Privacy Statement

This Privacy Statement explains how information about you is collected, used and disclosed by The Barack Obama Foundation (the “Foundation”). This Statement applies to information we collect when you use our websites, mobile sites, mobile applications and other online services that link to this Privacy Statement (collectively, the “Sites”) or when you otherwise interact with us, such as by participating in programs.  Note that usage of https://shop.obama.org/ (Opens in a new tab) is subject, in addition, to the Privacy Policy of Event Networks LLC, posted here (Opens in a new tab).

We may change this Statement from time to time. If we make changes, we will notify you by revising the date at the bottom of the Statement and, in some cases, we may provide you with additional notice (such as adding a statement to our homepage or sending you an email notification). We encourage you to review this Statement whenever you access the Sites to stay informed about our information practices and the ways you can help protect your privacy.

Collection of Information
Information You Provide to Us

We collect information you provide directly to us. For example, we collect information when you sign up to receive email or text message updates, fill out a form, send us an email, communicate with us via third party social media sites, request information, respond to our requests, apply for a job, fellowship, volunteering opportunity, or internship, or otherwise communicate with us. We also collect information about you when you make a donation, purchase the Foundation merchandise, attend one of our events, or participate in one of our programs. The types of information we may collect include your name, email address, postal address, phone number, birthday, payment information (processed by a third-party payment processor), purchase history, the Foundation program you participate in, photos, videos, audio recordings and other information or media you choose to provide.

Information We Collect Automatically When You Use the Sites

When you access or use our Sites, we automatically collect information about you, including:

  • Log Information: We log information about your use of the Sites, including the type of browser you use, access times, pages viewed, your IP address and the page you visited before navigating to our Sites.

  • Device Information: We may collect information about the computer or mobile device you use to access our Sites, including the hardware model, operating system and version, device identifiers and mobile network information.

  • Information Collected by Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies: We use various technologies to collect information, and this may include sending cookies to your computer or mobile device. Cookies are small data files stored on your hard drive or in device memory that helps us to improve our Sites and your experience, see which areas and features of our Sites are popular and count visits. We may also collect information using web beacons (also known as “tracking pixels”). Web beacons are electronic images that may be used in our Sites or emails and help deliver cookies, count visits, understand usage and campaign effectiveness and determine whether an email has been opened and acted upon. For more information about cookies, and how to disable them, please see “Your Choices” below.

Information We Collect From Other Sources

We may also obtain information from other sources and combine that with information we collect through our Sites or otherwise through our interactions with you. For example, if you create or log into your account through a social media site, we will have access to certain information from that site, such as your name, account information and friends lists, in accordance with the authorization procedures determined by such social media site. We also may collect information from data aggregators, who can assist with updating contact information or giving profiles, or review publicly available information (e.g., web and social media). We generally use such data to more effectively identify or connect with current and potential audiences and supporters.  We may also rely on publicly available information in reviewing applications from individuals or businesses seeking to work with the Foundation.  

Use of Information

We may use information about you for various purposes, including to:

  • Provide, maintain and improve our Sites;

  • Facilitate participation in events and programs that we and our partners host or provide and interaction with other participants in such events and programs;

  • Send you confirmations, technical notices, updates, security alerts, and support and administrative messages;

  • Request feedback and to otherwise contact you about your use of the Sites;

  • Respond to your comments, questions and requests and provide customer service;

  • Send you newsletters and otherwise provide you with information or services you request or that we think will be of interest to you;

  • Solicit volunteers, donations, and support for the Foundation;

  • Include information about you, with your consent, in a directory of all of our program participants;

  • Monitor and analyze trends, usage and activities in connection with our Sites;

  • Personalize and improve the Sites;

  • Sending communications to you from carefully selected non-partisan organizations (these organizations will only receive your contact information if you voluntarily share it with them);

  • Link or combine with information we get from others to help understand your interests in further supporting the Foundation;

  • Carry out any other purpose for which the information was collected.

Disclosure of of Information

We will not share information about you except as follows or as otherwise described in this Statement:

  • With vendors, consultants and other service providers or volunteers who need access to such information to carry out work on our behalf;

  • With other program participants if you opt-in to participate in our directory;

  • With cooperative databases and research vendors who use the information to help their clients identify individuals likely to appreciate and respond to communications, unless you opt out as described below.

  • In response to a request for information if we believe disclosure is in accordance with any applicable law, regulation or legal process, or as otherwise required by any applicable law, rule or regulation;

  • If we believe your actions are inconsistent with the spirit or language of our user agreements or policies, or to protect the rights, property and safety of the Foundation, its employees, volunteers, constituents or others;

  • In connection with, or during negotiations of, any reorganization, formation of a new or successor organization, asset sale or transfer, financing or lending transaction or in any other situation where personal information may be disclosed or transferred as one of the assets of the Foundation; and

  • With appropriate notice to you, with your consent, or at your direction, including if we notify you through our Sites that the information you provide will be shared in a particular manner and you provide such information.

We may also share aggregated or anonymized information that does not directly identify you.

Social Sharing Features

The Sites may offer social sharing features and other integrated tools (such as the Facebook “Like” button), which let you share actions you take on our Sites with other media, and vice versa. The use of such features enables the sharing of information with your friends or the public, depending on the settings you establish with the entity that provides the social sharing feature. For more information about the purpose and scope of data collection and processing in connection with social sharing features, please visit the privacy policies of the entities that provide these features.

Advertising and Analytics Services Provided by Others

The Foundation uses various third party providers of analytics to understand our audiences better and serve advertisements on our behalf across the web such as on Facebook, X, or Linked In. These providers may collect information about your use of the Sites and other websites, including your IP address, web browser, pages viewed, time spent on pages, links clicked and conversion information. This information may be used by the Foundation and others to, among other things, analyze and track data, determine the popularity of certain content, deliver advertising and content targeted to your interests on our Sites and other websites, and customize your experience and better understand your online activity. For more information about interest-based ads, or to opt out of having your web browsing information used for behavioral advertising purposes, please visit https://optout.aboutads.info/?c=2&lang=EN (Opens in a new tab)or http://www.youronlinechoices.eu/ (Opens in a new tab) for residents of the European Economic Area.  Certain advertising providers additionally offer their own opt-out mechanisms:  Google (Opens in a new tab); Hotjar (Opens in a new tab); Microsoft Clarity (Opens in a new tab).

Data Retention

We store the information we collect about you for as long as is necessary for the purpose(s) for which we originally collected it, or for other legitimate business purposes as is permitted by the Privacy Statement, including to meet our legal, regulatory, or other compliance obligations.

Transfer of Information to the United States and Other Countries

The Foundation is based in the United States and we process and store information in the U.S. and other countries. Therefore, we and our service providers may transfer information about you to, or store or access it in, jurisdictions that may not provide equivalent levels of data protection as your home jurisdiction. Where required by applicable law, we will take steps to ensure that information about you receives an adequate level of protection where we are processing it.

Your Choices
Contact Us About Opting Out

With regard to email communications, we encourage visitors to use the unsubscribe link that appears at the bottom of emails sent by the Foundation.

You also may call us with your request to opt out of certain communications by phone at: 773-420-1660, or send us an email here (Opens in a new tab).  Call or email us also to opt out of the Foundation sharing your information with cooperative databases or research entities; additionally, when giving to the Foundation using the fundraising correspondence sent by the Foundation to you via the US Postal Service, you may opt out of databases and research by checking the provided “do not exchange” option. And, as is set forth above, you may opt out of advertising or analytics services provided by others by using the opt out links set forth above.

Residents of the European Economic Area

This section is for you if you are located in the European Economic Area (“EEA”), and other countries like the UK, or Switzerland, where the law includes certain rights and protections under the law regarding the processing of your personal data.

Legal Basis for Processing

When we process your personal data we will only do so in the following situations:

  • We need to use your personal data to perform our responsibilities under our contract with you. For example, we may process your personal data to facilitate any merchandise purchases you might make.

  • We have a legitimate interest in processing your personal data. For example, we may process your personal data to communicate with you about changes to our Sites, to provide, secure, and improve our Sites, and to provide for the security of you, our staff, and our guests at events we or our partners host.

  • We have your consent to do so. For example, we will seek your consent before processing your personal data in connection with an event we are hosting or before adding your name to our participant directory.

  • We have a legal obligation to process your personal data. For example, we may need to retain information about your donations or purchases to comply with our legal obligations.

Data Subject Requests

Subject to certain limitations, you have the right to access personal data we hold about you and to ask that your personal data be corrected, erased, or transferred. You may also have the right to object to, or request that we restrict, certain processing. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, you may contact us as indicated below.

Questions or Complaints

If you have a concern about our processing of personal data that we are not able to resolve, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the data privacy authority where you reside. For contact details of your local Data Protection Authority, visit:

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Statement, please contact us via email here (Opens in a new tab).

Last updated October 31, 2023

Edit Page