Privacy Policy

The Animal Forensics Institute (“AFI,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is an independent nonprofit dedicated to advancing forensic-grade standards for animal crime investigations. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you visit animalforensicsinstitute.org or interact with us through the forms on this site, how we use that information, and the choices you have about it.

1. Information We Collect

We only collect information that you provide to us directly. We do not buy, sell, or rent personal information.

Newsletter sign-ups. When you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your first name, last name, and email address.

Contact form submissions. When you send us a message through our contact form, we collect your first name, last name, email address, country, topic of inquiry, and the content of your message.

Donations. When you make a donation, we collect your first name, last name, email address, phone number, donation amount, and any project designation. Payment card information is processed directly by our payment processor and is not stored on our servers.

Server logs. Like most websites, our hosting provider (Vercel) automatically logs basic technical information about requests to the site — IP address, browser type, referring page, and timestamps — for security and reliability purposes. These logs are retained for a limited period and are not used to build user profiles.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information you provide to:

• Send you the newsletter you subscribed to and related updates about our research, training, and casework.
• Respond to your inquiries and partnership requests.
• Process donations, send acknowledgements, and issue tax receipts where applicable.
• Operate, secure, and improve the website.
• Comply with legal obligations.

We do not use your information for advertising and we do not share it with third parties for their marketing purposes.

3. Service Providers

We rely on a small number of trusted service providers to operate the site and our programs. These providers process information on our behalf under contractual privacy obligations:

• Vercel — website hosting and serverless functions.
• Neon — managed PostgreSQL database.
• Resend — for newsletter and transactional emails (Resend Privacy Policy).
• Payment processor — for processing donations (when applicable).

We share only the information necessary for these providers to perform their services and we require them to safeguard your information.

4. Cookies and Analytics

This website does not currently use marketing cookies or third-party analytics. If we add analytics in the future, we will update this policy and provide an appropriate notice.

5. Data Retention

We retain newsletter subscriber information until you unsubscribe or request deletion. Contact form submissions are retained as long as reasonably needed to respond and follow up. Donation records are retained as required for tax, accounting, and legal compliance.

6. Your Rights and Choices

You have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you.
• Correct information that is inaccurate or out of date.
• Delete your information, subject to limited legal exceptions.
• Unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time using the link in any newsletter email, or by contacting us.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at info@animalforensicsinstitute.org.

If you are located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or California, you may have additional rights under local law (GDPR, UK GDPR, CCPA). We honor those rights and will respond to verified requests in accordance with applicable law.

7. Children's Privacy

Our site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected such information, please contact us and we will delete it.

8. Security

We take reasonable administrative and technical measures to protect the information you share with us. No system can be completely secure, however, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last updated” date at the top of the page. Material changes will be communicated through the website or via email where appropriate.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or about how we handle your information, please contact us at:

Animal Forensics Institute
Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore, MD
info@animalforensicsinstitute.org