Privacy Policy

Brahmana Mahasabha of North America, Inc. (“BMNA”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) is the data controller for this website. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use and protect it, who we share it with, how long we keep it, and the rights you have over it. Last updated June 30, 2026.

Information we collect

We collect the following categories of personal information, depending on how you use the site:

Account and identity data: your name, email address, profile photo, and the identity provider you sign in with (Google, Microsoft, or Yahoo).
Contact details: phone number (when you choose to verify it) and any information you submit through our contact form.
Membership data: the information you provide in a membership application.
Donation data: donation amounts, dates, designated causes, and billing details processed by our payment providers. For offline gifts, a donor name and email may be recorded.
Event and class data: your registrations and attendance.
Matrimony data (only if you use the Matrimony service): date of birth, height, community, gotram, nakshatram, education, occupation, location, family details, lifestyle information, photos, horoscope details, and messages you exchange.
Technical data: session identifiers and basic request information needed to operate and secure the site.

How we use your information

To create and manage your account and authenticate you.
To process donations and issue tax receipts and annual giving statements.
To manage memberships, events, and classes.
To operate the Matrimony service, including privacy-by-default visibility controls.
To send transactional and service messages (for example, receipts, registration confirmations, and notices you ask for).
To respond to your inquiries and provide support.
To protect the site against fraud and abuse and to meet our legal and tax obligations.

Legal bases for processing

Where the GDPR or similar laws apply, we process your data on the basis of: performance of a contract (providing the services you request); your consent (for example, optional phone verification or the Matrimony service); our legitimate interests (operating, securing, and improving the site); and compliance with legal obligations (such as tax record-keeping).

Service providers we share data with

We do not sell your personal information. We share it only with service providers (processors) who help us run the site, under contracts that require them to protect it:

Stripe and PayPal — payment processing.
Resend — transactional email delivery.
Twilio — phone-number verification (one-time codes).
Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo — sign-in (OAuth) authentication.
Google Maps Platform — address autocomplete.
Cloudflare — website hosting, database, and file storage.

We may also disclose information where required by law or to protect the rights, safety, and property of BMNA, our members, or the public.

Payment information

Card and bank details are entered directly with our payment processors (Stripe and PayPal) and are not stored on our servers. We retain only the transaction record needed to issue receipts and meet tax requirements.

The Matrimony service

The Matrimony service is optional and members-only. Profiles are private by default: identifying details such as full name and photos are masked until you express or accept interest. Sensitive matrimony fields are encrypted at rest. You can deactivate or permanently delete your matrimony profile at any time from your matrimony dashboard.

How long we keep your data

Account data: for as long as your account is active. You can delete your account at any time (see Your privacy rights).
Membership applications that are not approved: the personal details are purged 12 months after submission; only a non-identifying status record is retained.
Donation records: retained for at least 7 years to meet tax and accounting obligations. Offline-donor contact details (name and email) are anonymized after 7 years.
Matrimony profiles: if the owner does not sign in for 24 months, the profile is automatically deactivated; you may delete it sooner from your dashboard.
Contact-form messages: kept only as long as needed to handle your inquiry and for reasonable record-keeping.

Your privacy rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, restrict, or object to the processing of your personal information, and to receive a copy of it. To exercise these rights:

Access and update most of your information from your account dashboard.
Delete your account and associated personal data at any time from the account deletion page (/account/delete).
For any other privacy request, reach us through our contact form (/contact).

We will respond to verified requests within the timeframe required by applicable law. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data-protection authority.

Cookies and sessions

We use a strictly necessary session cookie to keep you signed in and to protect forms against cross-site request forgery. We do not use advertising or third-party tracking cookies.

Data security

We use industry-standard safeguards, including encryption in transit, encryption at rest for sensitive matrimony data, server-side access controls, and rate limiting. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we work to protect your information and to address any incident promptly.

International data transfers

BMNA operates in the United States, and our service providers may process data in the United States and other countries. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards for such transfers.

Children’s privacy

The site and its services, including Matrimony, are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will revise the “Last updated” date above and, where appropriate, provide additional notice.

Contact us

For questions about this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact Brahmana Mahasabha of North America, Inc. through our contact form (/contact).