Privacy Policy

At the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (hereinafter referred to as "MEDA," "we," "us," or "our"), we are committed to safeguarding the privacy of individuals who interact with our organization. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect the personal information of the following distinct groups:

Volunteers with MEDA:

MEDA respects the privacy of our volunteers and is committed to protecting their personal information. When you volunteer with MEDA, we may collect the following types of information for internal purposes, including volunteer management and program improvement:

• Contact information (name, email address, phone number)

• Volunteer preferences and availability

• Volunteer history and accomplishments

• Feedback and evaluations

This information is used solely for the purpose of coordinating and enhancing the volunteer experience at MEDA.

Business Owners in the Volunteer Accelerator Network (V.A.N.):

We may collect business-related information for business owners participating in MEDA's Volunteer Accelerator Network for program management, networking, and support purposes. This may include:

• Business name, address, and contact information

• Business profile and industry

• Progress and engagement metrics within the network

• This information is used exclusively to facilitate networking and support among network participants.

This information is used solely for the purpose of coordinating and enhancing the volunteer experience at MEDA.

Supporters of MEDA, including Donors, Subscribers, and Sponsors:

MEDA greatly appreciates the support of our community, which includes donors, subscribers, and sponsors. When you support MEDA, we may collect the following personal information:

• Contact information (name, email address, mailing address)

• Donation history and amounts (for donors)

• Subscription preferences (for subscribers)

• Sponsorship information (for sponsors)

MEDA’s Business Consulting and Lending Clients:

Clients who engage with MEDA for business consulting or lending services entrust us with their business-related information. This may include:

• Business financial data

• Business plans and strategies

• Client profiles and demographics

• Personal financial history

• Personal credit history

This information is used to provide tailored consulting and lending services and support to our clients. MEDA may also use this data for internal lending purposes, such as generating case studies to secure funding. We do not sell client information to third parties. 

Data Use for Internal Purposes and Funding:

MEDA collects and uses data for internal purposes, including demographics and case studies to support our mission, improve our programs, and secure funding. We do not sell any of the collected data to third parties. Information collected from the above-mentioned groups may be anonymized and aggregated for these purposes.

Data Security and Retention:

MEDA takes reasonable measures to protect the personal information we collect from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or as required by law.

Changes to this Privacy Policy:

MEDA reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our data practices or legal requirements. We will provide notice of any material changes on our website or through other appropriate means.

Your privacy is important to us, and we are committed to maintaining the confidentiality and security of your personal information. Thank you for supporting MEDA's mission.