Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 14 May 2026

Pearl Street Studio, Inc. ("Pearl Street Studio," "we," "our," or "us") is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation organized and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes and recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your information responsibly.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you access or use our website, educational materials, courses, events, and related services (collectively, the "Services"). We are committed to creating a secure platform for our users and we collect only the information that is reasonably necessary to provide and improve our Services. As a nonprofit organization, we do not engage in data monetization practices common to commercial platforms.

By using the Services, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, you may not use the Services.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information in several ways depending on how you interact with the Services.

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

Contact and profile information. When you create an account or otherwise engage with our Services, we may collect information such as your name, email address, and, where applicable, your mailing address. If you choose to create a profile, we may also collect additional information such as your organization or institutional affiliation, professional background or credentials, LinkedIn profile link, and other information you choose to provide.

Account registration and usage information. If you register for an account, we collect information necessary to create and maintain your account, including your name, email address, date of birth (which we collect solely for age verification and legal compliance purposes), username, and password. After registration, we may also collect account preferences, saved course progress, and participation data related to your use of our Services.

Your communications with us. We may collect information when you communicate with us, such as when you send us an email, request support, provide feedback, complete a survey, register for an event, make a donation, or otherwise interact with us. This may include the content of your communications, feedback, comments, or discussion posts.

Content you submit. We collect information and materials you choose to submit through the Services, including user-generated content, contributions, or other materials you provide as part of your participation in our educational programs or platform.

Your interactions with our Services. We may collect information about how you interact with certain features of the Services, such as participation in courses, events, or other platform features, as well as engagement-related data (for example, email opens or similar engagement metrics collected through standard email tracking technologies).

Donations and payment information. If you make a donation or other payment, the transaction is processed through third-party payment processors. We may receive limited information related to your donation (such as your name, contact information, and donation details), but we do not store full payment card information.

We do not intentionally collect sensitive personal information unless you choose to provide it to us.

1.2 Automatically Collected Information

Information about your use of our Services. We may collect information about how you use and interact with our Services. This may include pages visited, features used, referring websites, time and date of access, and other usage analytics data. This information helps us understand how users engage with our Services and improve functionality, content, and user experience.

Location information. We may collect general location information, such as your country or region, or infer your approximate location based on your IP address. We do not collect precise geolocation data. You may be able to adjust your device or browser settings to limit the sharing of location information.

Usage and device information. To provide a reliable and high-quality experience, we may automatically collect certain technical information from your browser or device when you access or interact with our Services. This may include your IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, and similar technical details.

1.3 Cookies and Similar Technologies

The Services currently do not use cookies or similar tracking technologies. We may introduce cookies or similar technologies in the future to operate, maintain, and improve the Services, including to enhance functionality, analyze usage, support security, and develop new features. If we introduce cookies or similar technologies, we will update this Privacy Policy and, where required by applicable law, provide appropriate notice and obtain any necessary consent. We will also provide users with the ability to manage their preferences with respect to non-essential cookies. You may be able to control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain technologies may affect the functionality or availability of some features of the Services.

1.3.1 Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature. At this time, our Services do not respond to DNT signals, as there is no consistent industry standard for how to interpret them. Where required by applicable law, we will honor legally recognized opt-out preference signals, such as Global Privacy Control ("GPC").

1.4 Information from Third Parties

Information from service providers. We may receive limited information about you from third-party service providers that support our operations. This may include providers such as payment processors (for donations or paid services), event hosting platforms, analytics providers, and email communication platforms.

These third parties may provide us with limited information necessary to deliver and improve our Services, such as contact details, participation information, or transaction-related data. For example, if you make a donation or payment, we may receive confirmation and basic details about the transaction, but we do not receive or store full payment card information, which is processed directly by secure third-party payment processors.

2. How We Use Information

Providing and operating our Services. We use information we collect to operate, maintain, and provide our Services, including delivering educational materials, courses, events, and other offerings.

Processing transactions and communications. We use information to process donations or other transactions, respond to inquiries, provide support, and communicate with you about your interactions with our Services.

Improving and developing our Services. We use information to understand how users engage with our Services, analyze usage and engagement trends, and improve or develop new content, features, and functionality.

Security and integrity. We use information to protect the security and integrity of our Services, including detecting, preventing, and responding to fraud, misuse, or other harmful activities.

Legal compliance and enforcement. We may use information to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal obligations, and to enforce our Terms of Use and other policies.

Where required under applicable law, we rely on specific legal bases for processing, including consent, performance of a contract, legitimate interests, and compliance with legal obligations, depending on the nature of the processing activity.

3. How We Share Information

We may disclose or share your information in the following ways:

3.1 When information is visible to others on the Services by default

Certain features and functions of the Services may make your information visible to others.

Information you post to public or interactive features. When you post a question, answer, comment, or other content to a discussion channel, or participate in a live podcast, panel, or similar event, your profile information may be visible to others. This may include your name, professional title, organization, and a brief professional biography, along with the content you submit. As with most online services, once your information is shared in public or interactive spaces, it may be collected and used by others without restriction. You should consider carefully what personal information you choose to share.

3.2 With employees, volunteers, and contributors

We may disclose information to our employees, volunteers, and contributors who need access to such information to support and operate our Services. These individuals are expected to handle information responsibly and in accordance with applicable confidentiality and data protection obligations.

3.3 With service providers

We may disclose information to trusted third-party service providers that assist us in operating our Services. These may include providers that support website hosting, analytics, payment processing, email communications, and event hosting. We may transfer personal information to service providers located outside your jurisdiction, including the United States, subject to appropriate safeguards.

These service providers are authorized to use your information only as necessary to provide services to us and are required to maintain appropriate safeguards for your information.

3.4 With your consent or according to your instructions

We may disclose your information to third parties when you provide your consent or direct us to do so. For example, you may choose to share information through integrations, participate in collaborative programs, or authorize disclosures in connection with specific activities. These third parties are not governed by this Privacy Policy, and we encourage you to review their policies before sharing your information.

3.5 De-identified or aggregate information

We may disclose de-identified or aggregated information that does not reasonably identify you as an individual. For example, we may share aggregated usage data to improve our Services, support research, or advance our educational mission.

3.6 Legal compliance and protection

We may disclose information if we have a good faith belief that such disclosure is reasonably necessary to:

• Comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or governmental requests;
• Enforce our Terms of Use or other policies;
• Investigate or defend against claims or allegations;
• Detect, prevent, or address fraud, security, or technical issues;
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of Pearl Street Studio, our users, or others.

3.7 Organizational changes

In the event of a reorganization, merger, restructuring, or transfer of assets, information may be transferred as part of that transaction, consistent with applicable nonprofit and charitable organization laws. Any such transfer will be subject to appropriate safeguards and continued use consistent with this Privacy Policy.

3.8 Our nonprofit commitment

We do not sell or share personal information with third parties for cross-context behavioral advertising or marketing purposes.

4. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to provide and maintain our Services, including supporting your participation in Pearl Street Studio's educational offerings.

In determining how long we retain personal information, we consider a number of factors, including:

• Whether the information is needed to maintain and operate the Services;
• Whether the information is needed to support an educational purpose consistent with our mission;
• Whether we have a legal or regulatory obligation to retain the information;
• Whether retention is necessary to resolve disputes, enforce agreements, or protect against fraud or misuse;
• Whether retention is necessary for nonprofit recordkeeping and operational purposes;
• Whether users would reasonably expect that we retain the information for as long as their account remains active or as needed to support their engagement with our Services.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information involved and the context in which it was collected. For example:

• Account information: retained for the duration of the account plus a reasonable archival period;
• Donation and transaction records: retained as required for accounting and nonprofit compliance;
• Communications: retained as necessary to respond to inquiries and maintain records; and
• Usage data: retained in aggregated or de-identified form where possible.

When we no longer have a legitimate need to retain personal information, we will delete or de-identify it. We may retain and use de-identified or aggregated information for longer periods for purposes such as improving our Services, conducting research, and advancing our educational mission.

User Content submitted for educational purposes may be retained in archival form, consistent with our mission and Terms of Use. Publicly shared User Content may remain accessible even after account deletion, subject to our retention practices and applicable law.

5. Donor Information Collection

This Donor Information Collection section supplements this Privacy Policy and applies specifically to individuals who make donations to Pearl Street Studio.

Information we collect from donors. If you make a donation and do not do so anonymously, we may collect information such as your name, email address, and mailing address. If you make a donation through an online form, our third-party payment processors will also collect your payment information, such as your credit or debit card number or other payment details. Please note that information collected by these payment processors is subject to their own privacy policies.

How we use donor information. We may use donor information to process and acknowledge your contribution (including, where applicable, publicly recognizing donors in materials such as annual reports or on our website unless you request anonymity), communicate with you about your donation, and provide updates related to fundraising efforts and the advancement of our charitable and educational mission. You may opt out of public recognition at any time by contacting us.

How we share donor information. We do not disclose personally identifiable donor information to third parties for their marketing or promotional purposes. We may disclose donor information with your consent or as required by applicable law.

Donor communications and preferences. If you have an account with us, you may manage your communication preferences, including opting out of donor-related emails, through your account settings. If you do not have an account, you may opt out by using the unsubscribe link included in our emails or by contacting us directly to request removal from future communications.

Please note that if you have previously opted out of donor communications but subsequently make a donation or participate in a donor-related event, we may send you follow-up communications related to your contribution or participation. We retain donor records as necessary to comply with legal, tax, and accounting obligations and to support our nonprofit operations.

6. Information Collection from Paid Products: Subscriptions, Classes, Seminars

This section supplements this Privacy Policy and applies to individuals who purchase or participate in paid offerings provided by Pearl Street Studio, including subscriptions, courses, classes, seminars, or other paid programs.

Information we collect for paid products. When you purchase or enroll in a paid product, we may collect information such as your name, email address, billing address, and information related to your enrollment or participation. If you register for a course, class, or seminar, we may also collect information related to your attendance, participation, and progress.

If you make a payment through our Services, our third-party payment processors will collect your payment information, such as credit or debit card details or other payment credentials. Payment information is processed by third-party payment processors and subject to their privacy policies.

How we use information for paid products. We use this information to process transactions, provide access to paid content and events, manage subscriptions, communicate with you regarding your enrollment or purchases, and deliver and improve our educational offerings.

Participation and engagement data. We may collect information about your interactions with paid content, such as course progress, completion status, attendance at live sessions, and engagement with materials. This helps us administer programs and improve the quality and relevance of our offerings.

How we share information for paid products. We may share information with service providers that support payment processing, course delivery, event hosting, and communications.

Refunds, billing, and administrative records. We may retain information related to purchases, subscriptions, and transactions as necessary to manage billing, provide customer support, process refunds, comply with legal and accounting obligations, and maintain appropriate nonprofit records.

7. Contributor Application Information Collection

This section supplements this Privacy Policy and applies to individuals who apply to become contributors to Pearl Street Studio.

Information we collect from applicants. When you apply to be a contributor, we may collect information such as your name, email address, professional background, resume or CV, areas of expertise, educational history, and any other information you choose to provide in your application materials. We may also collect links to external profiles (such as LinkedIn or personal websites) and any sample work or content you submit.

How we use contributor application information. We use this information to evaluate your application, communicate with you about your application status, and assess your qualifications and potential fit for contributing to our educational content and programs.

How we share contributor application information. We may share your application information with employees, volunteers, and trusted contributors involved in reviewing and evaluating applications. These individuals are expected to handle such information responsibly and in accordance with applicable confidentiality obligations. We will not notify current or previous employers of your action to apply as a contributor.

Retention of application information. We may retain contributor application information for a period of time to support our selection processes, maintain records of applications, and consider applicants for future opportunities, unless you request deletion where applicable.

8. Partner and Sponsor Inquiry Information Collection

This section supplements this Privacy Policy and applies to individuals and organizations that inquire about partnerships, sponsorships, or similar collaborations with Pearl Street Studio.

Information we collect from inquiries. When you contact us regarding a potential partnership or sponsorship, we may collect information such as your name, email address, organization name, role or title, and details about your inquiry. This may include information about your organization, proposed collaboration, areas of interest, and any materials you choose to provide.

How we use partner and sponsor information. We use this information to evaluate potential partnerships or sponsorship opportunities, communicate with you regarding your inquiry, and develop and manage collaborative relationships aligned with our mission.

How we share partner and sponsor information. We may share this information with employees, volunteers, and advisors involved in evaluating and managing partnerships or sponsorships. These individuals are expected to handle such information in accordance with appropriate confidentiality and data protection practices.

Retention of partner and sponsor information. We may retain this information to maintain records of communications, manage ongoing or potential relationships, and support our operational and fundraising activities, unless you request deletion where applicable.

9. Data Processing in the United States

Pearl Street Studio operates the Services from the United States.

If you access the Services from outside the United States, you acknowledge that your information—including personal information and User Content—will be collected, transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your jurisdiction.

This transfer is necessary to provide the Services in accordance with our Terms of Use. Where required by applicable law, we rely on appropriate safeguards for international data transfers, such as standard contractual clauses or other legally recognized transfer mechanisms.

10. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

• Access personal information we hold about you;
• Request correction of inaccurate information;
• Request deletion of personal information (subject to legal exceptions);
• Request a copy of your personal information in a portable format, where applicable;
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent; and
• Opt out of certain communications.

You may exercise these rights by contacting us at privacy@pearlstreetstudio.org. We may take reasonable steps to verify your identity before fulfilling your request. We will respond to requests within the timeframes required by applicable law. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.

11. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you may have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), including:

• The right to know the categories and specific pieces of personal information we collect;
• The right to request deletion of personal information, subject to legal exceptions;
• The right to request correction of inaccurate personal information;
• The right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information (note: we do not sell or share personal information);
• The right to limit the use of sensitive personal information, where applicable; and
• The right not to be discriminated against for exercising your rights.

You may submit requests to privacy@pearlstreetstudio.org. We will respond within the timeframes required by applicable law.

12. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These safeguards may include encryption in transit, access controls, and administrative policies designed to limit access to personal information.

However, no internet transmission or electronic storage system is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any account credentials (when account functionality is introduced).

13. Children's Privacy

The Services are not directed to anyone under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 18.

If we become aware that we have collected personal information from someone under the age of 18 or under the age of consent in their country of residence, we will take reasonable steps to delete such information and we will comply with applicable local age-of-consent requirements in relevant jurisdictions.

14. Third-Party Links

The Services may contain links to websites operated by other entities or individuals, otherwise known as third-party websites. If you click on these links, you will be leaving Pearl Street Studio's website and the privacy policy of the third-party will then apply. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those third parties. We encourage users to review third-party privacy policies before providing information.

15. Creative Commons and Public Content

Some materials made available through the Services are licensed under Creative Commons licenses. If you submit User Content that is published publicly, it may become accessible to other users consistent with our Terms of Use.

You should not submit confidential or proprietary information unless you are authorized to do so.

16. International Users

If you are located in the European Economic Area ("EEA"), United Kingdom, or other jurisdictions with data protection laws, you may have additional rights, including:

• Right to understand what personal information is being collected;
• Right to correct your personal information;
• Right to request that your personal information be deleted or anonymized;
• Right to object to why and how personal information is being used or processed;
• Right to data portability;
• Right to restrict processing;
• Right to object to processing; and
• Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority (you may contact your local data protection authority for more information).

We will process requests consistent with applicable law.

17. Legal Basis for Processing (International Users)

If you are located outside the United States, we process your information based on:

• Your consent (when you voluntarily provide information);
• Performance of a contract (if applicable);
• Legitimate interests (such as operating and improving the Services);
• Compliance with legal obligations.

The applicable legal basis depends on the specific context in which we collect and process your information.

18. Changes to This Privacy Policy

Pearl Street Studio may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

If changes are made, we will update the effective date and post the revised policy on the website. We recommend you review our Privacy Policy each time you visit our website to ensure that you are informed of our privacy practices.

Your continued use of the Services after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

19. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, you may contact us at: