Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

The Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce ("the Chamber," "we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use and safeguard it, and the choices and rights you have. By using our website or services, registering for membership or events, or otherwise providing information to us, you agree to the practices described here.

The Chamber is a New Jersey nonprofit business organization operating under IRS Section 501(c)(6), located at 607 Anderson Ave, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010.

2. Information we collect

We collect information you provide directly to us, information collected automatically when you use our website, and information from third parties where applicable.

Information you provide

• Membership and sponsorship applications: name, business or organization name, job title, email, phone, mailing address, industry/category, and the membership or sponsorship level you select.
• Event registrations: attendee names, contact details, number of guests, and any dietary or accessibility requests you choose to share.
• Communications: messages you send us through forms, email, or phone, and your newsletter subscription preferences.
• Directory listings: business information you ask us to publish in our member directory.

Information collected automatically

• Device and browser type, operating system, and language settings.
• IP address and approximate location.
• Pages viewed, links clicked, referring pages, and dates/times of visits.
• Cookie and similar-technology identifiers (see Section 7).

Information from third parties

We may receive limited information from our service providers — for example, payment confirmation from our payment processor, or email engagement data from our newsletter provider.

3. How we use your information

We use personal information to:

• Process and manage memberships, sponsorships, renewals, and event registrations;
• Provide member benefits, including directory listings, referrals, and event access;
• Send administrative messages, renewal reminders, receipts, and important notices;
• Send newsletters and information about events, programs, and opportunities (you may opt out at any time);
• Respond to your inquiries and provide support;
• Operate, maintain, secure, and improve our website and services;
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms and policies.

4. Legal bases for processing

Where applicable law requires a legal basis, we rely on: performance of a contract (administering your membership or registration); your consent (marketing emails, optional cookies); our legitimate interests (operating and improving the Chamber and its website); and compliance with legal obligations (tax, accounting, and recordkeeping).

5. Sharing and disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We share it only as described here:

• Service providers who act on our behalf — payment processors, email and CRM platforms, event tools, and website hosting — under contracts that limit their use of your data.
• Public member directory — only the business information you ask us to publish.
• Legal and safety — when required by law, subpoena, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of the Chamber, our members, or others.
• Business transfers — in connection with a merger, reorganization, or similar event affecting the Chamber.

6. Payments

Membership dues, sponsorship fees, and paid event tickets are processed by a third-party payment processor (such as Stripe). The Chamber does not collect or store your full payment card number. Payment processing is governed by the processor's own privacy policy and security standards (including PCI-DSS compliance).

7. Cookies and analytics

We use cookies and similar technologies to operate the site, remember preferences, and understand usage. You can control cookies through your browser settings. For details, see our Cookie Policy.

8. Data retention

We keep personal information for as long as needed to provide our services and for legitimate business, tax, and legal purposes. Membership and financial records are typically retained for the duration of your membership and for a period afterward as required by law. When information is no longer needed, we delete or anonymize it.

9. Your rights and choices

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, update, or delete your personal information; to object to or restrict certain processing; to request a copy of your data; and to withdraw consent. New Jersey residents and residents of other states or regions with applicable privacy laws may have additional rights. To exercise any right, contact us using the details below. You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the link in each message. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights.

10. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. Please protect your account credentials and notify us of any suspected unauthorized use.

11. Children's privacy

Our website and services are intended for businesses and adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you believe a child has provided us information, please contact us and we will delete it.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the revised version here with a new "Last updated" date and, where appropriate, notify members. Your continued use of our services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact us

Questions or requests regarding this policy or your personal information can be directed to:

Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce
607 Anderson Ave, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
Phone: (201) 335-0088
Email: info@goldcoastchamber.org