United  States Holocaust Memorial Museum Online Privacy Policy

Thank you for visiting the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Web site and for reviewing our privacy policy. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) is committed to protecting the personal information that you provide to us when using our Web site.

This Privacy Policy describes how we handle all user data collected during your visit.

Occasionally, changes in the technology, functionality, or content we provide on our Web site may require us to revise policies and practices set forth on this page. We encourage our visitors to return to this page to learn about any changes we have made. Any information that you submit after a change will be subject to the new provisions.
 
Information Collected and Use of Data

We collect two types of user data: 1) anonymous data that is automatically collected from all visitors to our site and 2) personally identifiable data that you voluntarily submit to us (Personal Data).

We will occasionally provide an online program for children. When children participate in such a program they may be required to provide their personal information, which will be stored in our database. We will use this information to contact them for the purposes of the program and to notify them of any other programs for children that we may offer at another time. It is our policy not to request or accept donations from anyone under 18.

 
Anonymous Data
If you do nothing during your visit but browse through the Web site, read pages, or download information, we will gather and store certain information about your visit automatically. We use this information to help us make our site more useful to visitors — to learn about the number of visitors to our site and the types of technology our visitors use. This information does not identify you personally. We collect the following information:
  • The Internet domain (for example, "xcompany.com" if you use a private Internet access account, or "yourschool.edu" if you connect from a university's domain) and the Internet Protocol (IP) address (the unique numerical expression of the domain from which your computer operates and the computer that you are using; you cannot be personally identified by this number) from which you access our Web site
  • The types of browser and operating systems used to access our site
  • The dates and times our site is accessed
  • The pages visited
  • The number of accesses to each page
  • If users linked to the USHMM Web site from another Web site, the address of that Web site
 
Personal Data
The type of information we may collect includes: name, postal address, e-mail address; preferences for types of information of interest; name, address or e-mail address of friend to whom you wish us to send information, tribute gift, or gift membership; and similar information. A specific type of Personal Data that may be collected is Financial Information, as further described below.

Personal Data may be collected when you:
  • Join or renew your membership with USHMM
  • Make a tribute or gift membership
  • Make a contribution to the Museum
  • Sign up for our e-mail network or one of our e-newsletters
  • Send correspondence to our webmaster or other USHMM staff member
  • Order items available from USHMM
  • Participate in one of our online surveys
  • Make a donation to the USHMM collection
  • Post a comment to our Web site
If you choose to provide us with personal information, we may use that information to:
  • Respond to your message
  • Help us get you the information you have requested
  • Provide you the requested service
  • Allow you to select or change user preferences
  • Confirm your contribution
  • Send you tax-deductible receipts
  • Personalize the content you see based on the activities and choices you have made
If you decide to give us personal information on our Web site, by phone, or by mail, you may be contacted by USHMM with the option to receive mail or e-mail. For example, if you do one of the activities on our Web site such as post a comment, you may be given the option to subscribe to our e-newsletters. You will always be given the option to decline.

Donors who have contacted the USHMM via email and/or provided the USHMM with an email address will receive the USHMM general news e-newsletter. If you wish to decline this benefit, please follow the opt-out options noted below.

Our site has public forums such as message boards. Please remember that any information (comments, photos, sounds) posted on these areas becomes public information. Please exercise caution when deciding to disclose personal information.


Financial Information
Financial Information is personally identifiable data you submit that may include the amount of a gift or payment, preferred payment method, a credit card number, debit tracking number, or other information required to complete a financial transaction. The USHMM will not disclose financial information except as necessary to fulfill the donation or order request. The USHMM collects such financial information in a secure manner and discards such information after processing is complete. The USHMM employs error-checking procedures to make certain transactions are processed in an accurate, complete, and timely manner. Independent internal and external audits are conducted to ensure the privacy, security, and appropriateness of these transactions.

If you prefer to mail or phone in a donation, please see the contact information on the donation form, call (202) 488-2642, or mail payment to: Membership, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW, Washington, DC 20024-2126.

 
Use of Cookies

We may collect some data through the use of cookies. Cookies are alphanumeric identifiers that are transferred either to your computer's hard drive ("long-term cookies") or temporarily to your computer's Random Access Memory ("session cookies"). A cookie cannot read data off your computer hard disk nor can it read cookies files created by other Web sites. We use cookies to make visiting and using our site easier.

We only use long-term cookies to enable us to measure return visits to the Web site. These cookies contain no personal information and will only be used in aggregate form. You may refuse to accept long-term cookies by adjusting your browser preferences.

When you visit the USHMM site, session cookies may be stored that last only as long as your session on the USHMM site. They expire when your session ends and are not written onto your computer's hard drive. For example, we may use session cookies in retaining a choice you have made while using the Museum's calendar.

As with long-term cookies, no personal information is stored in session cookies. Credit card information cannot be accessed using cookies.

You may set your browser to refuse long-term and session cookies from any Web site that you visit. If you so choose, you may still gain access to most of the USHMM Web site, but you may not be able to conduct certain types of transactions (such as shopping) or take advantage of some of the interactive elements offered.

 
Third-Party Disclosure

We will not disclose your name or personal information to other organizations without informing you and giving you the opportunity to opt out.

We may disclose Personal Data to third-party service providers who are contracted by the USHMM to facilitate services such as completion of contribution transactions, response to your service requests, sending of e-newsletters, response to your surveys, or other similar functions. All of our third-party service providers have access to your Personal Data solely for the purpose of providing services to you on our behalf, and they are contractually prohibited from sharing your Personal Data with other third parties.

We may disclose Personal Data to third-party entities at your request when authorized by law. We may also disclose Personal Data to third parties for law enforcement purposes or other purposes as may be specifically required by law.

The USHMM Web site includes links to other third-party Web sites such as affiliated museums or sources of Holocaust research. While we make efforts to choose our links carefully, we cannot take responsibility for the content or privacy policy of linked Web sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies on those Web sites.

We occasionally exchange or rent contributor postal mailing lists with carefully selected organizations, specifically to help us expand our Membership program in a cost-effective way. Please note: we do not exchange or rent e-mail address. If you prefer that we do not exchange or rent your name and postal address, please follow the instructions in the Opt-Out Options section below.

 
Access to Account Information

If you have made a gift to the USHMM, you may request a review of or correction to your account information in one of two ways.
If you wish to review or change your contact your information for the purposes of your Web activity and e-mail correspondence, you can select the Modify Your Profile option in an e-mail message from the USHMM or send an e-mail message to web_administrator@ushmm.org  
Opt-Out Options

If you are a member or donor, you can choose to limit the postal mail exchange or rent of addresses with other charitable organizations in one of three ways.
  • Indicate "do not exchange" or "do not rent" on any of your membership mail packages and return in the pre-addressed envelope.
  • Send an e-mail to Membership@ushmm.org.
  • Call our Member Services line at (202) 488-2642.
You can opt out of receiving e-mail correspondence or e-newsletters in one of three ways.
  • E-mail correspondence and e-newsletters have easy-to-follow unsubscribe instructions at the botton of each email. Select the "remove yourself from this mailing" option and follow the instructions to opt out of that e-mail correspondence.
  • Use the Modify Your Profile option in an e-mail message or on our Web site to change your e-newsletter selections.
  • Send an e-mail to web_administrator@ushmm.org.
 
Security

The Personal Data we collect is stored on a secured server. We use industry-standard encryption technologies with respect to the receipt and transfer of Personal Data that you submit. We routinely evaluate our security and the security of our third-party partners to monitor and upgrade security measures. Only authorized personnel have access to your information.

 
Questions

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data collection practices, please send them to our Webmaster at web_administrator@ushmm.org or by mail to Webmaster, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW, Washington, DC 20024-2126.

If you have questions or concerns relating to USHMM programs, research, activities, membership, or other inquiries, please consult http://www.ushmm.org/museum/contact/ to determine where best to send your inquiry.

We hope you join with us in our growing online community. Our success is made possible through your continuing online participation.


Last Revised: 08/12/2006
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