Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They help websites work, work more efficiently, remember your choices, and provide information to site owners. We also use a related technology called browser localStorage, which stores a small preference on your device and is not transmitted to our servers.

We keep our use of cookies to a minimum. Non-essential cookies (such as analytics) load only after you accept them on our consent banner.

2. Categories of Cookies We Use

• Strictly necessary — required for the site to function and stay secure (remembering your consent choice, protecting forms against spam and cross-site request forgery, and keeping you signed in to the donor portal). These cannot be switched off.
• Analytics — help us understand how the site is used so we can improve it. These load only after you accept cookies.
• Third-party / embedded — set by services we embed (payments, events, video) when you interact with them.

Exact cookie names and durations may change as providers update their services. We do not use cookies to sell your data or to build advertising profiles.

3. Your Consent & Choices

When you first visit, our banner lets you Accept or Decline non-essential cookies. Analytics load only if you accept. If you decline, we store only the tesf_cookie_consent key (value "declined") so we don't show the banner again. You can change your mind at any time by clearing that key (see below) to make the banner reappear, or by managing cookies in your browser. Strictly necessary cookies are always active because the site cannot function securely without them.

4. Third-Party Cookies

Some pages embed content from third parties that may set their own cookies, which we do not control:

• Google — Analytics (usage measurement, after consent) and reCAPTCHA (form spam protection).
• Stripe / PayPal — our donation pages use these processors; they may set cookies for secure payment and fraud prevention.
• Lu.ma — the Events page embeds a Lu.ma calendar, which may set cookies for its widget.

Please review each provider's own privacy and cookie policy for details.

5. Managing Cookies

You can control or delete cookies and localStorage through your browser settings. Deleting the tesf_cookie_consent key will cause our banner to reappear on your next visit.

• Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
• Mozilla Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
• Safari: Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data
• Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data

Blocking strictly necessary cookies may cause parts of the site (forms, donations, the donor portal) to stop working.

6. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. Any changes will be reflected by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. See also our Privacy Policy.

7. Contact Us

If you have questions about our use of cookies or localStorage, please contact us:

• Email: corporate [at] thelmaellis.org
• Phone (USA): (645) 239-1600
• Phone (Jamaica): (876) 347-1600

This page is provided for general information and does not constitute legal advice. Please contact the Foundation with any questions.