Privacy Policy
Effective Date: September 29, 2026
Advocate for the Innocent (“AFTI,” “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 our website, become a member, make a donation, subscribe to our newsletter or email communications, opt in to receive text messages, register for programs or events, complete forms or surveys, or otherwise interact with Advocate for the Innocent.
Information We Collect
The personal information we collect depends on how you interact with Advocate for the Innocent.
Contact Information
We may collect information such as your:
- Name
- Email address
- Mobile or telephone number
- Mailing address
- Information obtained during member registration
- Financial information related to donations or support
- Information obtained during volunteer registration
- Domain information from visitors to our websites
- Other contact information you voluntarily provide
Membership Information
When you register for or maintain an AFTI membership, we may collect information necessary to create and manage your membership, communicate with you, provide membership benefits and resources, and maintain our membership records.
Newsletter and Email Information
If you subscribe to our newsletter, become a member, register for certain programs, or otherwise choose to receive email communications, we may collect your name, email address, subscription preferences, and information relating to your interaction with our communications. You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in our emails.
SMS and Mobile Information
When you provide your mobile phone number and expressly opt in to receive SMS/text messages from Advocate for the Innocent (members only), we may collect your mobile phone number, SMS consent status, and information associated with your participation in the SMS program.
We may use this information to send text messages concerning AFTI programs, resources, events, organizational updates, fundraising activities, membership information, educational information, and other communications related to Advocate for the Innocent.
We do not sell, rent, or share your mobile phone number, SMS opt-in information, or consent to receive text messages with third parties or affiliates for their own marketing or promotional purposes. Your SMS consent will not be transferred to or used by another organization to send you its own marketing or promotional messages.
Donations and Payment Information
When you make a donation, pay membership fees, or make another payment, information necessary to process the transaction may be collected. Payment and financial information may be processed by third-party payment processors. AFTI does not necessarily receive or store your complete credit or debit card information when payments are processed by these providers. We may retain transaction information necessary for accounting, recordkeeping, donor management, membership administration, and legal or regulatory purposes.
Forms, Surveys, Programs, and Events
We may collect information you voluntarily provide when you:
- Complete a website form
- Participate in a survey or focus group
- Register for an event, webinar, program, or educational opportunity
- Request information or resources
- Submit feedback
- Contact AFTI
Website and Technical Information
When you visit our website, certain information may be collected automatically, such as your IP address, browser or device information, pages visited, referring website, approximate location derived from technical information, and information about how you interact with our website.
We may use cookies, analytics services, and similar technologies to understand website usage, improve our website and resources, measure outreach efforts, and maintain website functionality.
How We Use Personal Information
We may use personal information to:
- Create and administer memberships
- Provide member benefits, educational resources, and organizational information
- Process donations, membership payments, and other transactions
- Send newsletters and email communications
- Send SMS/text messages to individuals who have opted in (members only)
- Communicate about programs, resources, webinars, events, focus groups, fundraising activities, and other AFTI initiatives
- Respond to questions, inquiries, and requests
- Provide requested resources or information
- Manage registrations and participation in programs or events
- Maintain our membership, donor, subscriber, and contact records
- Understand how people use our website and communications
- Improve our website, programs, resources, outreach, and services
- Protect our organization, website, members, supporters, and users
- Prevent fraud, misuse, or other unlawful activity
- Comply with applicable legal, regulatory, accounting, and reporting requirements
We may also use information for another purpose disclosed to you at the time it is collected.
Email and SMS Marketing Consent
AFTI may use email and SMS/text messaging to communicate with people who have subscribed or otherwise provided the appropriate permission. Consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of making a donation, purchasing anything, or becoming a member unless expressly stated otherwise.
Consent for email and SMS subscriptions are treated separately. Providing an email address, mobile phone number, becoming a member, or making a donation does not by itself mean that you have consented to every form of marketing communication. Where consent is required, we will seek the appropriate consent before sending marketing communications.
We may use third-party communications providers to manage subscribers, subscription information and maintain consent. Information provided to these service providers is used to facilitate our communications and related services, and assist us in delivering SMS/text messages on our behalf. Message and data rates may apply.
These providers may process your mobile phone number and messaging information solely as necessary to provide messaging services to Advocate for the Innocent and are not permitted to use your information for their own marketing purposes.
SMS Data Sharing
AFTI does not share or sell your mobile phone number or SMS consent information. We may share information with service providers that assist us in operating our SMS program, such as messaging platforms, telecommunications providers, and other vendors necessary to deliver and manage text messages. These providers may process information only as necessary to provide services to AFTI or as otherwise permitted or required by law.
How We Share Personal Information
We may share personal information with vendors and service providers that perform services on our behalf, including providers that assist with:
- Website hosting and administration
- Membership management
- Email and SMS communications
- Payment processing
- Donation processing
- Analytics
- Event and program registration
- Technology and administrative services
These providers may receive information necessary to perform their services for AFTI. We may also disclose information when reasonably necessary to comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, court orders, or governmental requests; protect our legal rights; investigate fraud or security concerns; or protect the safety and security of AFTI, our users, or others. We do not sell personal information for monetary consideration.
Your Marketing Choices
You control whether you wish to receive marketing communications from us.
You may unsubscribe from marketing emails by selecting the unsubscribe link included in our marketing emails or by contacting us.
SMS/Text Messages
You may opt out of AFTI marketing text messages at any time by replying STOP to a message. After opting out, you may receive a final confirmation message indicating that your request has been processed. For assistance with the SMS program, reply HELP for more information.
Opting out of SMS/text messages does not automatically unsubscribe you from email communications, and unsubscribing from email does not automatically withdraw your SMS consent.
Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and to meet our legal, accounting, administrative, and organizational obligations. The length of time information is retained may vary depending on the nature of the information and our reason for collecting it.
We may retain records of marketing consent, including SMS opt-in and opt-out information, when necessary to demonstrate compliance with applicable laws, regulations, carrier requirements, or service-provider requirements.
Data Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure. However, no website, electronic communication, database, or method of electronic storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Third-Party Services and Websites
Our website and communications may contain links to third-party websites, platforms, or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, or content of third-party websites or services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of those services before providing personal information.
We also use third-party providers to operate portions of our website and communications. Those providers may process information according to their respective privacy policies and their agreements with AFTI.
International Data Processing
Some of our technology and service providers may process or store information in locations outside the state or country in which you reside. Where required by applicable law, appropriate safeguards will be used in connection with transfers of personal information.
Your Privacy Rights
Depending on where you live and applicable law, you may have rights concerning your personal information, which may include the right to:
- Request access to personal information we maintain about you
- Request correction of inaccurate information
- Request deletion of certain personal information
- Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
- Opt-out of certain marketing communications
- Request information about how your personal information is used or disclosed
These rights may be subject to exceptions and limitations under applicable law. To submit a privacy-related request, please contact us using the information below.
Children’s Privacy
AFTI’s mission includes providing education and resources related to protecting children. However, our website, memberships, newsletters, and marketing communications are intended primarily for parents, caregivers, educators, professionals, supporters, and other adults.
We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children through our marketing programs without appropriate authorization or consent when required by law. If you believe that a child has provided personal information to us inappropriately, please contact us so that we can review the situation and take appropriate action.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
AFTI may use artificial intelligence and other technology tools to assist with research, communications, educational materials, administrative activities, and identifying information about organizations, government programs, resources, and services that may support AFTI’s mission. We will use such technologies in a manner consistent with this Privacy Policy and applicable law.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes to our programs, technology, legal requirements, or privacy practices. When changes are made, we will update the effective date displayed at the top of this Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise a privacy right, or have questions regarding your email or SMS preferences, please contact:
Advocate for the Innocent
200 S Wacker Dr, Ste 3100
Chicago, IL 60606-5877