Privacy Policy

Effective Date: May 9, 2025
Last Updated: May 9, 2025

The Association of Bulgarian Professionals (“ABP,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the transparency of our data practices. This Privacy and Cookie Policy outlines how we collect, use, share, and protect your personal data when you visit our website https://bgprofessionals.org.

ABP is dedicated to safeguarding your privacy. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the use of your personal data, please contact us at office@bgprofessionals.org, and we will gladly assist you.

By using this site and/or our services, you consent to the processing of your personal data as described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect and store various types of personal information when you interact with our website, apply for membership or scholarships, donate, or attend our events. This includes:

  • Personal Identification Information:
    Name, email address, phone number, mailing address, resume or CV (if provided), and other contact or application-related information.
  • Donation and Transactional Information:
    Details related to your donations and any payments submitted through our website. All transactions are processed through secure third-party platforms (e.g., PayPal or Stripe). We do not store payment card information.
  • Technical and Usage Information:
    Information about how you access and interact with our website, including IP address, browser type, device type, referral URLs, and interaction logs.

2. Additional Information Collection Details

In addition to the information you provide directly, we automatically collect certain types of information when you visit or interact with our website:

  • Device Information:
    We collect details about the devices you use to access our website, including hardware models, device identifiers, operating systems, browser types, and settings.
  • Log Files:
    Our servers automatically record information sent by your browser, such as IP address, browser type, access times, referring pages, and pages visited.
  • Geographic Location Data:
    Depending on your device and browser settings, we may determine your general location using your IP address to better understand how and where our website is being accessed.
  • Cookies and Analytics Tools:
    We use cookies and similar technologies to track user behavior, preferences, and engagement. This information helps us enhance the website, monitor its performance, and evaluate the effectiveness of our outreach and campaigns.

3. Purpose of Data Collection

We collect personal and usage information for the following purposes:

  • To Operate and Maintain Our Website:
    Ensure the site functions properly and securely for all users.
  • To Improve and Personalize User Experience:
    Adapt our content, features, and interactions to better serve the needs of our visitors and community members.
  • To Analyze Website Performance and Engagement:
    Understand how users interact with our content, track trends, and measure the effectiveness of our programs and outreach.
  • To Support Member and Scholarship Applications:
    Review and process applications, communicate with applicants, and manage related documentation.
  • To Facilitate Donations and Acknowledge Contributions:
    Process donations securely and provide donation receipts or acknowledgments when appropriate.
  • To Communicate with You:
    Send updates, event announcements, newsletters, and respond to inquiries or support requests.
  • To Prevent Fraud and Ensure Security:
    Monitor activity for suspicious behavior or security breaches and take preventive measures when necessary.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

At the Association of Bulgarian Professionals, your privacy is a priority. We share your information only when necessary and in accordance with this Privacy Policy:

  • Service Providers:
    We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our website, manage donations, evaluate scholarship applications, deliver email communications, or provide technical support. These partners are required to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we specify.
  • Legal Obligations:
    We may disclose personal data when legally required to do so, such as in response to a subpoena, court order, or government request. We may also share information in good faith when necessary to comply with legal obligations or to protect the safety, rights, or property of ABP and its members.
  • Event Collaborations or Community Partnerships:
    For certain events or programs hosted in partnership with other organizations, we may share limited participant information necessary for coordination or participation, but only with your consent or notice.
  • Business Continuity:
    In the unlikely event of a merger, reorganization, or asset transfer, personal data may be transferred to the succeeding entity. You will be notified of any such changes and your rights regarding your data.

By engaging with our services, you agree to the limited sharing of your data as outlined above.

5. Data Security Measures

The Association of Bulgarian Professionals takes the security of your personal information seriously. We implement a variety of industry-standard practices to help protect your data from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or disclosure:

  • Data Encryption:
    We use encryption during data transmission (e.g., through SSL) to protect sensitive information such as donation details and application data.
  • Secure Hosting:
    Our website is hosted on secure servers with up-to-date security protocols, firewalls, and regular system monitoring.
  • Access Controls:
    Access to personal data is restricted to authorized team members and volunteers who need the information to perform their roles. All personnel are required to follow strict confidentiality guidelines.
  • Routine Maintenance and Updates:
    We regularly update our website and software systems to address known vulnerabilities and maintain optimal security.
  • Incident Response:
    In the event of a security incident, we have procedures in place to investigate the issue, contain any breach, and notify affected individuals if necessary.

5.1 Data Security Limitations

While we take reasonable steps to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee absolute security. By using our website, you acknowledge and accept this limitation.

5.2 User Responsibility

You are responsible for safeguarding your own information. We encourage you to:

  • Use strong, unique passwords for any accounts you create
  • Keep your login credentials confidential
  • Log out of your account when using a shared or public device
  • Contact us immediately at office@bgprofessionals.org if you believe your information has been compromised

6. User Rights and Contact Information

At the Association of Bulgarian Professionals, we respect your rights concerning your personal data. You have the right to:

  • Access – Request copies of the personal information we hold about you
  • Rectification – Request that we correct or complete any inaccurate or incomplete information
  • Deletion – Request the removal of your personal information, under certain conditions
  • Objection – Object to our processing of your personal data, under certain conditions
  • Restriction – Request that we limit the processing of your personal data, under certain conditions
  • Data Portability – Request that we transfer your data to another organization or to you directly
  • Withdraw Consent – Withdraw any consent you previously provided for us to use your data

6.1 Exercising Your Rights

You may exercise these rights at any time by:

We are committed to responding to your requests in a timely and respectful manner.

7. Cookie and Technology Usage at the Association of Bulgarian Professionals

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies (such as web beacons and tracking pixels) to enhance your experience, analyze site traffic, and improve our services. These tools help us better understand visitor behavior and measure the effectiveness of our communication and outreach.

7.1 Types of Cookies Used

  • Essential Cookies:
    These are necessary for basic website functionality, including security, network management, and accessibility.
  • Performance and Analytics Cookies:
    These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website, such as which pages are most visited and how users navigate the site. This information helps us improve usability and performance.
  • Preference Cookies:
    These remember your preferences and settings to provide a more personalized browsing experience.

7.2 Consent for Cookies

  • When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie banner asking for your consent to use non-essential cookies. You can:
  • Accept or reject cookies directly via the banner
  • Change your cookie preferences at any time by adjusting your browser settings or revisiting the banner controls

7.3 Managing Cookies

If you prefer not to accept cookies, you can:

  • Adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies or notify you when a cookie is being sent
  • Delete cookies already stored on your device

Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

7.4 Additional Tracking Technologies

In some of our email communications, we may use tracking links to evaluate engagement. These help us improve future communications. If you prefer not to be tracked, avoid clicking links in those emails.

7.5 Data Classification

Data collected via cookies is typically non-personal. However, where local law considers IP addresses or similar identifiers as personal data, we treat them accordingly. If we ever combine non-personal and personal data, the combined information will be treated as personal data.

7.6 Opting Out

To update your privacy preferences or opt out of tracking, contact us at office@bgprofessionals.org or use your browser’s privacy settings.

7.7 Changes to Our Cookie Policy

We may update our cookie practices from time to time. Revisions will be posted to this section, along with the date of the latest update.

8. Compliance with Regulations

The Association of Bulgarian Professionals is committed to complying with all applicable privacy and data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for users in the European Economic Area and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for users in California.

8.1 GDPR Compliance (European Economic Area Residents)

If you are located within the EEA, you are entitled to the following rights under GDPR:

  • Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal data
  • Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
  • Right to Erasure (“Right to Be Forgotten”): Request deletion of your data in certain situations
  • Right to Restrict Processing: Request limits on how we use your personal data
  • Right to Data Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service or to yourself
  • Right to Object: Object to how we process your data in certain cases
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where consent was the basis for data use

We ensure that all personal data is processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently in line with GDPR standards.

8.2 CCPA Compliance (California Residents)

If you reside in California, you have the following rights under the CCPA:

  • Right to Know: Know what personal data we collect, use, share, and why
  • Right to Access: Request a copy of personal data collected in the past 12 months
  • Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data
  • Right to Non-Discrimination: Receive equal service and pricing even if you exercise your privacy rights

We do not sell personal data. Any sharing is strictly for service-related functions, as described in this policy.

8.3 COPPA Compliance (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act)

Our website and services are not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected such information, we will delete it promptly.

8.4 Parental Responsibility

We encourage parents and guardians to supervise their children’s online activity. If you believe your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately at office@bgprofessionals.org so we can remove the information.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including supporting our scholarship program, membership communications, community engagement, and compliance with legal obligations.

Retention periods vary depending on the type of information and its purpose:

  • Membership and Application Information:
    Retained for as long as the individual is a member, applicant, or actively engaged with ABP, and for up to 12 months after unless longer retention is required for legal or archival purposes.
  • Donation and Transaction Records:
    Retained for a minimum of 7 years to comply with tax, accounting, and reporting requirements.
  • Event Registration and Participation Data:
    Retained for up to 2 years to support reporting, continuity, and follow-up communications.
  • Website Analytics and Usage Data:
    Retained for up to 24 months for performance analysis, site improvement, and security monitoring.
  • Email Communications and Inquiries:
    Retained for up to 2 years for internal tracking and continuity of support.

When data is no longer needed, we securely delete, anonymize, or archive it in accordance with our internal policies and applicable law.

For questions regarding how long your information is stored, please contact us at office@bgprofessionals.org.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or service offerings. When updates are made, we will revise the “Effective Date” at the top of this page.

If the changes are material, we will provide additional notice—such as posting a prominent notice on our website or sending a direct communication to members and subscribers, if applicable.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

Commitment to Compliance

The Association of Bulgarian Professionals is committed to safeguarding your personal data and complying with all applicable privacy laws. If you have any questions about this policy or your rights, please contact us at:

Email: office@bgprofessionals.org
Mailing Address: 832 Lee Street, Des Plaines, IL