Cookie Policy

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide a better user experience, and give website owners useful information about how their site is being used. Cookies can be "persistent" or "session" cookies. Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period of time or until you delete them. Session cookies are deleted when you close your web browser.

The Stellar Foundation uses cookies and similar technologies for several purposes: Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. They enable basic functions like page navigation, secure areas access, and form submissions. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. Analytics Cookies: We use analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with our website. This helps us improve our website's structure, content, and functionality. These cookies collect information anonymously and report website trends without identifying individual visitors. Functionality Cookies: These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make (such as your language preference or region) and provide enhanced, more personal features. Marketing Cookies: With your consent, we may use marketing cookies to deliver more relevant advertisements and to measure the effectiveness of our fundraising campaigns.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the cookies used on our website: Strictly Necessary Cookies: - Session ID cookies for maintaining your browsing session - Security cookies to prevent cross-site request forgery - Load balancing cookies to ensure optimal performance Performance and Analytics Cookies: - Google Analytics (_ga, _gid, _gat) to track page views and user behavior - Anonymous user session tracking for website optimization Functional Cookies: - Language preference cookies - Theme preference cookies (light/dark mode) - Donation form progress cookies Third-Party Cookies: - Payment processor cookies (for secure donation processing) - Social media sharing cookies (when you interact with share buttons) - Embedded content cookies (from videos or other embedded media)

You have several options for managing cookies: Browser Settings: Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can usually find these settings in the "Options" or "Preferences" menu of your browser. The following links provide information on how to manage cookies in common browsers: - Google Chrome: chrome://settings/cookies - Mozilla Firefox: about:preferences#privacy - Safari: Preferences > Privacy - Microsoft Edge: edge://settings/privacy Opt-Out Tools: You can opt out of specific third-party cookies: - Google Analytics: tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout - Digital Advertising Alliance: optout.aboutads.info Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website. Essential cookies cannot be disabled as they are necessary for the website to function.

Some cookies on our website are placed by third-party services. These third parties may use cookies for their own purposes, and we do not control these cookies. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of these third parties: Analytics Providers: We use Google Analytics to analyze website traffic. Google's privacy policy can be found at policies.google.com/privacy. Payment Processors: When you make a donation, our payment processor may place cookies to facilitate the transaction. These cookies are subject to the payment processor's privacy policy. Social Media: If you interact with social media features on our website, those platforms may place their own cookies. Please refer to the respective platform's cookie policies. Embedded Content: Content embedded from other websites (such as videos) may place cookies. These are governed by the policies of those third-party websites.

Different cookies have different retention periods: Session Cookies: These are temporary and are deleted when you close your browser. Persistent Cookies: These remain on your device for varying periods: - Analytics cookies: Up to 2 years - Preference cookies: Up to 1 year - Marketing cookies: Up to 90 days (where applicable) You can delete cookies at any time through your browser settings.

In addition to cookies, we may use other similar technologies: Local Storage: We may use browser local storage to store preferences and improve performance. Unlike cookies, local storage data is not sent to our servers with each request. Pixel Tags: Also known as web beacons or clear GIFs, these are tiny graphics that allow us to understand how users interact with our emails and website. They are typically used in conjunction with cookies. Device Fingerprinting: We do not use device fingerprinting technologies to track users.

Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that signals to websites that you visit that you do not want to have your online activity tracked. Currently, there is no uniform standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals. Our website does not currently respond to DNT signals. However, you can manage your cookie preferences using the methods described above.

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our data practices. When we make significant changes, we will notify you by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy. We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about our use of cookies and related technologies.

If you have any questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us: Stellar Foundation 33 Princess Street Toronto, ON Email: privacy@stellarfoundation.ca For more information about how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.