Privacy Policy

How YESS collects, uses, and protects your personal information

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1. Who We Are

Youth Empowerment & Support Services ("YESS," "we," "our," or "us") is a registered Canadian charity (Charitable Registration No. 129537437RR0001) located at 9310 82 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6C 0Z6. We are committed to protecting the privacy of everyone who interacts with us — including donors, volunteers, event participants, and website visitors.

This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected through our website (yess.org), our donation platform, and other communications. It does not apply to information about the youth we serve, which is governed by separate confidentiality policies and applicable provincial legislation.

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2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following categories of personal information:

  • Contact information: name, mailing address, email address, phone number
  • Donation information: gift amounts, payment method details (processed securely by our third-party payment processor, Blackbaud), and transaction history
  • Communication preferences: email subscription status and communication history
  • Volunteer and event information: availability, skills, emergency contacts, and event participation records
  • Website usage data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, time on site, and referral source (collected via cookies and analytics tools)

We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of 18 without verifiable parental or guardian consent.

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3. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to:

  • Process and acknowledge donations and issue official charitable tax receipts in compliance with CRA requirements
  • Communicate updates about YESS programs, campaigns, events, and giving opportunities — with your express or implied consent as required by CASL
  • Administer volunteer registrations, group bookings, and community events
  • Respond to inquiries submitted through our website or contact channels
  • Improve our website and communications through aggregate analytics
  • Meet legal and regulatory obligations, including CRA charitable record-keeping requirements

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4. Disclosure of Personal Information

YESS does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share information only in the following circumstances:

  • Service providers: We work with third-party vendors — including Blackbaud (donation processing and donor management), email marketing platforms, and web analytics tools — who process personal information on our behalf under confidentiality agreements.
  • Legal requirements: We may disclose information where required by law, court order, or to protect the safety of an individual.
  • Organizational transfers: In the unlikely event of a merger, amalgamation, or transfer of charitable assets, your information may be transferred to a successor organization with a commitment to protecting it under equivalent terms.

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5. Donation Processing

Online donations are processed through Blackbaud, a third-party payment and donor management platform. Payment card information is collected and stored securely by Blackbaud and is not retained by YESS. YESS receives confirmation of transactions and donor contact details for tax receipt purposes.

Please review Blackbaud's Privacy Policy at blackbaud.com for information on how your payment data is handled.

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6. Cookies & Analytics

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to understand how visitors use our site and to improve their experience. Cookies may be set by YESS directly or by third-party analytics providers.

You may disable cookies through your browser settings; however, doing so may affect the functionality of certain features on our site. We may use tools such as Google Analytics to analyze aggregate, anonymized usage data. This data does not identify individual visitors.

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7. Email Communications (CASL)

YESS complies with Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). We will only send commercial electronic messages — including fundraising appeals, newsletters, and event announcements — to individuals who have provided express or implied consent as defined under CASL.

Every email we send includes a clear and functional unsubscribe mechanism. To opt out at any time, click "Unsubscribe" in any email from YESS, or contact us at giving@yess.org. Unsubscribe requests will be processed within 10 business days.

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8. Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law. Donation records, for example, are retained in accordance with CRA requirements for registered charities. When personal information is no longer needed, it is securely destroyed or anonymized.

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9. Access  Correction

Subject to applicable law, you have the right to request access to the personal information YESS holds about you, and to request that inaccurate information be corrected. To make a request, contact us at:

We will respond to access requests within 30 days.

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10. Security

YESS takes reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include secure hosting, access controls, and the use of reputable third-party service providers with established security practices.

No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

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11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites and platforms, including Raisely (Walk for YESS), Santa Anonymous (Adopt-A-Teen), Blackbaud (donations), and Bissell Centre. YESS is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

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12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or technology. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page will reflect the most recent revision. Continued use of our website following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

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13. Contact Us

For questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

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