Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy for United Welfare Society (UWS)

Effective Date: July 3, 2025

United Welfare Society (UWS) is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of our members, beneficiaries, donors, volunteers, and website visitors. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your information, and your rights regarding that information.

1. Introduction

United Welfare Society is a non-governmental organization dedicated to creating lasting positive change in underserved communities. Through sustainable initiatives in areas like education, healthcare, and livelihood development, we empower individuals and families to build brighter futures. Join us in making a real difference. In the course of our operations, we may collect and process personal data. We are committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected and that your data is handled responsibly and in compliance with applicable data protection laws in Bangladesh.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect various types of personal information, depending on your interaction with UWS. This may include:

  • Contact Information: Name, address, email address, phone number, mobile number.
  • Demographic Information: Date of birth, gender, nationality, family details (for beneficiaries).
  • Financial Information: Donation history, payment details (e.g., bank account numbers, credit/debit card information – processed securely by third-party payment processors, not stored directly by UWS).
  • Membership Information: Membership status, roles within UWS (e.g., Chairman, Secretary, etc.), meeting attendance.
  • Volunteer Information: Skills, availability, emergency contact details.
  • Beneficiary Information: Details relevant to the support provided (e.g., health status, educational background, economic situation), always with explicit consent.
  • Website Usage Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, pages visited, time spent on site, referral sources (collected via cookies and analytics tools).
  • Photographs and Videos: Images or videos taken during UWS events or activities, often for promotional or reporting purposes, with prior consent where required.

3. How We Collect Information

We collect information through various channels, including:

  • Direct Interactions: When you apply for membership, register as a volunteer, make a donation, attend an event, or communicate with us via phone, email, or in person.
  • Online Forms: Through forms on our website for donations, registrations, inquiries, or applications.
  • Third-Party Platforms: When you donate through online payment gateways (e.g., SSLCommerz), or interact with us on social media platforms.
  • Publicly Available Sources: Information from public records or publicly accessible social media profiles, where relevant and permissible.
  • Automated Technologies: Through cookies and similar technologies when you visit our website.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

  • To Fulfill Our Mission:
    • Providing services and support to beneficiaries.
    • Managing and coordinating volunteer activities.
    • Processing donations and issuing receipts.
    • Managing membership records and communications.
  • Communication:
    • Sending updates, newsletters, and reports about our activities and impact.
    • Responding to your inquiries and feedback.
    • Sending event invitations and announcements.
  • Fundraising and Outreach:
    • Engaging with donors and potential supporters.
    • Analyzing donation trends to improve fundraising strategies.
  • Internal Operations:
    • Record keeping and administrative purposes.
    • Internal reporting and analysis to improve our programs and services.
    • Ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory obligations (e.g., NGO Affairs Bureau, Department of Social Welfare).
    • Auditing and financial management.
  • Website Improvement:
    • Analyzing website traffic and user behavior to enhance user experience and content.
    • Ensuring the security of our website and systems.
  • Promotional Activities:
    • Using photographs and videos from events (with consent) for promotional materials, social media, and reports to showcase our work.

5. Sharing Your Information

UWS will not sell, rent, or lease your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

  • With Service Providers: We may share data with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in our operations, such as payment processors (e.g., SSLCommerz), IT support, website hosting, and communication services. These providers are obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them.
  • With Partner Organizations: In the context of joint projects or programs, we may share relevant beneficiary or project-related data with partner organizations, but only when necessary and with appropriate data sharing agreements in place and, where required, your explicit consent.
  • Legal and Regulatory Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government regulation (e.g., to the NGO Affairs Bureau or Department of Social Welfare for reporting purposes).
  • With Your Consent: We may share your information with other third parties when we have your explicit consent to do so.
  • For Protection of UWS and Others: We may disclose information when we believe it is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of UWS, our members, beneficiaries, or the public.

6. Data Security

UWS implements appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

  • Access Controls: Limiting access to personal data to authorized personnel only.
  • Data Encryption: Encrypting sensitive data where appropriate.
  • Secure Storage: Storing physical documents in secure locations and digital data on secure servers.
  • Regular Audits: Conducting regular security assessments and updates.
  • Staff Training: Training our staff on data protection best practices.

While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

7. Your Data Rights

You have certain rights regarding your personal data, subject to applicable laws:

  • Right to Access: You have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to Rectification: You have the right to request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten): You may request the deletion of your personal data under certain circumstances.
  • Right to Restrict Processing: You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data under certain conditions.
  • Right to Object to Processing: You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data under certain conditions.
  • Right to Data Portability: You have the right to request that we transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions.
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Where we rely on your consent to process your personal data, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact details provided below. We may require you to verify your identity before responding to your request.

8. Data Retention

We will retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. The retention period will vary depending on the type of data and the purpose of processing.

9. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to other websites. Please note that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. When you leave our site, we encourage you to read the privacy statements of every website that collects personal information.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

UWS may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any significant changes by posting the updated policy on our website with a new effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at: