LandWatch Privacy Policy
Effective Date: July 21, 2026
This policy replaces the version dated September 19, 2022.
LandWatch (“LandWatch,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a nonprofit organization working to protect Monterey County’s future through sustainable land use, housing, water, and climate policy. This privacy policy explains what information we collect through LandWatch.org (the “Site”), how we use and share it, and the choices available to you. It applies to the Site and to email communications you receive from us.
Who We Are
LandWatch, 306 Capitol Street #101, Salinas, CA 93901 (mailing: P.O. Box 1876, Salinas, CA 93902-1876). Tax ID #91-1862145. Phone: (831) 759-2824. Email: LandWatch@LandWatch.org.
Information We Collect
Information you give us directly
- Contact information (name, email address, mailing address, phone number) when you email us, sign up for our Action Alert Network, or otherwise reach out.
- Donation information (name, email, mailing address, and payment details) when you give online. Payment card data is collected and processed by our donation platform and its payment processor — LandWatch does not store your full card number.
- Any other information you choose to include in a message, comment, or form submission.
Information collected automatically
When you visit the Site, certain information is collected automatically through cookies and similar technologies, including your IP address, browser and device type, pages viewed, time spent on the Site, referring website, and general location (city/region, derived from IP address). We use this information to understand how the Site is used and to improve it. See “Cookies and Tracking Technologies” below for the specific tools we use and how to control them.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use Google Tag Manager to deploy the following tools on the Site. Tools in the “non-essential” category do not run until you consent through our cookie banner; you can change your choice at any time by reopening the cookie settings link in the Site footer.
- Essential: cookies required for the Site to function (e.g., remembering your cookie preference, basic security).
- Analytics (non-essential): Google Analytics, which helps us understand aggregate visitor traffic and site usage. You can opt out globally using Google’s browser add-on at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
- Session recording / heatmaps (non-essential): Hotjar, which shows us anonymized, aggregate patterns of how visitors interact with pages (e.g., scrolling and click patterns) so we can improve navigation and content. Hotjar is configured to mask form field entries. You can opt out at https://www.hotjar.com/legal/compliance/opt-out.
- Embedded video (non-essential): videos hosted on YouTube, embedded on our Publications and issue pages. Playing an embedded video may set cookies controlled by Google/YouTube, governed by Google’s privacy policy.
Most browsers let you block or delete cookies through their settings, and doing so will not prevent you from reading content on the Site, though some features may not work as intended.
How We Use Your Information
- Process and acknowledge donations and send tax receipts.
- Send newsletters, action alerts, and other communications you’ve signed up to receive.
- Respond to inquiries submitted through the Site.
- Understand how the Site is used so we can improve content, navigation, and our programs.
- Meet legal, accounting, and reporting obligations.
How We Share Your Information
We do not sell, rent, or lend your personal information to anyone. We share information only with the service providers who help us run the Site and our programs, each of which is authorized to use your information solely to provide services to LandWatch:
- Little Green Light, our donor database and online giving platform, which processes donations and stores donor records, and sometimes sends event invitations.
- MailChimp which manages our Action Alert Network and sends newsletters.
- Google, through Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, and embedded YouTube video.
- Hotjar, for anonymized session-behavior analysis.
We may also disclose information if required by law, to protect the rights or safety of LandWatch or others, or in connection with a merger, reorganization, or similar transaction involving LandWatch.
Your Choices
- Cookie preferences: use the cookie settings link in the Site footer to change your consent choices at any time.
- Email communications: every email we send includes an unsubscribe link, or you can email LandWatch@LandWatch.org to be removed from our list.
- Access or deletion: you can ask us to review, correct, or delete the contact or donor information we hold about you by emailing LandWatch@LandWatch.org.
California Privacy Rights
LandWatch is a nonprofit organization and is generally not subject to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which applies to for-profit businesses meeting certain thresholds. As a matter of practice, we voluntarily honor the access, correction, and deletion requests described above for all visitors, regardless of where you live.
Children’s Privacy
The Site is intended for a general adult audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
Data Security
We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards to protect the information we hold, and we rely on reputable third-party providers (such as our donation and email platforms) to secure payment and contact data. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Third-Party Links and Embedded Content
The Site links to and embeds content from third-party sites (for example, YouTube videos, social media, and linked reports). Those sites have their own privacy practices, and we encourage you to review them; this policy does not apply to third-party sites.
Data Retention
We retain contact, donor, and subscriber information for as long as needed to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, maintain accurate financial and donor records, and meet legal and accounting requirements, after which it is deleted or de-identified.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The “Effective Date” above reflects the most recent revision. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
Contact Us
Questions about this policy or your information can be directed to LandWatch@LandWatch.org or LandWatch, P.O. Box 1876, Salinas, CA 93902-1876.
