Privacy policy

Veterans Life USA ("we", "us") is a Michigan 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This policy explains what we collect through this website, why, and the choices you have. We will never sell your information.

What we collect

When you contact us or request a service. Your name, email and/or phone number, how you'd like us to reach you, the topic, and your message. If you're signed in, we link the message to your account.

When you register for an event. Your name, email, optional phone number, whether you are attending as a veteran or service member (and your service status and branch, if you tell us), guests' names, dietary notes, how much is due, and whether you've paid and checked in.

When you create a member account. Your name, email address and password (passwords are stored encrypted by our authentication provider; we can't see them).

When you set up a member profile. Anything you choose to add: display name, city, service status, branch, era of service, interests and a short bio, plus your directory and email-notification settings.

When you message other members. The messages you send and receive, and when they were read, so the conversation and your notifications work.

Automatically. Basic technical data your browser sends (such as IP address and browser type), and a sign-in cookie that keeps you logged in. We don't use advertising trackers.

How we use it

• To answer your messages and provide the services you ask for
• To run events: confirm your registration, email your ticket, check you in, and contact you about changes
• To run the member community: show your profile to other signed-in members only if you choose to be listed, deliver your messages, and notify you of new ones
• To report our impact, only as totals (for example, "210 veterans served"). We never publish anything that identifies an individual
• To keep the site secure and prevent abuse

Who can see it

• Our staff and volunteers who need it to help you. Support messages and event registrations are visible only to our staff.
• Other members see your member profile only if you list yourself in the directory, and only while they're signed in. They never see your email address. Your private messages are visible only to the people in the conversation.
• Service providers who run parts of the site for us under their own security and privacy terms: Supabase (database, accounts and file storage), Vercel (hosting), Google (email delivery and photo storage) and Pledge (donations, which are processed entirely on Pledge's site).
• When the law requires it, or to protect someone's safety.

How long we keep it

We keep support messages, event registrations and account data for as long as we need them to serve you and to meet our record-keeping obligations as a nonprofit. Deleted records are hidden first and removed in our regular clean-ups. You can ask us to delete your account and profile at any time.

Your choices

• Hide your profile from the directory, or change what it says, at any time from your account page.
• Turn off email notifications for new messages from your account page.
• Ask for a copy, a correction or deletion of your information by contacting us.
• Unsubscribe from any email we send by replying and telling us.

Children

This site is meant for adults. We don't knowingly collect information from children under 13. Young people attending events with a family member are registered by that adult as a guest.

Security

We use encrypted connections, role-based access for staff, and database rules that limit each person to the information they're allowed to see. No system is perfectly secure, so please don't send sensitive documents (such as your full Social Security number or medical records) through the contact form or member messages. We'll arrange a safe way to share them when needed.

Changes

If we change this policy, we'll update the date above. Significant changes will be announced on the site.

Contact

Questions about your privacy? Email veteranslifeusa@gmail.com, call (248) 648-1693, or write to Veterans Life USA, P.O. Box 82535, Rochester, MI 48308.