PRIVACY POLICY

LAST UPDATED 9/4/26 

Click here to review our Terms of Use

 

Youth Entrepreneurs, Inc. d/b/a Empowered (referred to herein as “Empowered”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) and its afiliates respects individuals’ concerns about the privacy of their personal information and we are committed to protecting the privacy of the people who communicate with us. This Privacy Policy seeks to help you better understand: (a) what information we collect about you; (b) how we collect and use your information; (c) how we share and protect your information; (d) your choices regarding our use of such information; and (e) your ability to access and correct your information. This Privacy Policy applies to information we collect from you or about you via our website(s) or application(s) online (collectively, the “Empowered Site”), online via written or verbal communications with us, social networking, or through other sources such as your participation in Empowered events, publications, educator surveys, or student surveys (collectively, “Communicating with Us”).

By using the Empowered Site or otherwise Communicating with Us, you accept this Privacy Policy and the Terms of Use, both of which may be updated by us at any time. If you do not agree to this Privacy Policy for any reason, please do not use the Empowered Site or share your information with us by Communicating with Us, as further discussed below.

 

Personal Information We Collect

The personal information we may collect typically consists of or includes, but is not limited to, your:

• name;
• address;
• phone number;
• mobile phone number;
• email address;
• username;
• photo;
• demographic data; and
• birth date.

This and other information often is requested by Us when you: (a) engage with Empowered and its resources as an educator, administrator, student, community member, or other capacity; (b) join or use the Empowered Site, such as when you create a user account; (c) engage with the Empowered Site (for example, submit a comment); (d) make a donation; or (e) otherwise interact with or Communicate with Empowered.

If you choose to connect with us via social networking services (e.g., Facebook or Instagram), we may collect personal information that you have provided to that service in accordance with the service’s applicable Terms of Use and your privacy settings within that social networking service. We may also choose to supplement information you have provided to us by obtaining additional demographic information about you from third-party sources in order to improve our communications with you, give us better insight into your needs, and improve our business where permitted under local law.

By submitting personal information to Empowered, you agree that we may use the information for any lawful purpose in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

 

Information We Collect By Automated Means

When you visit and interact with the Empowered Site, we may collect information that does not inherently reveal your specific identity. Empowered uses this information to understand better how visitors use the Empowered Site, research our visitors’ demographics, interests, and behavior, and provide visitors with customized services and information. Empowered also uses the information collected to assess and improve our program, improve our promotional and outreach eƯorts, and for other similar purposes.

Examples of this data collected include:

Cookies

We use cookies to track usage and to enhance the efficiency of user interaction with the Empowered Site, gain insight into and customize your use of the Empowered Site, and to help maintain the Empowered Site’s proper operation. Cookies are small files placed on the hard drive of your computer; each website can send its own cookie to your browser if your browser preferences allow it. You can configure your browser to accept all cookies, reject all cookies, or notify you when a cookie is set. (Each browser is different, so check the “Help” menu of your browser to learn how to change your cookie preferences.) You are always free to decline our cookies if your browser permits, although that may prevent you from using certain features on the Empowered Site. Please note that several companies offer utilities designed to help you visit websites anonymously.

Generally, we will not allow third parties to place any cookies, web beacons, or other similar devices on the Empowered Site unless necessary. Empowered is not responsible for any other websites, applications, or content accessible from or linked to this website, including their privacy policies or information collection practices.

Pixel Tags or Similar Technologies

These services use cookies and tracking code to analyze how visitors use the Empowered Site. This information helps us track the actions of users of our online services, measure the success of our campaigns and compile statistics about usage of the online services and response rates. The information collected (including your browser and operating system, IP address, device type, geographic location, and pages visited on our website, and time spent here) may be transmitted to and stored by these services, typically in an aggregated and de-identified manner. One of these services is Google Analytics.

You can learn about Google’s practices by clicking HERE, and opt-out by downloading the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On, available by clicking HERE.

Artificial Intelligence Features

Some features of the Empowered Site use artificial intelligence to suggest lessons and content and to help revise educator-created materials. These features may be powered by one or more third-party artificial intelligence providers, which may change over time as technology and our service relationships evolve.

When you use these features, the text and materials you submit (“Inputs”) and the responses generated for you (“Outputs”) are transmitted to our AI provider or providers solely to generate the requested Output. We take reasonable steps to request, through agreements with those AI providers, that your Inputs and Outputs are not used to train or improve third-party AI models and that such providers retain this data only for a limited period for security and abuse-monitoring purposes before it is deleted. However, those agreement terms, and the AI providers’ actual practices, may not always protect your Inputs or Outputs and may change at any time and we encourage you to restrict your use accordingly.

These features are intended for lesson planning and instructional support only. You should not submit student records, student names, or other personal information about identifiable students, and you should not submit sensitive personal information into these features. You are responsible for reviewing all AI-generated Output before using it, because Output may be inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date.

We may retain and review Inputs and Outputs associated with your account to operate, secure, evaluate, and improve these features. We do not sell this information, and we do not use it for targeted advertising.

How We Use Information We Collect

We may use the information discussed above in a number of ways, such as:

• Processing donations or payments;
• Verifying your identity (such as when you access your account information);
• Preventing fraud and enhancing the security of your account or our online services;
• Responding to your requests and communicating with you;
• Managing your preferences;
• Performing analytics concerning your use of our online services, including your responses to our emails and the pages you view;
• Providing you tailored content and communications on topics and developments we believe will be of interest you, including program related activities, including text messages if you have opted in to receiving SMS communications;
• Operating, evaluating and improving our programs (including performing data analytics and accounting, auditing and other internal functions);
• Complying with and enforcing applicable legal requirements, relevant industry standards, contractual obligations and our policies;
• Coordinating event activities; and
• For any other lawful purposes, including those that we may specifically disclose at the time you provide or we collect your information.

 

What Personal Information We Share With Others

We may share the information we collect from and about you within our organization and with certain affiliated organizations and third parties. We do not, however, share personally identifiable, unaggregated student information with our partners or other charities for their own programs or purposes; student information is shared only as described in the “Educator Use and Student Information” section. For example, we may share your information with:

• Credit card processing companies, to process donations and payments;
• Our partners in order to provide you information on additional related programmatic opportunities;
• Other organizations we work with to provide services, research, products or programs;
• Other similar charities;
• Third-party service providers (for example, website hosting and operational services or a travel management company to assist in booking travel) who are only authorized to use your data as directed and necessary to perform services on our behalf;
• Other third parties to comply with legal requirements such as the demands of applicable subpoenas and court orders; to verify or enforce our terms of use, our other rights, or other applicable policies; to address fraud, security or technical issues; to respond to an emergency; or otherwise to protect the rights, property or security of our constituents or third parties; and
• Other Empowered participants or Empowered Site users if you choose to make any profiles you create public or otherwise share your personal information with Empowered Site users.

 

Security and Third-Party Sites

Although the Empowered Site has certain security measures in place to protect the loss, misuse, and alteration of the information you provide, no email or web transmission is completely secure against interception or incorrect routing. Thus, there is always the risk that unauthorized persons may access or use your personally identifiable information. If you are worried because your communication is very sensitive, please contact us as indicated in the “How to Contact Us” section to coordinate sending your information via another method.

All credit card transactions processed through the Empowered Site, if any, occur in via a secure area payment gateway designed to protect you from any loss, misuse, or alteration of information collected. When you make a donation or other payment, your credit card information is protected through the use of encryption.

Remember that we cannot protect your privacy once you leave the Empowered Site, such as by hyperlink. We do not control the privacy policies or practices of other websites, even if you reach them by clicking on a link on our website. When you visit other websites, we encourage you to check each site’s privacy policy, and be careful about the information you submit or share. In addition, you should only forward our email messages or other website information (such as our job postings) to others through the buttons or links provided within the email or the Empowered Site. When you use your email system’s forwarding capabilities, others may be able to take actions in your name and/or access your personal information.

 

User Generated Content

Some of our services and social networking features may enable you to submit your own content for public posting.  Information you post in this fashion becomes public information and is not subject to this Privacy Policy. Certain areas of our websites and our social media pages may enable users to submit personal information to Empowered or its partners.  Such information will be used in accordance with this Privacy Policy. By making Postings, letters, and other submissions, you grant Empowered a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use and reproduce them, in whole or in part, including your name, in accordance with our Terms of Use. Please consult our Terms of Use for more information regarding how we treat User Generated Content.

 

A Special Note on Children

We are concerned about the safety and privacy of children who use the internet and who participate in our program(s). Our website is not designed for or directed to individuals under the age of 13. No information should be submitted nor posted to the Empowered Site by or about individuals under the age of 13 without express parental consent. In certain jurisdictions, notification, prior written permission, or other verifiable consent may be required of a parent or Guardian for children from 13 to 17 years of age. The Empowered Site’s artificial intelligence features are intended for use by educators and administrators only and are not intended for students. If you believe your child has provided us with information without your consent, please email us at address set forth in the “How to Contact Us” section (below).

All information collected will be treated in accordance with this Privacy Policy and the Terms of Use.

 

Educator Use and Student Information

Empowered’s resources and tools are intended for use by educators and administrators for instructional purposes. Empowered does not seek to collect personal information about students through the Empowered Site, and educators should not submit personally identifiable information from student education records into the Empowered Site or its artificial intelligence features.

To the extent an educator, school, or district provides Empowered with information that constitutes an “education record” under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) or “covered information” under applicable state student privacy laws, Empowered will use that information only to provide and support the requested services at the direction of the educator, school, or district, and not for any other purpose. Empowered does not sell personally identifiable student information, use it for targeted advertising, or use it to create commercial profiles. Where a school or district requires a data privacy agreement governing student information, the terms of that agreement will control over any conflicting terms in this Privacy Policy.

 

Visiting Our Website from Outside the U.S.

If you are visiting the Empowered Site from outside of the United States (U.S.), please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored or processed in the United States where we are located. The data protection and other laws of the United States might not be as comprehensive as those in your country, but please be assured that we take steps to protect your privacy. By using our website, you understand that your information may be transferred to our facilities and those third parties with whom we share it as described in this Privacy Policy.

 

Updates to this Privacy Policy

We may amend or change this Privacy Policy at any time. In the event of any material change, Empowered will post a notice of such a revision to this Policy on the Empowered Site. Any changes will be effective immediately upon posting unless otherwise indicated. We will not, however, materially change how we use or share student information in a manner inconsistent with the notice provided when the information was collected without first giving notice to the relevant educator, school, or district and providing a choice before the information is used in the materially different manner.

 

Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, after which we delete or de-identify it. Inputs and Outputs submitted to our artificial intelligence features may be retained by our AI provider(s) as specified under their terms.

 

Updating And Accessing Your Personal Information

Keeping your account information and preferences up to date is very important to us. Depending on where you live and the laws that apply to you, you may have the legal right to access the personal information we hold about you, to correct it, to request that we delete it, to request that we stop using it, or other rights. You can request that we comply with these rights, if required by applicable law, by logging in and accessing the account profile section of each online service for which you have registered. If you cannot locate, access or make desired changes to the information or permissions online, you may send a request by emailing us at hello@empoweredhq.org. We reserve the right not to honor your request if it does not apply to us under applicable law or this privacy policy. Without limiting the foregoing, we cannot or will not track down “de-identified” information to change it or undo any prior use of data we already used with your actual or implied consent.

 

How to Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or if you would like us to remove or update information we have about you or your preferences, please contact us by email at hello@empoweredhq.org or by mail at:

Empowered
c/o Website Queries
4111 E 37th St N Ste D101
Wichita, KS 67220