respond to your questions and needs
    • to quickly provide you with relevant information.
    • to identify trends.

What Information Do We Collect

    • personal information from website visitors, donors, and others who interact with us.
    • contact details, payment and donation information, demographic data, social media information, and records of interactions.
    • technical data such as IP address, device information, browsing activity, and general location through cookies and similar technologies.

How Do We Use This Information

    • to process donations, manage events, communicate with supporters, improve our services, and conduct research and analytics.
    • to share with service providers, advisors, partners, or authorities when necessary for operations, legal compliance, or security.

Protection of Information and Your Choices

      • Sensitive personal information is handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws.
      • Email Communications. You may opt out of marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link in our emails or contacting us. Please note that you may still receive necessary operational emails related to your use of the Site.
      • SMS Marketing. You may opt out of marketing text messages at any time by replying STOP, QUIT, CANCEL, OPT-OUT, or UNSUBSCRIBE to any message.
      • Cookies. Most browsers allow you to remove or block cookies through your settings. Disabling cookies may affect certain features of the Site. For more information, visit www.allaboutcookies.org or use our cookie settings link: Cookie Settings

PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

Personal Information Collected. We collect a variety of personal identifying and non-identifying personal information about our website users, donors, and others who interact with us.  We collect the following types of personal information:

    • Identifiers, including, for example, contact information, your name, email address, phone number, city, state, and zip code, social media handle, social security number, identity document (for example, a photo of your driver’s license), and signature.
    • Payment Information, including, for example, your payment card information, donation history, transaction details (including information related to donations), payment preferences, and billing address.
    • Characteristics of Protected Classifications, including, for example, demographic information, date of birth, age, gender, education, special needs information, household income, occupation, home ownership, marital status, military or veteran status, or number of children.
    • Social Media Profile Information, including, for example, username, handle, profile picture, interests, preferences, and engagement metrics.
    • Commercial Information, including, for example, marketing data, such as your viewing habits, preferences, content interactions, demographic details, and your engagement with our communications, such as support requests, inquires, feedback, and other information.
    • Internet or electronic network activity information, including, for example your IP address, computer ID, and your number of visits to our website pages and other information collected by cookies, Web beacons, Pixel tags or Log Data. Our site also automatically collects aggregated user information, such as the numbers and frequency of visitors to our website and their components. This data is only used in the aggregate.
    • Geolocation Data, including, for example, your IP address when using our Site.
    • Customer Records, include, for example, passport number, driver’s license or state identification card number, insurance policy number, education, bank account number, credit card number, debit card number, or any other financial information, medical information, or health insurance information.
    • Inferences, such as inferences drawn from the personal information identified above to create a profile reflecting your preferences, characteristics, behavior.

To the extent that any of the personal information we collect is defined as sensitive under applicable law, such as demographic data or health data, we only use the sensitive personal information for the purposes explicitly described in this Policy and in accordance with applicable law. We will obtain your consent before processing sensitive information. We do not collect or use sensitive personal information for the purpose of inferring characteristics about individuals. Note that due to technological limitations, if you visit our Site from a different computer or device, or clear cookies on your browser that store your preferences, you will need to return to this screen to select your preferences and/or rebroadcast the Global Privacy Control signal.

Our collection of personal information has not changed during the last 12 months.

Sources of Personal Information. We obtain personal information from a variety of sources, including the following sources:

    • Personal Information You Provide. We collect personal information you submit voluntarily, such as when you elect to donate, register for an event, or sign up for any of our publications.
    • Personal Information Automatically Collected. We, along with our service providers, may automatically collect data about your device and activity, including online and location-based interactions and use of our services. This includes device details, browsing activity, and interactions with us, often through cookies and similar technologies, some of which are listed here:
          • Cookies, which are text files that websites store on a visitor’s device to uniquely identify the visitor’s browser or to store information or settings in the browser for the purpose of helping you navigate between pages efficiently, remembering your preferences, enabling functionality, helping us understand user activity and patterns, and facilitating online advertising.
          • Flash cookies, or locally stored objects, which are used on websites for purposes similar to cookies but allow storage of a larger amount of data.
          • Web beacons, also known as pixel tags or clear GIFs, which are typically used to demonstrate that a webpage or email was accessed or opened, or that certain content was viewed or clicked, typically to compile statistics about usage of websites and the success of marketing campaigns.
          • Local storage, which is used to save data on a visitor’s device. We may use data from local storage to, for example, turn on web navigation, store multimedia preferences, customize what we show you based on your past interactions with our Site, and remember your preferences.
          • Session replay technologies, which are third-party software used to record a video replay of users’ interactions with the website. The video replay may include users’ clicks, mouse movements, scrolls, mobile app touches, typing, and other activity taken during the session. We may use these replays for research and development purposes, such as to help us troubleshoot problems with the website, understand how users interact with and use the site, and identify areas for improvement.

HOW WE USE PERSONAL INFORMATION

We use personal information for the purposes set forth below and as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy or at the time of collection. We do not use sensitive personal information for inferring characteristics or for any purposes beyond those strictly necessary to provide our services, comply with law, or support our mission.

    • To Tailor Communications With You about our Mission. We may use personal information to tailor, customize, and enhance communications with our users, donors, and constituents.
    • To Facilitate Activities and Events that Support our Mission. We may use personal information to facilitate activities and events that support our mission. For example, we may use personal information to manage events that we host, or process your donations.
    • To Provide the Site. We may use personal information to help troubleshoot, operate, and administer our Site. For example, we use personal information to improve and personalize your experience on or with the Site.
    • For Maintenance and Support. We may use personal information to provide maintenance or support for our services, such as, improving the content and functionality of our website.
    • For Administrative Communications. We may use personal information to respond to inquiries or resolve issues or other matters.
    • For Research and Development. We use personal information for research and development purposes, including to study, maintain, and improve our services, and to perform data and statistical analysis.
    • For Direct Marketing. We may send you GI Research Foundation-related or other direct marketing communications as permitted by law, including materials, updates, information, special offers, and promotional material from us. You may opt-out of our marketing communications as described in the “YOUR RIGHTS AND CHOICES YOU CAN MAKE” section below. If applicable law requires consent prior to sending you marketing communications, we will not send you direct marketing without your prior consent.
    • To Display Messages from Sponsors or Advertisements. We partner with sponsors and other third parties that collect information (including the online activity information and device information described above in the section called “Personal Information Automatically Collected”) across various channels, including offline and online, to help us advertise our Site and for purposes of displaying messages or advertisements on the Site or elsewhere online and delivering more relevant content to you. These messages or advertisements are delivered by our sponsors or other third parties and may be targeted based on your use of the Site or your activity elsewhere online. Our sponsors and other third parties may use your information to recognize you across different channels and Sites, including but not limited to, computers and mobile devices, over time for advertising, analytics, attribution, and reporting purposes. To learn more about your choices in connection with messages and advertisements, please see the “ADDITIONAL CHOICES YOU CAN MAKE” section below.
    • To Comply with Laws and Regulations. We will use personal information as we believe necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable laws, lawful requests, and legal process, such as to respond to subpoenas or requests from government authorities.
    • For Sales or Transfers of Control. We may also transfer or assign personal information as a result of, or in connection with, a sale, merger, consolidation, change in control, transfer of assets, bankruptcy, reorganization, or liquidation. If we are involved in defending a legal claim, we may disclose personal information that is relevant to the claim to third parties as a result of, or in connection with, the associated legal proceedings.
    • For Compliance, Fraud Prevention, and Safety. We may use personal information and disclose it to law enforcement, government authorities, and private parties as we believe necessary or appropriate to: (a) maintain the safety, security, and integrity of the Site and our business, databases, and other technology assets; (b) protect our, your, or others’ rights, privacy, safety or property (including by making and defending legal claims); (c) audit our internal processes for compliance with legal and contractual requirements and internal policies; (d) enforce the terms and conditions that govern the Site; and (e) prevent, identify, investigate, and deter fraudulent, harmful, unauthorized, unethical or illegal activity, including cyberattacks and identity theft.
    • With Your Consent. We will disclose your personal information in accordance with your prior direction or, in some cases, we may specifically ask you for your consent to collect, use, or share your personal information, such as when required by law.

HOW WE SHARE PERSONAL INFORMATION

In addition to the specific situations discussed elsewhere in this Privacy Policy or at the point of collection, we may share your personal information with the following entities or persons:

    • Professional Advisors. We may share personal information with persons, companies, or professional firms providing us with advice and consulting in accounting, administrative, legal, tax, financial, debt collection, and other matters.
    • Sponsors and Business and Advertising Partners. We do not share your personal information with sponsors and business and advertising partners, but they may collect your personal information from their direct links on our Site. We may share your personal information with our sponsors and third parties with whom we are engaging in joint events or activities.
    • Service Providers and Vendors. We may share your personal information with third parties who perform services on our behalf that are necessary for the orderly operation of our business. For example, the GI Research Foundation contracts with Service Providers on our behalf such as mailing and delivering services and donation software vendors. 
    • Law Enforcement. Under certain circumstances, we may be required to disclose personal information to law enforcement, government authorities, and other parties if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (for example, a court or a government agency).
    • Authorities and Others for Compliance, Fraud Protection, and Safety. We may disclose personal information in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a legal obligation or for the purposes described above in the section titled “For Compliance, Fraud Prevention, and Safety.”
    • Business Transaction Participants. We may disclose personal information to third parties in connection with any business transaction (or potential transaction) involving a merger, acquisition, sale of shares or assets, financing, consolidation, reorganization, divestiture, or dissolution of all or a portion of our business (including in connection with a bankruptcy or similar proceedings).

RETENTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

We will retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purpose of collection, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements, to establish and defend legal claims, for fraud prevention purposes, or as long as required to meet our legal obligations. To determine the appropriate retention period for personal information, we consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the personal information, the potential risk of harm from unauthorized use or disclosure of your personal information, the purposes for which we process your personal information and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means, any applicable ongoing legal claims, and the applicable contractual obligations or legal requirements. We do not retain information specific to us beyond any limits imposed by law.

SECURITY OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

We have implemented reasonable security features designed to protect personal information, such as firewall technologies and Secure Socket Layer (SSL) security. Access to your account information is protected via system passwords which are changed periodically.  While we try our best to safeguard personal information once we receive it, please understand that no transmission of data over the Internet or any other public network can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. When we engage service providers or vendors to process personal information, we take steps to ensure that they do so securely, in accordance with our instructions and under appropriate contract terms that we have in place with them.

CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

Our Site is not directed to people who are under 13 years old. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 13 years of age. Individuals under the age of 13 should not attempt to provide us with any personal information. If you think we have received personal information from individuals under the age of 13, please contact us immediately. We do not knowingly “sell” or “share” the personal information of individuals under 13 years of age.

LINKS TO WEBSITES AND APPS

We may provide links to other websites and apps not operated or owned by us. Please be advised that the practices described in this Privacy Policy do not apply to information gathered through these third-party websites and apps, including social media platforms. These links are not an endorsement of, or representation that we are affiliated with, any third party. In addition, our content may be included on web pages or online services that are not associated with us. We have no control over, and are not responsible for, the actions and privacy policies of third parties and other websites and apps. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of the other websites and online services you use.

HOW TO CONTACT US

In order to exercise your rights and make a request, please contact us via email, phone, or mail at:

GI Research Foundation
2070 Green Bay Road, Suite 167
Highland Park, IL 60035

Phone: 312-332-1350

Email: info@girf.org

ADDITIONAL CHOICES YOU CAN MAKE

Email Communications. If you provide us with your email address in order to receive communications, you can opt-out of marketing emails at any time by following the instructions at the bottom of our emails. Please note that certain emails may be necessary for the operation of our Site, such as to deliver notifications directly to you through the Site. You will continue to receive these emails, even if you unsubscribe from our marketing communications. You can also contact us at the contact information above to opt-out of email communications.

SMS Marketing. If you provide us with your phone number in order to receive communications, you can opt-out of marketing texts at any time by replying STOP, QUIT, CANCEL, OPT-OUT, or UNSUBSCRIBE to any text message you receive from us.

Cookies. Most browsers let you remove or stop accepting cookies from the websites you visit. To do this, follow the instructions in your browser’s settings. Many browsers accept cookies by default until you change your settings. If you do not accept cookies, however, you may not be able to use all functionality of the Site, and our website may not work properly. For more information about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set on your browser and how to manage and delete them, visit www.allaboutcookies.org. You can also visit this link to adjust your cookie settings: Cookie Settings

We use these types of cookies to enhance your experience, provide personalized ads or content and analyze our traffic.

    • Strictly Necessary Cookies: These are essential to browse the Site and provide services to you and do not require your consent. These cookies are also used to monitor threats and to prevent fraud. We cannot disable or switch off these cookies and blocking them may mean the Site does not function correctly.
    • Functional (Preference) Cookies: These are not strictly essential for the Site to operate but allow it to function effectively, offering personalization and additional functions. These cookies allow the Site to “remember” choices or preferences you make (e.g. username, language, region etc.) and offer advanced, simplified, personalized features and improve the overall experience. These cookies may also be set by third party providers whose services are used on our website. If these cookies are not accepted, some areas of the Site may not function correctly.
    • Analytics (Performance) Cookies: These cookies measure and analyze your use of the Site including traffic to the website, most visited pages and any error messages that may occur. We use analytical cookies to improve our Site and your overall experience. These cookies do not collect data that could identify you as data is anonymized and is used to help us improve the website, see what interests users and measure content and its effectiveness. This anonymous information may be shared with third parties, including Site developers, hosting providers and other third parties that provide analytics.
    • Targeting (Marketing) Cookies: These cookies personalize advertisements to make them more relevant to you. The cookies collect information about you and your browsing habits. These cookies can be used for personalized direct marketing, limit certain advertising or measure the impact of our advertising. These cookies allow us and third-party providers we use to track actions on other websites you visit and measure the impact of our marketing. This allows us to deliver more relevant and effective advertising and improve your overall experience. If you share content through third party sites such as social media platforms or if you are logged into our Site using social media information or visit our Site from a third-party you may receive cookies from these sites. Social media activity is subject to the privacy policies of the relevant social media website/ platform.

Analytics. The website may use Google Analytics to help us analyze how the website is being accessed and used. You can learn more about Google Analytics cookies by clicking here and about how Google protects your data by clicking here. To opt-out of Google Analytics, you can download and install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, available here.