Last Updated: October 3, 2026
Common Ground Grief Center (“Common Ground,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you visit commongroundgriefcenter.org, communicate with us, register for programs or events, make a donation, volunteer, or otherwise interact with Common Ground through our website.
By using our website, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
Information We Collect
The information we collect depends on how you interact with Common Ground.
Information You Provide to Us
You may voluntarily provide personal information when you:
- Contact us through a website form
- Request information about our programs or services
- Register for an event or program
- Apply or inquire about volunteering
- Make a donation
- Purchase or request a memorial item
- Subscribe to email communications
- Communicate with us by email, telephone, or other means
This information may include:
- Name
- Email address
- Telephone number
- Mailing address
- Information included in messages or inquiries
- Event or program registration information
- Volunteer application information
- Donation or transaction information
- Other information you choose to provide
Because Common Ground supports individuals and families experiencing grief, information you voluntarily provide may sometimes include sensitive or personal information relating to a loss, family circumstances, or participation in our programs.
Please only provide information that is reasonably necessary for your request.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically by our website, hosting provider, analytics services, security services, or other technology providers.
This information may include:
- Internet Protocol (IP) address
- Browser type
- Device type
- Operating system
- Approximate geographic location based on IP address
- Pages viewed
- Referring website
- Date and time of visits
- Website interactions
- Other technical information relating to website performance and security
We may use cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality, understand how visitors use the website, improve performance, and protect the website from misuse.
How We Use Information
We may use information collected through the website to:
- Respond to questions and requests
- Provide information about Common Ground’s programs and services
- Process program or event registrations
- Process donations and transactions
- Communicate with participants, families, donors, volunteers, and supporters
- Manage volunteer inquiries and applications
- Send newsletters, organizational updates, event information, or fundraising communications when appropriate
- Maintain and improve our website
- Understand how visitors use our website
- Protect the security and integrity of our website and systems
- Prevent fraud, misuse, or unauthorized activity
- Maintain organizational and financial records
- Comply with applicable legal, regulatory, tax, or reporting requirements
We do not sell personal information to third parties.
Donations and Payment Information
Common Ground may use third-party payment processors or service providers to facilitate online donations, event registrations, purchases, or other transactions.
Payment information submitted directly through a third-party payment service is subject to that provider’s privacy and security practices.
Common Ground does not intend to collect or store complete payment card information through standard website contact forms.
Please do not submit credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security numbers, passwords, or similar highly sensitive information through a general website contact form or regular email.
Children’s Privacy
Common Ground provides programs and services for children, teenagers, young adults, and their families. However, our general website is primarily intended to provide information to parents, guardians, caregivers, volunteers, donors, and other members of the community.
We do not knowingly collect personal information online directly from children under the age of 13 without appropriate parental or legal guardian involvement when such consent is required by law.
Children under 13 should not submit personal information through our website without the involvement and permission of a parent or legal guardian.
If we learn that personal information from a child under 13 has been submitted online in circumstances where parental consent was required but was not obtained, we will take reasonable steps to delete or appropriately address that information.
A parent or guardian who believes a child has submitted personal information to us may contact Common Ground using the information provided at the end of this Privacy Policy.
Sensitive Information
Because of the nature of Common Ground’s mission, visitors may communicate information involving grief, bereavement, family relationships, health circumstances, or other sensitive matters.
We use reasonable care when handling information provided to us. However, standard website forms and email should not be considered appropriate channels for emergencies or highly confidential communications.
If you or someone else is experiencing an emergency or immediate danger, please contact the appropriate emergency services rather than using the Common Ground website.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
Our website and third-party services used by the website may use cookies, pixels, local storage, or similar technologies.
Cookies are small files or pieces of information stored on or associated with your browser or device.
These technologies may be used to:
- Enable website functionality
- Remember website preferences
- Maintain website security
- Measure website traffic
- Understand how visitors interact with the website
- Improve website performance and usability
You can typically control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Restricting certain cookies may affect how some portions of the website function.
Where required by applicable law, we may provide additional choices regarding nonessential cookies or tracking technologies.
Analytics
We may use analytics services to better understand website traffic and visitor interaction.
These services may collect information such as IP addresses, browser information, device information, pages visited, approximate location, and interactions with the website.
Information collected by analytics providers is governed by their respective privacy policies and contractual terms.
Email Communications
If you subscribe to our mailing list, register for certain events, donate, or otherwise request communications from Common Ground, we may send you organizational news, program information, fundraising communications, event announcements, or similar messages.
You may unsubscribe from promotional email communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in applicable emails or by contacting us.
Even if you unsubscribe from promotional communications, we may continue to send communications necessary to complete a transaction, respond to a request, administer a program, or provide other services you requested.
How We Share Information
We may share personal information with organizations or individuals that help us operate our website and provide our services.
These may include:
- Website hosting providers
- Website developers and technology providers
- Email communication providers
- Analytics providers
- Payment and donation processors
- Event registration providers
- Security and fraud prevention services
- Professional advisers such as attorneys, accountants, or auditors
- Other vendors supporting Common Ground’s operations
We may provide these parties with information reasonably necessary for them to perform services on our behalf.
We may also disclose information when reasonably necessary to:
- Comply with applicable law, regulation, subpoena, court order, or other legal process
- Protect the rights, property, safety, or security of Common Ground, our participants, visitors, staff, volunteers, or others
- Investigate suspected fraud, security incidents, abuse, or unlawful activity
- Enforce applicable agreements or policies
We do not sell personal information for monetary compensation.
Third-Party Websites and Services
Our website may contain links to websites, registration platforms, donation platforms, social media services, videos, maps, or other services operated by third parties.
When you leave our website or interact directly with a third-party service, that organization’s privacy policy and terms govern its collection and use of your information.
Common Ground is not responsible for the privacy practices, security, or content of websites or services operated by third parties.
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of third-party services before providing personal information.
Social Media
Common Ground may maintain profiles or pages on third-party social media platforms.
Information you post, share, or otherwise make available through those platforms is subject to the privacy settings, terms, and policies of the applicable social media provider.
Please use care when posting personal or sensitive information publicly through social media.
Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including providing services, maintaining organizational records, meeting legal or financial obligations, resolving disputes, and protecting the organization.
Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the reason it was collected.
When information is no longer reasonably required, we may delete, anonymize, or securely dispose of it in accordance with our practices and applicable requirements.
Data Security
Common Ground takes reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or misuse.
However, no website, database, email system, or method of transmitting information over the Internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
You should use care when transmitting personal or sensitive information electronically.
Your Privacy Choices
Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information.
You may contact us to request that we:
- Provide information about personal information we maintain about you
- Correct inaccurate personal information
- Update your contact information
- Delete certain personal information when appropriate
- Stop sending you marketing or fundraising communications
Some information may need to be retained for legal, financial, security, program administration, or other legitimate organizational purposes.
We may take reasonable steps to verify your identity before processing certain privacy requests.
Do Not Track and Browser Privacy Signals
Some browsers offer “Do Not Track” or other privacy preference signals.
Because there is not a single universally applied standard governing all such signals, our website may not respond to every browser-based signal in the same manner.
Where applicable law requires recognition of a particular privacy preference mechanism, we will take reasonable steps to comply with that requirement.
Visitors From Outside the United States
Common Ground Grief Center is a nonprofit organization based in New Jersey, United States.
If you access our website from outside the United States, information you provide may be transferred to, processed, or stored in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from those in your jurisdiction.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes to our website, technology, organizational practices, services, or applicable legal requirements.
When changes are made, we will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.
We encourage visitors to review this Privacy Policy periodically.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, our privacy practices, or personal information you have provided to Common Ground, please contact us:
Common Ground Grief Center
67 Taylor Avenue
Manasquan, NJ 08736
Phone: 732-606-7477
Website: commongroundgriefcenter.org