Privacy Policy

Effective Date: March 12, 2026 | Last Updated: March 12, 2026

This Privacy Policy describes how The Cat Lounge ("Organization," "we," "us," or "our"), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, collects, uses, and shares information when you visit or make a donation through this website ("Site"). This Site is built on the Bloom platform (bloomgiving.org), a fundraising technology service operated by Bloom One LLC ("Bloom"), which provides website hosting, donation processing, and donor management tools on our behalf.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

When you interact with this Site, you may provide:

Donation Information: First name, last name, email address, phone number (optional), billing address (optional), donation amount, and payment method selection.
Payment Information: Credit/debit card numbers, bank account details, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, or Google Pay credentials. Important: Payment information is collected and processed directly by our payment processor, Braintree (a PayPal service). Neither The Cat Lounge nor Bloom ever receives, stores, or has access to your full credit card number, bank account number, or other sensitive payment credentials.
Communication Preferences: Whether you opt in to receive email communications and/or text (SMS) messages from us.
Application Information: If the Site includes adoption, foster, or volunteer applications, you may provide additional personal information as part of those applications.
Messages and Notes: Optional donation messages or notes you include with your contribution.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit this Site, certain information is automatically collected through cookies and similar technologies:

Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type, screen resolution.
Usage Information: Pages visited, time spent on pages, click patterns, referral source.
Network Information: IP address, approximate geographic location (city/region level).

This information is collected through Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Microsoft Clarity for website analytics and user experience improvement.

Information from Payment Processing

When your donation is processed, the payment processor (Braintree) provides limited transaction details: transaction confirmation status, payment method type (e.g., "Visa ending in 1234"), and transaction identifier. We do not receive or store your full card number, CVV, bank account number, or passwords.

2. How We Use Your Information

Process your donation — Name, email, payment method nonce, donation amount
Issue tax receipts — Name, email, donation amount, date, transaction number
Create your donor profile — Name, email, phone, donation history (managed in our donor management system)
Send donation confirmations — Email address
Communicate with you (with your consent) — Email address, phone number, name
Improve the Site — Analytics data, usage patterns
Prevent fraud — IP address, transaction patterns, rate limiting
Comply with legal obligations — Transaction records, tax receipt data

3. Service Providers and Data Sharing

Bloom (Technology Platform Provider)

This Site is built on the Bloom platform. As our technology and payment processing provider, Bloom has access to the information collected through this Site, including your contact information, donation transaction data, and transaction history. Bloom processes this information on our behalf to operate the Site, process and settle donation transactions, provide us with donor management tools, send email and text (SMS) messages to you on our behalf (subject to your consent), ensure platform security, and comply with financial regulations. Bloom acts as a service provider and does not use your information for its own independent purposes.

Payment Processors

Donations are processed through Braintree (a PayPal service). Your payment information is transmitted directly to Braintree and is governed by the PayPal Privacy Policy.

Analytics Providers

Anonymous and aggregated usage data is shared with Google (GA4) and Microsoft (Clarity) for analytics and user experience improvement.

We Do NOT

Sell your personal information to any third party
Rent your contact information to other organizations
Share your information with unrelated third parties for their marketing purposes

4. Text (SMS) Messages

If you opt in to receive text messages during the donation process, the following terms apply:

Consent: By checking the SMS opt-in checkbox, you provide express written consent to receive text messages from The Cat Lounge. Text messages may be sent using the Bloom platform on our behalf using the phone number you provide.
Message Types: Text messages may include donation confirmations, event reminders, volunteer updates, and other communications related to our mission.
Message Frequency: Message frequency varies. You may receive occasional messages depending on our communication schedule.
Opt-Out: You may opt out at any time by replying STOP to any message. After opting out, you will receive a confirmation and no further text messages will be sent unless you re-consent.
Msg & Data Rates: Message and data rates may apply depending on your mobile carrier and plan.
No Purchase Required: Consent to receive text messages is not a condition of making a donation or using this Site.
Help: For help with text messages, reply HELP to any message or visit our Contact page.

5. Payment Security

Your payment security is a priority:

PCI DSS Compliance: All payment information is collected through Braintree's PCI DSS-compliant payment form. Your card details are entered directly into a secure iframe hosted by Braintree and are never transmitted to or stored on our servers or Bloom's servers.
Tokenization: Braintree converts your payment info into a one-time-use token. This token is the only payment-related data handled by our systems.
Encryption: All data transmitted between your browser and the Site is encrypted using TLS 1.2 or higher.

6. Cookies and Tracking

Essential Cookies: Required for site functionality (cannot be disabled).
Analytics Cookies (GA4): Traffic and conversion tracking (can be disabled via browser settings).
Experience Cookies (Clarity): Session recording and heatmaps (can be disabled via browser settings).

You can control cookies through your browser settings.

7. Data Retention

Transaction records: 7 years (IRS requirements)
Tax receipt records: 7 years (IRS compliance)
Donor contact information: Duration of our use of the Bloom platform + 3 years
Analytics data: 26 months (GA4 default)

8. Your Rights

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

Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information.
Communication preferences: Opt out of marketing communications at any time (unsubscribe link in every email, or reply STOP to any text message).
Deletion: Request deletion, subject to legal retention requirements (e.g., IRS record-keeping for tax receipts).

California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

California residents have additional rights under the CCPA/CPRA, including the right to know, delete, and correct personal information. We do not sell personal information. To exercise these rights, contact us at our Contact page with the subject "California Privacy Request."

9. Children's Privacy

This Site is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have, we will delete it promptly.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date and post the revised policy on this Site.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us at our Contact page.

Technology Platform: This website is powered by Bloom, a fundraising platform for 501(c)(3) nonprofits, operated by Bloom One LLC. For questions about the Bloom platform itself, contact support@bloomgiving.org.