Privacy Policy

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy

Last Updated: February 11, 2026

At VHK Foundation, we take your privacy seriously. This policy explains what information we collect when you use our website and mobile app, why we collect it, and how we keep it safe.

We comply with all Indian data protection laws, including the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act).

What Information Do We Collect?

When you use VHK Foundation's platform, we collect different types of information to provide you with our services:

Basic Account Information

When you sign up, we ask for your name, email address, mobile number, and location (pincode). If you upload a profile picture, we store that too. You can also add a referral code if someone invited you to join.

For Our Volunteers

If you register as a volunteer, we'll need to verify your identity using your PAN card details and date of birth. This helps us maintain trust and transparency in our community.

Donation and Payment Details

When you make a donation, we collect:

  • The amount you're donating
  • Your payment method (like UPI)
  • Transaction IDs and payment status
  • Information needed to send you receipts and tax certificates

We don't store your complete UPI PIN or full payment credentials—those are handled securely by our payment partners.

The Posts and Content You Create

When you share posts, upload images, or comment on our platform, we store that content along with the time you posted it. If you mark something as an emergency post, we save that flag too.

Technical Stuff (The Boring But Necessary Part)

Like most apps and websites, we automatically collect some technical information:

  • Your device type and operating system
  • A unique device identifier (so we can tell devices apart)
  • Your IP address
  • How you interact with our app

We also use Firebase for sending you push notifications, which requires a unique notification token for your device.

What You Can Access on Your Phone

Our app requests permission to access:

  • Your camera and photo gallery (when you want to upload images)
  • Notifications (so we can tell you about campaigns and updates)
  • Internet (obviously, the app needs this to work)

You control these permissions through your phone's settings, and you can turn them off anytime.

A Note About Children

Our platform is designed for adults. We don't knowingly collect information from anyone under 18 without parental permission, and we definitely don't collect data from children under 13. If we discover we've accidentally collected such information, we'll delete it promptly.

Why Do We Need This Information?

We're not in the business of hoarding data—we only collect what we actually need. Here's what we use it for:

To Run the Platform

  • Creating and managing your account
  • Processing your donations
  • Sending you donation receipts and tax certificates
  • Verifying volunteer credentials
  • Letting you post updates and interact with others

To Keep You Updated

  • Sending push notifications about campaigns (you can turn these off)
  • Responding when you contact us for help
  • Sharing impact reports so you can see where your donations go

To Improve Our Services

  • Understanding how people use our platform
  • Fixing bugs and improving features
  • Making sure everything runs smoothly

To Stay Legal

  • Maintaining records as required by tax laws
  • Complying with legal requests from authorities when required

Your Control Over Your Information

This is your data, and you have rights:

Access It: You can ask us for a copy of all the information we have about you.

Fix It: If something's wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll correct it.

Delete It: You can request deletion of your account and data (though we might need to keep some records for legal/tax purposes).

Take It With You: You can request your data in a portable format.

Change Your Mind: You can withdraw your consent for us to use your data anytime.

Complain: If you're unhappy with how we handle your data, you can file a grievance with us or approach the Data Protection Board of India.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at datarequests@vhkfoundation.org. We'll respond within 30 days.

Who Can See Your Information?

What's Public:

When you use our social features, some things are visible to other users:

  • Your name and profile picture
  • Posts you share publicly
  • Comments you make
  • Your verification badge (if you're a verified volunteer)

What's Private:

Your contact details, payment information, and personal messages stay private. We don't sell your data to anyone—period.

Who We Share With (And Why):

We only share your information with:

Service Providers We Trust:

  • Payment processors (to handle donations)
  • Google Firebase (for notifications and app infrastructure)
  • Hosting companies (to keep our servers running)
  • Email providers (to send you receipts)

All these partners are contractually required to protect your data.

Legal Requirements:
We'll disclose information if required by law, court order, or to comply with tax regulations.

With Your Permission:
If you click "share" to send something via WhatsApp or other apps, we'll facilitate that—but only because you chose to.

How We Protect Your Information

Security isn't just a checkbox for us—it's a priority. Here's what we do:

  • All payment and financial data is encrypted
  • We use secure HTTPS connections for data transmission
  • Authentication tokens are stored with strong encryption
  • Access to your data is limited to authorized personnel only
  • We regularly review and update our security measures

That said, no system is 100% foolproof. We do our best, but please use strong passwords and be cautious about what you share online.

How Long We Keep Your Data

We don't keep data longer than necessary:

  • Your account info: Until you delete your account, plus 90 days
  • Donation records: 7 years (required by tax laws)
  • Posts and comments: Until you delete them, plus 30 days for backups
  • Technical logs: 90 days
  • Marketing preferences: Until you opt out, plus 30 days

After these periods, we'll either delete your data or anonymize it so it can't be traced back to you.

Cookies and Tracking

Like most websites, we use cookies—small files stored on your device that help us:

  • Remember your login
  • Understand how people use our site
  • Personalize your experience

You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but some features might not work properly if you do.

If Something Goes Wrong

In the unlikely event of a data breach that affects you, we promise to:

  • Let you know within 72 hours
  • Explain what happened and what data was affected
  • Tell you what we're doing about it
  • Recommend steps you should take

We'll also inform the relevant authorities as required by law.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy occasionally—usually when we add new features or if laws change. When we do, we'll:

  • Update the "Last Updated" date at the top
  • Notify you via email or in-app notification if the changes are significant
  • Give you a chance to review before the changes take effect

Continuing to use our services after changes means you accept the updated policy.

Third-Party Links

Our platform might link to external websites or services (like payment gateways). Once you leave our platform, we can't control how those sites handle your data. Please check their privacy policies before sharing personal information.

No Automated Decisions

We don't use algorithms or AI to make important decisions about you without human oversight. You're not just a data point to us.

International Users

If you're accessing VHK Foundation from outside India, your data will be processed in India and may be stored on Google's global servers. We ensure appropriate protections are in place for international data transfers.

Contact Us

Got questions? Concerns? Just want to chat about privacy? We're here.

For general privacy questions:
Email: support@vhkfoundation.org

To access, update, or delete your data:
Email: support@vhkfoundation.org

To file a complaint:
Grievance Officer: Grievance Redressal Team
Email: support@vhkfoundation.org
Phone: 9403891071
Address: Near Hanuman Mandir, Bajrang Nagar,Nawada, Bishnugarh, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand:825312

General support:
Email: support@vhkfoundation.org
Website: https://vhkfoundation.org

We'll respond to your queries within 30 days, usually much faster.

The Legal Stuff

This privacy policy is governed by Indian law. Any disputes will be handled in the courts of Jharkhand, India.


Bottom Line: We collect what we need to run VHK Foundation and serve you better. We protect it carefully, never sell it, and give you full control over it. If you have any questions or concerns, just reach out—we're real people, and we're here to help.

By using VHK Foundation, you're agreeing to this privacy policy.