How We Use Your Information

At RaiseIt, we are committed to transparency about how we handle your personal data. This section outlines the specific purposes for which we collect, process, and use information provided by creators, backers, visitors, and other users of our platform.

2.1 Core Platform Services

We use your information to operate, maintain, and improve the RaiseIt crowdfunding platform, including:

• Account Management: Creating and managing your user account, verifying your identity, and maintaining security settings.
• Campaign Facilitation: Enabling creators to publish, edit, and manage funding campaigns, including processing project descriptions, images, videos, and reward tiers.
• Backer Interaction: Processing contributions, tracking pledge history, and delivering campaign updates or rewards communications.
• Platform Features: Enabling messaging, comments, project recommendations, and community engagement tools.

2.2 Transaction Processing & Payments

To securely process financial transactions, we collect and use payment-related information in accordance with our Payment Processing Policy:

• Processing payments for pledges, platform fees, and transaction charges
• Verifying payment methods and preventing fraudulent activity
• Issuing refunds, handling disputes, and maintaining financial records
• Sharing necessary transaction data with our payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) and banking partners

2.3 Communication & Customer Support

We use your contact information to communicate with you about your account, campaigns, and platform updates:

• Sending operational emails (account verification, campaign milestones, payout notifications, security alerts)
• Responding to support requests, inquiries, or feedback submitted through our help center
• Delivering time-sensitive notices regarding platform changes, service interruptions, or policy updates

2.4 Analytics, Research & Platform Improvement

We analyze aggregated and pseudonymized data to understand how users interact with RaiseIt, which helps us:

• Optimize campaign discovery algorithms and recommendation engines
• Identify usability issues and improve platform performance
• Conduct internal research on crowdfunding trends and user behavior
• Measure the effectiveness of feature updates and product enhancements

All analytics processing complies with our Cookie & Tracking Policy and applicable data protection regulations.

2.5 Safety, Security & Legal Compliance

We may use your information to protect the safety and integrity of the RaiseIt ecosystem:

• Detecting and preventing fraud, abuse, spam, or unauthorized activity
• Enforcing our Terms of Service and community guidelines
• Complying with legal obligations, court orders, or regulatory requests
• Protecting the rights, property, or safety of RaiseIt, our users, or the public

2.6 Marketing & Promotional Communications

With your explicit consent (where legally required), we may use your information to send promotional messages, including:

• Featured campaigns, success stories, and platform announcements
• Personalized recommendations based on your interests and activity
• Event invitations, newsletter content, and partner offers

You may opt out of marketing communications at any time by updating your account preferences or clicking the unsubscribe link in any promotional email. Operational and transactional messages cannot be opted out of, as they are essential to service delivery.

2.7 Data Retention & Deletion

We retain your information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. Retention periods vary by data type:

• Active Accounts: Retained while your account is active, plus 3 years after deactivation for administrative and legal purposes
• Transaction Records: Retained for 7 years to comply with financial and tax regulations
• Communications & Support Tickets: Retained for 2 years
• Analytics Data: Aggregated and anonymized after 13 months

You may request deletion or export of your personal data at any time through your account settings or by contacting our Data Protection team.

2.8 Your Rights & Choices

Depending on your location, you may have legal rights regarding your personal information, including the right to access, correct, delete, restrict, or port your data. To exercise these rights, please visit your Privacy Dashboard or contact us at privacy@raiseit.com. We will respond to verified requests within 30 days.