Last Update: September 10, 2026

1. Scope and Consent

This Privacy Policy explains how The Physicians Foundation (“the Foundation,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, discloses, and otherwise processes personal information in connection with our website, www.physiciansfoundation.org (the “Site”), or when you otherwise communicate with us.

When you use the Site, you are contracting with The Physicians Foundation, and, as applicable, its affiliates and related entities. By using the Site or otherwise communicating with us, you expressly consent to our collection, use, disclosure, and retention of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Personal Information We Collect

Personal Information Provided by Individuals

• a) Information to Respond to Your Requests: You may give us your personal information, such as your name, email address,  phone number, employer name, and any other information that you may choose to share with us so we can respond to your requests, when you send us questions about grants and research, or sign up for newsletters and other communications. Details of how you can opt-out of receiving communications from us are described in the Section 4 (Your Choices).
• b) Story Information: When you choose to share your story with us on the Site, we may collect your name, email address, city, state, information about your experience with the media, information about your status as a physician, and any information you choose to share with us about your experiences.  
• c) Grant Information: When you choose to apply for a grant, we may collect your personal information such as your name, email address, phone number, job title, and organization.
• c) Other Content You Submit on the Site: We may provide opportunities for you to submit comments, opinions, or other content on the Site. The content you submit and recommendations you make may provide additional personal information to us, including about your beliefs.

Personal Information from Other Sources and Third Parties

• a) Social Media: When you interact with our services through other social media networks, such as when you follow us or share our content on other social networks, we may receive some information that you permit the social network to share with third parties. The data we receive is dependent upon your privacy settings with the social network, and may include profile information, profile picture, username, and any other information you permit the social network to share with third parties. You should always review and, if necessary, adjust your privacy settings on third-party websites and social media networks and services before sharing information and/or linking or connecting them to other services. We use this information primarily to operate, maintain, and provide to you the features and functionality of our products and services, as well as to communicate directly with you, such as to send you messages about features that may be of interest to you.
• b) Other Sources: We may also collect personal information about you from other sources, including publicly available sources, third-party data providers, or through transactions such as mergers and acquisitions. This information may include your name, email address, job title, and aggregated attendance data for virtual events. In addition, for surveys, we may receive de-identified, aggregate demographic data.

The information we collect may be combined with information from the records of our affiliates or third-party service providers that we have acquired in accordance with the law.

Personal Information We Automatically Collect

• a) Device and Network Information: We and our third-party collaborators may collect additional information about your device or network when you visit our Site, such as device type, manufacturer, and model, operating system, IP address, browser type, Internet service provider, and unique identifiers associated with you, your device, or your network.
• b) Technical Usage Information: When you visit our Site, we and our third-party collaborators collect usage information sent to us by your computer, mobile, or other access device that tells us how you are using the Site (“usage information”). We use tracking technologies (including cookies, web beacons, clear gifs, embedded scripts, e-tags, unique device ID) to collect usage information. During some visits we may use software tools to measure and collect session information, including page response times, download errors, time spent on certain pages and page interaction information.

To learn more about how we use tracking technologies and cookies, see Section 6 of this Privacy Policy (Tracking Technologies (Cookies).

3. Uses and Retention

• a) Operate Our Site: We use the information collected to (i) respond to your requests, inquiries and comments; (ii) develop, maintain, improve, support and customize the Site and our services; (iii) conduct research and analysis; and (iv) comply with your stated communication preferences.
• b) Analyze and Aggregate Non-Personal Information: We use aggregate information about our users and non-personal information to analyze the Site and user behavior and prepare aggregated reports.
• c) Prevent Fraud: We use information from the Site to prevent, detect, and investigate fraud, security breaches, and potentially prohibited or illegal activities.
• d) Communicate With You: We use your information to (i) contact you regarding your request for information on grants, stories, or research; (ii), or to contact you for other purposes authorized by law.
• e) Other Uses: We may use the information for marketing, recruiting, and investment analysis, and to make decisions about our foundation and affiliates.
• f) Business Transactions and Reorganizations: We may use your information to facilitate business transactions and reorganizations impacting the structure of our business.
• g) Contractual and Legal Obligations: We may use your information to comply with contractual and legal obligations and requirements.
• h) Other Purposes with Your Consent or At Your Direction: We may use your information to fulfill any other purpose for which you provide your personal information, or for which you have otherwise consented.

We retain information as long as it is necessary and relevant for our operations.

4. Disclosure of Information

Information collected on the Site may be shared with:

• a) Service Providers and Other Third Parties: We may disclose your information to service providers under contract who help with our operations (such as, but not limited to, developing, maintaining, improving and supporting our services, fraud investigations, marketing, and site analytics and operations).
• b) Other Persons with Your Consent: Other third parties to whom you explicitly ask us to share your information.
• c) Legal and Law Enforcement: Law enforcement, governmental agencies, or authorized third parties, in response to a verified request relating to a criminal investigation or alleged illegal activity or any other activity that may expose us, you, or any other user of The Physicians Foundation to legal liability.
• d) Change of Control – New Owners: Other entities, should we plan to merge with or be acquired by that entity. Should such a combination occur, we will make reasonable efforts to request that the newly combined entity follow this Privacy Policy with respect to your personal information. If your personal information would be used contrary to this policy, you will receive prior notice.
• e) Social Networks: We may disclose information to companies that connect individuals around common interests and facilitate sharing (i.e., Facebook).

5. Your Choices

• Marketing Emails: You can control how and when you want to receive notifications from The Physicians Foundation by following instructions within notices or by contacting us via email at media@physiciansfoundation.org. If you do not wish to receive marketing communications from us, you can indicate your communications preference within the direct communication from us, by contacting us via email at info@physiciansfoundation.org. You may not opt-out of administrative emails (for example, emails responding directly to your questions or policy changes).

• Updating Your Personal Information: You should promptly update your personal information if it changes or becomes inaccurate by contacting us via email at info@physiciansfoundation.org. We may retain some information so that we can comply with law, prevent fraud, assist with investigations, resolve disputes, analyze or troubleshoot programs, or take other actions permitted by law.

6. Tracking Technologies (Cookies)

When you visit the Site, we and our third-party collaborators may automatically collect information you provide to us and information about how you access and use our products and services when you engage with us. We typically collect this information through the use of a variety of our own and our third-party collaborators’ automatic data collection technologies, including (i) cookies or small data files that are stored on an individual’s computer and (ii) other, related technologies, such as web beacons, pixels, embedded scripts, mobile SDKs, and logging technologies. Information we collect automatically about you may be combined with other personal information we collect directly from you or receive from other sources.

You may be able to utilize third-party tools and features to further restrict our use of automatic data collection technologies. For example, (i) most browsers allow you to change browser settings to limit automatic data collection technologies on websites, (ii) most email providers allow you to prevent the automatic downloading of images in emails that may contain automatic data collection technologies, and (iii) many devices allow you to change your device settings to limit automatic data collection technologies for device applications. Please note that blocking automatic data collection technologies through third-party tools and features may negatively impact your experience using our services, as some features and offerings may not work properly or at all. Depending on the third-party tool or feature you use, you may not be able to block all automatic data collection technologies or you may need to update your preferences on multiple devices or browsers. We do not have any control over these third-party tools and features and are not responsible if they do not function as intended. 

We use Google Analytics on our Site. Google Analytics allows us to better understand how our customers interact with our services.  For information on how Google Analytics collects and processes data, as well as how you can control information sent to Google, review Google’s website here: www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/. You can learn about Google Analytics’ currently available opt-outs, including the Google Analytics Browser Add-On here: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout/.

7. Notice to California Residents

California Business & Professions Code Section 22575(b) provides that California residents are entitled to know how The Physicians Foundation responds to “Do Not Track” browser settings. The Physicians Foundation does not currently take actions to respond to Do Not Track signals.

8. Third Parties

Our Site may contain links to other third-party websites, including social media platforms. This Privacy Policy does not apply to the personal information practices of third parties. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of these third-party sites. To learn about the personal information practices of third parties, please visit their respective privacy notices.

9. Security

We store and process your information on our servers located in the United States and around the world. We maintain security measures to protect the security of your personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, or alteration. It is your responsibility to make sure that your personal information is accurate. However, despite these controls, we cannot completely ensure or warrant the security of your personal information.  

10. Children’s Privacy

The Site is a general audience site and it is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information via our Site from users in this age group. If you believe your child has provided personal information to us please contact us via the email listed in Section 12 (Contact Us).

11. Notification Regarding Updates

From time to time, we may update this Privacy Policy. You agree that we may notify you about material changes in the way we treat personal information by placing a notice on the Site. You should check the Site frequently for updates.

12. Contact Us

If your questions are not answered online, you may email us at info@physiciansfoundation.org.