The Hope Institute Privacy Policy

TERMS OF SERVICE & PRIVACY POLICY

The Hope Institute Online Community

Effective Date: February 9, 2026

This Terms of Service and Privacy Policy (“Agreement”) governs access to and use of the The Hope Institute online community and branded application (the “Community”), hosted on the Circle platform. The Hope Institute is a nonprofit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. By accessing or participating in the Community, you agree to be bound by this Agreement.

1. Charitable Purpose and Mission Alignment

The Community exists exclusively to further the charitable and educational mission of The Hope Institute, including the professional development, collaboration, and support of K–12 educators.

The Community is intended to supplement in-person and virtual programming and does not replace professional responsibilities, school policies, district requirements, or licensure obligations. All Community activities must align with The Hope Institute’s tax-exempt purposes.

2. Eligibility and Access

Access to the Community is limited to:

• Educators, school leaders, and education professionals participating in The Hope Institute programs

• Approved facilitators, volunteers, partners, or staff supporting the organization’s mission

By using the Community, you represent that:

• You are at least 18 years of age

• You are participating in a professional, educational, or volunteer capacity

• Your participation is consistent with the charitable purposes of The Hope Institute

Access to the Community is a program-related benefit and may be modified, limited, or revoked at the discretion of The Hope Institute to ensure mission alignment and compliance with nonprofit obligations.

3. Community Standards and Nonpartisanship

Participants are expected to engage in a professional, respectful, and mission-aligned manner.

To maintain compliance with Section 501(c)(3), the Community may not be used for:

• Political campaign activity or endorsement of candidates

• Partisan political advocacy

• Lobbying activities unrelated to the organization’s educational mission

• Commercial advertising or promotion of for-profit goods or services

The Hope Institute reserves the right to moderate content to ensure alignment with its charitable purpose, funding requirements, and legal obligations.

4. Confidentiality and Educational Records

Participants shall not post or disclose:

• Personally identifiable information (PII) of students

• Educational records protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

• Confidential personnel, school, or district information

• Photos, videos or other images without express permission from Individuals depicted

Any educational examples or case studies must be fully de-identified. The Hope Institute is not responsible for information voluntarily disclosed by participants in violation of this provision.

5. Intellectual Property and Educational Use

• Participants retain ownership of original content they create

• By submitting content, participants grant The Hope Institute a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, adapt, display, and distribute such content solely in furtherance of its charitable, educational, and programmatic purposes

• Curriculum materials, recordings, resources, and training content provided by The Hope Institute are intellectual property of the organization and may not be reproduced or distributed without prior written consent

No provision of this Agreement permits private inurement or impermissible private benefit.

6. Recording and Media Consent

The Hope Institute may record, photograph, or otherwise capture audio and visual content from in-person events, virtual sessions, webinars, trainings, or other activities conducted in furtherance of its charitable mission (“Recordings”).

By participating, you grant The Hope Institute permission to capture and use your name, voice, image, likeness, written contributions, chat messages, or other participation in Recordings for purposes including:

• Educational programming and professional learning

• Program evaluation and continuous improvement

• Internal documentation and compliance records

• Sharing with current or future program participants

Reasonable notice will be provided when sessions are recorded, where practicable.

7. Use of Testimonials, Quotes, and Community Contributions

By submitting content to the Community, including posts, comments, discussion responses, surveys, or evaluations, you grant The Hope Institute a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to use such content in support of its charitable and educational purposes.

Such content may be used for:

• Measuring and reporting program outcomes

• Grant proposals, reports, and communications with donors or foundations

• Annual reports, impact summaries, and educational publications

• Mission-aligned informational or promotional materials

Quotes may be edited for clarity or length, provided the original meaning is not materially altered. The Hope Institute will not knowingly attribute testimonials using full names, school names, or districts without express consent.

8. Privacy and Information Collection

In addition to information collected by the Circle platform, The Hope Institute may collect:

• Name, email address, and professional role

• Program participation and engagement data

• Community activity, including posts, comments, and attendance

The Community is intended for adult participants only. The Hope Institute does not knowingly collect information from children under 13 and does not intentionally collect student data.

9. Use of Information and Nonprofit Reporting

Information collected is used solely to further the tax-exempt purposes of The Hope Institute, including:

• Facilitating professional learning and communication

• Improving program quality and effectiveness

• Evaluating outcomes and organizational impact

• Meeting legal, regulatory, audit, and funding requirements

Information shared externally is aggregated or de-identified whenever possible and is never sold or used for commercial purposes.

10. Third-Party Platform (Circle)

The Community is hosted on Circle, a third-party service provider. Data may be processed in accordance with Circle’s terms and privacy practices. The Hope Institute does not control Circle’s infrastructure but limits its own data usage to purposes consistent with its 501(c)(3) mission.

11. Data Retention

Information and media content may be retained:

• For the duration of program participation

• As necessary to meet nonprofit reporting, audit, or grant compliance requirements

• In accordance with applicable federal and state laws

12. Opt-Out and Content Removal Requests

Participants may request:

• Removal of identifiable media content from future use

• Exclusion from testimonial or promotional materials

Requests may be submitted to [contact email]. While removal of content already published or distributed cannot be guaranteed, reasonable efforts will be made to honor requests on a prospective basis.

13. Amendments

The Hope Institute may amend this Agreement as necessary to maintain compliance with applicable laws, regulations, or nonprofit best practices. Continued participation in the Community constitutes acceptance of any revised terms.

14. Contact Information

Questions regarding this Agreement or privacy practices may be directed to:

The Hope InstituteEmail: info@hopeinstitute.org