Privacy Policy
Our Commitment to Your Privacy and Confidentiality
Last Updated: 25 November 2025
BirthWorks International (BWI) (“we”, “us”, or “our”) respects and is committed to responsibly protecting your personal data and privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, safeguard, disclose, and share your information when you engage with us. Engagement includes the use and access of our website and related services and programs, registering for events, enrolling in courses, making donations, or engaging with us—online or offline, in-person in the USA or any international activities.
This policy applies to individuals who engage with us by joining our email list, participating in our programs, enrolling as certifying students or professionals, becoming members, making donations, volunteering, or otherwise interacting with BirthWorks International online or in-person.
About Us
Legal Name: BirthWorks, Inc., doing business as (dba) BirthWorks International (BWI)
Entity Type: 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
📍 Registered In: State of New Jersey, USA
BirthWorks International (BWI)
📧 Email: info@birthworks.org
🌐 Website: www.birthworks.org
📞 Phone: +1 (609) 953-9380
📞 Toll-Free (USA): 888-862-4784 (888-TO-BIRTH)
Information We Collect
We may use and collect information from users of and visitors to our site. This happens if you provide it directly (through joining as a member, becoming a student, purchasing a product, making a donation, or joining our email list). It also happens automatically as you navigate through the site, and for particular financial and/or transactional details from payment providers that are needed to process a transaction. Information we collect falls into the following categories:
Information You Provide Directly
- Full name, email address, mailing address, and phone numbers
- Professional information, including job title, organization, and contact information
- Demographic information such as postcode, preferences, and interests
- Other information relevant to customer surveys
- Information you provide when creating or managing an account on our website or learner portal (including automatically created accounts)
- Payment and/or donation details (processed securely via third-party providers)
- Account login information (for LearnDash courses or WooCommerce purchases)
- Communication preferences
- Registration information and details related to events or training certifications
- Application materials you voluntarily submit, including:
- Certification or training applications
- Scholarship or financial aid applications
- Cross-certification or equivalency applications
- Volunteer or internship applications
- Résumés, CVs, references, and professional credentials
- Background details needed for eligibility review or program placement
- Communications you send to us via email, phone, or web forms
- Any other information that you send to us
Information Collected Automatically
Certain data collected from cookies, caching, and analytics tools may include:
- IP address, device information, browser type, referring URLs, etc.
- Time and date of access
- Website usage analytics (e.g., pages visited) and interaction data
- Cookies and similar technologies to enhance website performance
Information From Third Parties
We may receive information about you from third parties when necessary for legitimate operational purposes, such as:
- operating and maintaining our website and services
- verifying identity
- supporting security and fraud prevention
- monitoring and maintaining security on our site
- conducting technical analysis
- processing transactions
- assisting with dispute resolution
- managing our relationship with you (including responding to queries, feedback, or surveys)
- meeting legal, financial, or program requirements
These third parties may include:
- Donation and payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal)
- Publicly available sources relevant to our charitable and educational work
- Partner organizations involved in program delivery, training, or international activities
Email and Text Communications
When you opt in to our communications, you may receive updates and announcements from us by email and, where applicable, by text message (SMS/MMS). Email communications are sent through Constant Contact. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in any email or request to be removed by contacting us directly. We will never send spam or share your email with unauthorized parties.
If you choose to receive text messages, message frequency may vary. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of text messages at any time by replying STOP, and you may request additional help by replying HELP.
We will never send spam or share your email address or phone number with unauthorized parties. SMS consent is not required to enroll in any program, make a purchase, or participate with BirthWorks.
Media and File Uploads (Learner Accounts)
Our learning platform may allow registered learners to upload files—such as assignments, documents, or profile images—through user accounts. These files are stored securely and are not publicly visible unless explicitly shared. We recommend avoiding uploading images or documents that contain sensitive embedded metadata.
Comments
If you leave comments on the site, we collect the information shown in the comment form, the visitor’s IP address, and the browser user agent to help prevent spam. If you use the Gravatar service, your profile image may be displayed publicly once your comment is approved.
Publicly Shared Information
If you choose to share personal information publicly—such as in website comments, testimonials, or any interactive features—please be aware that this information may be visible to others and may be collected or used by third parties. Publicly shared information is not governed by this Privacy Policy.
How We Use Your Information
We use personal data only for purposes consistent with our non-profit mission, including:
- Administer and improve the functionality, performance, and security of our website, including outreach, user experience, personalization, and global operations
- Enable your access to and use of our services, programs, courses, events, and online learning tools
- Respond to inquiries, requests, and communications from you
- Supply you with services, products, or materials that you purchase or request
- Improve our programs, services, and educational offerings
- Maintain business records, including processing donations, sending invoices, and issuing receipts, as well as maintaining required financial documentation
- Enroll you in courses via LearnDash and manage event registrations
- Manage memberships, certifications, extensions, and recertifications
- Publish information about you via testimonials or blog comments (with your permission, where applicable)
- Send newsletters, appeals, organizational updates, and related communications
- Provide program announcements, organizational news, and professional updates via email or mail
- Recruit, coordinate, and manage volunteers
- Comply with and meet legal, financial, regulatory, and reporting obligations and requirements
How We Share Your Information
We do not share, trade, rent, lease, or sell your data or personal information. However, we may share information with:
- Educational Personnel – certain educators, mentors, or trainers may receive limited personal information solely for the purpose of supporting your training, coursework, certification progress, or mentoring relationship.
- Service Providers – secure payment processors, IT providers, email platforms
- Program Partners – when collaboration is required to deliver training and workshops internationally
- Legal Authorities – where disclosure is required by law
- International Partners – when personal data must be transferred across borders, we ensure protection through appropriate safeguards
We may also share your data with trusted third-party services solely to operate our website and services effectively:
- WooCommerce (for purchases and checkout)
- Stripe & PayPal (for secure payment processing)
- SUMO Payment Plans (for recurring or installment donations)
- LearnDash (for course enrollment and access)
- Constant Contact (for email communications)
- Kinsta (our web host, including caching and performance tools)
- Event Tickets Plus (for managing events and ticketing)
- Ninja Tables Pro (for website data table creation and display)
Each of these providers, agents, and/or subcontractors is obligated to use your personal information in accordance with the terms of this privacy statement and should have their own privacy policy that governs the handling of your data.
In addition to reasonably necessary disclosures for the purposes identified in this policy, we may disclose your personal information to the extent that it is required to do so by law, in connection with any legal proceedings or prospective legal proceedings, and to establish, exercise, or defend our legal rights.
Donor Privacy Policy
We value the trust of our donors and take privacy seriously.
- We do not sell, rent, or trade donor information under any circumstances.
- Donation-related information is used only for processing contributions, issuing receipts, and communicating with donors.
- Donor information is stored securely, and access is limited to authorized personnel who need the information to perform organizational duties.
- Donors may opt out of future fundraising communications at any time by emailing info@birthworks.org or calling us.
BirthWorks International adheres to the Donor Bill of Rights, an internationally recognized ethical standard originally developed by leading U.S. nonprofit organizations, including the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and widely adopted by nonprofit organizations around the world.
Cookies and Website Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies to provide a reliable, secure, and personalized experience. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help us understand how visitors use our site, maintain secure logins for learners, and improve overall functionality. Read more details on this page: cookie policy.
How We Use Cookies
We use cookies to:
- Improve website performance, navigation, and loading speed
- Maintain secure login sessions for registered learners in our online learning platform
- Analyze website traffic, visitor trends, and engagement
- Personalize user experiences and remember user preferences (such as display settings)
- Enhance security and protect the website from malicious activity
- Optimize performance using caching tools such as Kinsta Cache
Managing Your Cookie Preferences
You have the right to control whether you accept cookies. You can manage, disable, or delete cookies at any time through your web browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain parts of the website, including access to the learning platform.
If you create an account or log in to our online learning system, certain cookies will be set to maintain your secure session. These cookies contain minimal information and automatically expire based on your browser or device settings.
Do Not Track
Some web browsers include a “Do Not Track” (DNT) feature that signals to websites that you do not want your online activity tracked. At this time, our website does not respond to DNT signals because there is no consistent industry standard for how organizations should interpret or respond to them. We continue to review emerging standards and may update our practices if a uniform approach becomes available. You may still adjust your browser settings to limit certain forms of tracking, such as cookies or analytics tools.
Embedded Content From Other Websites
Our site may include embedded content such as videos, images, maps, or articles from external websites/third-party platforms. Embedded content behaves and functions exactly as if you visited the external website directly. These third-party sites may:
- Collect data about you and your visit
- Use cookies or employ additional tracking technologies
- Monitor your interaction with the embedded content (including tracking your activity if you have an account with that service/are logged in to their platform)
These activities are governed by the third-party provider’s privacy policy, and we do not control their data practices. We encourage you to review their privacy policies when interacting with embedded content.
Data Controller and Data Processors
We act as the data controller, meaning we determine how and why personal information is used. Certain trusted service providers act as data processors, handling information only on our behalf and only as needed to operate our programs and services. This clarification is provided for individuals in countries whose privacy laws use these terms and does not change your rights or the way we protect your information.
Legal Basis for Processing and International Data Transfers
Because we operate globally, the personal information we collect may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in countries other than where you live. To enable the use of the information in accordance with this Privacy Policy, where such transfers occur, we ensure appropriate safeguards in compliance with U.S. privacy laws and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). By engaging with us, you consent to these cross-border data transfers.
In addition, personal information that you submit for publication on the website will be published on the internet and may be available around the world. You agree to such cross-border transfers of personal information.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the European Union’s data privacy law. For individuals located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or other regions with similar privacy regulations, we process personal data based on the following legal grounds:
- Consent – for newsletters, communications, and event sign-ups
- Contractual necessity – for certification/training registrations and donor agreements
- Legitimate interests – advancing our mission of improving childbirth and parenting education and certifying birth professionals globally
- Legal obligations – complying with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States, and other states and international regulatory requirements
Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal data, including the right to:
- Access – request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Correction – request corrections or updates to your information
- Withdrawal of consent – withdraw consent to data processing where consent was previously provided
- Opt-out – unsubscribe from communications or revoke consent to marketing
- Deletion – request the removal of your personal data where legally permissible
- Objection – object to certain types of data processing
- Complaint – you may contact a data protection authority or privacy regulator in your country or state of residence
EU and UK Residents
If you are located in the EU or UK, you may contact your local supervisory authority under the GDPR or the UK Data Protection Act.
United States Residents
If you are located in the United States, you may raise concerns with your state Attorney General or another appropriate regulatory agency. Specifically, California Residents may also have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to:
- Request the categories of personal information collected about you
- Request the categories of third parties with whom your data is shared
- Request deletion of your personal information, subject to applicable exceptions
Residents of Other Countries
If you reside in another country, you may have rights under your local privacy or data protection laws and may contact your regional or national data protection authority, where applicable and available.
How to Exercise Your Rights and Account Management
You may exercise your privacy rights—including requesting access to your data, correcting information, withdrawing consent, opting out of communications, requesting deletion where legally permissible, or raising concerns with regulatory authorities—by contacting us at info@birthworks.org.
If you wish to close or deactivate your account, we will take reasonable steps to delete or anonymize your personal information unless certain data must be retained for legal, financial, accreditation, or operational purposes. We may ask for identity verification before completing certain requests to protect your privacy.
Data Retention
We retain personal information and data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, to meet legal and financial obligations, and to support the ongoing operation of our programs and services. We do this according to the following general guidelines:
- Training and certification records: retained for as long as required for program administration, accreditation, continuing education verification, and organizational archives.
- Donor and financial records: retained as required by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), state law, and applicable international regulations.
- User accounts: retained while the account remains active and for a reasonable period afterward for administrative, legal, or operational purposes.
- Website analytics and technical data: retained only for as long as needed for reporting, optimization, and security.
For learner accounts in our online learning platform, we retain the personal information you provide (such as profile information and course data) for as long as your account is active and as needed to administer training programs, comply with accreditation requirements, or meet legal obligations. Files uploaded by learners—such as assignments, documents, or profile images—are retained as part of your course record unless deletion is requested and legally permissible.
If you request deletion of your account, personal data, or removal from our mailing list (where legally permissible), we will take reasonable steps to remove or anonymize your information in our systems. Certain information may be retained where required for legal, financial, accreditation, or operational purposes. Once data is no longer needed, we aim to securely delete or anonymize it.
Data Security
We take reasonable administrative, technical, organizational, and physical precautions, measures, and safeguards to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, disclosure, misuse, loss, or alteration. Payment information is encrypted and securely processed through Stripe or PayPal. We do not store credit card information on our servers. We will store all the personal information you provide securely. While we strive to protect your information, no data transmission or storage system can be guaranteed 100% secure.
Children's Privacy
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 (or under 16 where applicable). If we learn we have inadvertently collected data from a minor, we will delete it promptly. If you are a parent or guardian and believe we have collected your child’s data, please contact us to request removal.
Links to Other Sites
Our website contains links to third-party websites that are not operated by us. We are not responsible for the privacy policies, practices, or content of those sites. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to their site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit before interacting and providing your information to them. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time by posting a new version on this website and/or providing notice. The “Last Updated” date at the top of the page reflects the most recent changes. Updates take effect when they are posted. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.
Accessibility of This Policy
We are committed to ensuring that this Privacy Policy is accessible to all individuals, including those using assistive technologies. If you require this policy in an alternative format or experience difficulty accessing any part of it, please contact us at info@birthworks.org.
We will make reasonable efforts to provide the information you need in a format that is accessible and usable to you. Read more details on this page: accessibility policy.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our treatment of your personal information, please contact us online or as below:
BirthWorks International (BWI)
📧 Email: info@birthworks.org
🌐 Website: www.birthworks.org
📞 Phone: +1 (609) 953-9380
📞 Toll-Free (USA): 888-862-4784 (888-TO-BIRTH)
