Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

HBGI is a 501(c)3 nonprofit incorporated in the United States aiming to improve the lives of people living with mental and neurological health conditions. 

HBGI strives to build a global network and as a result processes and collects data from a global audience. In this process, please note that your data may be transferred to the United States even if it is collected elsewhere.

HBGI is committed to protecting your privacy at every level. This policy outlines what data HBGI collects, how the organization uses that data, and your rights pertaining to use of your data. 

This policy addresses HBGI’s external-facing activities where information about you can be collected (e.g. website or social media analytics, surveys, job applications, and email lists held by HBGI). For information about HBGI’s internal privacy policy (which outlines policies pertaining to full time employees, Lived Experience Council members, and individuals or groups HBGI contracts with), please reach out to info@hbgi.org. 

Finally, please note that this policy only describes HBGI’s privacy policy. There may be links on the HBGI website or other materials that take you to third parties who have their own policies regarding the use of your data. Please exercise caution and review those regulations separately. 


2. Why HBGI Collects Your Data

HBGI processes and collects your data on the legal basis that: 

  • it is necessary to achieving HBGI’s legitimate interests of improving the lives of people living with mental and neurological health conditions through research or

  •  you have given your consent for your data to be collected and processed

HBGI’s legitimate interests include growing its network and assessing the needs of the mental and neurological health research sector. 

In processing and collecting your data, HBGI will balance its legitimate interests with your rights as an individual and any potential sensitivity associated with your data. For further information, please contact info@hbgi.org. 


3. What Data HBGI Collects

HBGI defines “your data” broadly, including identifying and non-identifying data. HBGI may collect data including your name, your email address, cookie-associated data, age, gender, educational or professional background, country of origin or residence and any other data you explicitly consent to provide to us (including potentially sensitive data such as lived experience of a brain health condition). 


4. How HBGI Uses That Data

HBGI collects your data in order to:

  • stay in contact with you and provide you with information about its activities (e.g. if you take part in a survey and then provide consent to be contacted about further opportunities to be involved with HBGI) OR

  • optimize its digital presence and grow its audience (e.g. if you accept cookies on its website, HBGI will collect info such as your country of origin in order to optimize accessibility of its services), OR

  • conduct and analyze results from written surveys and interviews assessing the mental and neurological research sectors OR 

  • to otherwise serve HBGI’s legitimate interests as a mental and neurological health research funder. (This page will be updated according to any relevant activities). 

HBGI will only store the minimum amount of identifying data for the minimum amount of time necessary to fulfill its purposes. This may include storing it after an associated activity is completed for the purposes of legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. After this period, any identifying data will be erased. HBGI may keep an anonymized form of your data for analytics purposes. 

HBGI is committed to protecting your data. However, please note that no methods of electronic storage or digital transmission are completely secure. If HBGI learns of a data breach or that your data has been compromised, the organization strives to inform you in a transparent (i.e. including the nature of the breach and other information) and timely (i.e. as soon as possible) manner. 


5. Sharing Your Data with Third Parties

Please note that in service of the purposes listed above, your data may be shared or processed by third parties. Third parties may be defined as external parties that directly collect your data (for example, Google Forms may store your data if a survey is distributed on that platform; SquareSpace will collect your data if you consent to store cookies) or with parties we contract with to process your data. Your data may also be shared with third parties in order to comply with valid legal inquiries or processes. 

HBGI strives to only share your data with third parties whose privacy policies are compliant with HBGI’s as outlined here, as well as any applicable local or international regulations. 


6. Your Rights Over Your Data

At any point, you have the right to update, access a copy, or request erasure of your personal identifying data. 

If you would like to access a copy, update, or request erasure of your identifying information, please contact info@hbgi.org.


7. More Information about this Policy

Any changes made to this policy will be updated here. Please check this page for the most updated version of the policy. 

This policy was enacted on November 19th, 2021. 

If you have any questions about this policy, please contact info@hbgi.org. HBGI welcomes your thoughts on how to make this policy more accessible to a global audience. 

If at any point you believe your rights or privacy have been violated, please reach out to us or lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.