Troops Direct respects the privacy of our donors, supporters, service members, website visitors, and partners. Protecting the information entrusted to us is an important part of protecting the people and mission we serve.
This Privacy Policy explains how Troops Direct (“Troops Direct,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) may collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you visit TroopsDirect.org, make a donation, submit a request, register for an event, communicate with us, or otherwise interact with Troops Direct.
Troops Direct is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Information We Collect
The information we collect depends on how you interact with Troops Direct.
Information You Provide to Us
You may provide information such as:
- Name
- Mailing and billing address
- Email address
- Telephone number
- Donation amount and donation history
- Information necessary to process or acknowledge a donation
- Event registration information
- Employer or matching-gift information
- Communications you send to us
- Information submitted through website forms
- Service-member information submitted through our request process
When you make an online donation, Troops Direct also provides donation receipts and maintains information necessary for donor administration and tax documentation.
Payment Information
When you make a financial contribution, payment information may be collected and processed by third-party payment processors or financial institutions that facilitate the transaction.
Troops Direct may receive information about the transaction, such as your name, contact information, donation amount, transaction status, and other information needed to administer your contribution.
We encourage users to review the privacy and security practices of any third-party payment provider involved in a transaction.
Service-Member Requests and OPSEC
Operational security matters.
Troops Direct accepts requests from active and reserve members of the United States Armed Forces and may collect information necessary to authenticate the requester, verify the request, source the requested equipment, and coordinate delivery. Troops Direct may also verify the identity of the requesting party and validity of a request for security purposes.
Information associated with military requests may include names, ranks, military contact information, unit-related information, shipping information, equipment requirements, deployment-related information, and other details voluntarily provided by the requester.
Troops Direct treats this information with particular care.
Consistent with our operational-security practices, we do not publicly disclose names, ranks, locations, or other identifying information concerning requesting service members simply because they requested assistance. Information may be shared when reasonably necessary to fulfill a verified request, including with suppliers or logistics providers shipping equipment on our behalf, or when otherwise required by law.
We will not knowingly publish sensitive operational information that could compromise a service member, unit, mission, or location.
Service members should nevertheless avoid submitting classified information or information that they are not authorized to disclose.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit TroopsDirect.org, certain technical information may be collected automatically through cookies and similar technologies.
Depending on the technologies operating on the website, this may include:
- IP address
- Browser and device type
- Operating system
- Pages visited
- Referring website
- Date and time of visits
- Approximate geographic information derived from an IP address
- Interactions with website content
- Advertising or campaign attribution information
We may use cookies, pixels, analytics tools, or similar technologies to understand how visitors use our website, maintain website functionality, measure outreach efforts, and improve our communications.
How We Use Information
Troops Direct may use information we collect to:
- Process and acknowledge donations
- Provide donation receipts and annual giving records
- Administer recurring donations
- Respond to questions and requests
- Verify and fulfill service-member equipment requests
- Coordinate sourcing, shipping, and logistics
- Register participants for events or programs
- Communicate with donors and supporters
- Provide mission updates and organizational news
- Manage matching gifts and corporate contributions
- Maintain and improve TroopsDirect.org
- Understand website usage and outreach effectiveness
- Prevent fraud, misuse, or security threats
- Maintain organizational and financial records
- Comply with legal, regulatory, accounting, and tax obligations
- Protect Troops Direct, our supporters, and the service members we assist
Troops Direct currently offers recurring giving through its Supply Chain Club and communicates mission updates to participating supporters.
How We Share Information
Troops Direct may share information with organizations that perform legitimate services on our behalf, such as:
- Payment processors
- Financial institutions
- Donation-management providers
- Matching-gift providers
- Email and communications platforms
- Website hosting and technology providers
- Analytics providers
- Event-service providers
- Equipment suppliers
- Shipping and logistics providers
- Professional advisers, accountants, auditors, and legal counsel
These organizations may receive information only as reasonably necessary to provide their respective services or as otherwise permitted by law.
We may also disclose information when reasonably necessary to comply with applicable law, respond to lawful governmental requests or legal process, investigate fraud or security incidents, enforce our rights, or protect the safety and security of Troops Direct and others.
Donor Privacy
The trust of our donors makes our mission possible.
Troops Direct uses donor information to process contributions, provide receipts, maintain required records, communicate about our mission, and administer donor relationships.
Donors may contact us to update their information or communication preferences.
Troops Direct also permits donors to make donations anonymously while providing an email address for an electronic tax receipt.
Email and Communications
If you subscribe to updates, donate, register for an event, or otherwise provide contact information, we may send communications related to Troops Direct, including mission updates, fundraising appeals, organizational news, events, and information about your donations.
You may unsubscribe from marketing emails using the unsubscribe option included in those communications.
Please note that we may still send non-promotional communications when necessary, including donation receipts, transaction notices, event information, responses to requests, or other administrative messages.
Cookies and Analytics
TroopsDirect.org may use cookies and similar technologies to operate the website, remember preferences, understand website traffic, measure the effectiveness of communications or campaigns, and improve the visitor experience.
Some technologies may be provided by third parties.
Where required by applicable law, visitors may be provided options to manage certain categories of cookies or tracking technologies.
Browser settings may also allow you to block or delete cookies, although doing so may affect certain website functionality.
Data Security
Troops Direct uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect information in our possession.
However, no website, electronic transmission, or information-storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. We therefore cannot guarantee absolute security.
Information involving active-duty personnel and military requests is handled with heightened attention to operational security.
Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, administer our nonprofit operations, maintain appropriate donor and financial records, satisfy legal or regulatory requirements, resolve disputes, and protect legitimate organizational interests.
Different categories of information may be retained for different periods.
Your Privacy Choices
Depending on where you live and applicable law, you may have rights concerning your personal information, which may include the ability to request access to, correction of, or deletion of certain information.
You may also contact us to:
- Update your contact information
- Change your communication preferences
- Unsubscribe from promotional emails
- Ask questions about information associated with you
- Request information about our privacy practices
Certain information may need to be retained when required for legal, financial, tax, security, fraud-prevention, or other legitimate purposes.
Third-Party Websites
TroopsDirect.org may contain links to websites, services, social-media platforms, or resources operated by third parties.
Troops Direct does not control the privacy practices of those third parties. When you leave our website or interact directly with another service, that organization’s privacy policy and terms may apply.
Children’s Privacy
TroopsDirect.org is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information online from children under 13 without appropriate authorization.
If we learn that personal information from a child under 13 has been collected in a manner inconsistent with applicable law, we will take appropriate steps to address it.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes to our website, technologies, organizational practices, or applicable legal requirements.
When we make changes, we will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. Material changes may also be communicated through the website or other appropriate means.
We encourage visitors to review this page periodically.
Contact Troops Direct
Questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices may be directed to:
Troops Direct
6951 Virginia Pkwy, Suite 211
McKinney, TX 75071
Phone: 877-97-TROOPS (877-978-7667)
Email: support@troopsdirect.org