The CRAFT — Privacy Policy

Who we are

Effective date: November 7, 2026

The Center for Research Advancing Future-Ready Teaching, Inc. ("The CRAFT," "we," "us") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Maryland. We bridge rigorous education research with classroom practice in arts integration, STEAM, project-based learning, and AI in teaching.

This policy explains what information we collect when you visit thecraftedu.org, subscribe to our newsletters, take part in our research, donate, or become a member, and how we use and protect it. It applies to our website and the services that link to this policy. Platforms we use that have their own policies, such as Substack, are covered by those policies.

We do not sell your personal information.

Information we collect

Information you give us

• Contact details such as your name, email address, school or organization, role, and state, when you subscribe, fill out a form, register for an event, or contact us
• Membership and account details, if you create an account or join a membership tier
• Donation details such as your name, address, gift amount, and dedication information; card numbers are handled by our payment processor, not stored by us
• Research responses, when you choose to take part in a survey, interview, focus group, or study
• Messages and submissions, such as questions, feedback, or materials you share with us

Information collected automatically

• Device and browser type, IP address, pages visited, referring pages, and time on site
• Email engagement data, such as whether a newsletter was opened or a link was clicked
• Information from cookies and similar technologies (see Cookies and analytics)

How we use information

We use the information we collect to:

• Send newsletters, research summaries, and updates you signed up for
• Provide memberships, member resources, and event registrations
• Process donations, send tax receipts, and thank our supporters
• Conduct and report on education research, as described below
• Answer your questions and requests
• Understand how our website and content are used so we can improve them
• Keep our website secure and meet our legal, tax, audit, and grant-reporting obligations

When we report to funders, we share aggregate or de-identified information, not your personal details, unless you have agreed otherwise.

Research data and participation

Research is central to our mission. Taking part in a CRAFT study is always voluntary.

• Each study tells you, before you begin, what it collects, why, how long it is kept, and who can see it. Where a study has its own consent form or information sheet, that document governs your participation and takes precedence over this policy.
• You can stop participating at any time, and skip any question you prefer not to answer.
• We publish findings in aggregate or de-identified form. We do not name individual participants, students, or schools in published results without permission.
• Research data collected by The CRAFT, including data gathered at events we attend or co-host, is owned and managed by The CRAFT and handled under our research data practices.
• Some studies are run with university or school partners. When that happens, the consent materials name the partners and explain how data is shared with them.

How we share information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We share it only in these cases:

• Service providers who help us run our work, under terms that limit their use of your data to serving us. These include our website hosting and content management system, Google Workspace (email and files), Kit (newsletter list management), Postmark (email delivery), Cloudflare (site security and performance), our payment processor Stripe and Zeffy, and Google analytics.
• Research partners, only as described in a study's consent materials.
• Legal and safety reasons, when required by law, subpoena, or court order, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of The CRAFT or others.
• With your permission, for any other purpose you agree to.

Affiliated organizations. The CRAFT is an independent nonprofit. We do not share our subscriber, member, donor, or research participant lists with other organizations, including organizations we partner with, unless you give us permission.

Cookies and analytics

Cookies are small files stored by your browser. We use them to keep the site working, remember your preferences, and understand how visitors use our pages.

• Essential cookies keep the site secure and functioning, including security checks by Cloudflare. These cannot be turned off.
• Analytics cookies help us see which pages and resources are most useful. We use Google Analytics and review this information in aggregate.
• Embedded content, such as videos, podcast players, or blog embeds, may set cookies from those providers.

You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. Some parts of the site may not work properly without them. We do not use cookies for targeted advertising.

Email communications

We send email only to people who have signed up or have an existing relationship with us, such as members, donors, and research participants.

• Every newsletter includes an unsubscribe link. You can also email [contact email] to be removed.
• After you unsubscribe from marketing emails, we may still send messages you need, such as donation receipts, membership account notices, or study follow-ups you agreed to.
• Our newsletters may track opens and clicks so we can see which research topics are most useful to educators.

Donations and payments

Donations and membership payments are processed securely by Stripe through our donation platform provider Zeffy. We never see or store your full card number.

We keep records of gifts, including your name, contact information, gift amount, and date, to send receipts, meet IRS and Maryland recordkeeping requirements, and thank you. We will not publish your name as a donor without your permission, and you may ask to give anonymously.

Children's privacy and student data

Our website is designed for educators, researchers, families, and supporters. It is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them online. If you believe a child has given us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

When our research involves K–12 students, it is conducted through participating schools and districts, with the permissions and parent or guardian consent those studies require. We handle student records in line with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), applicable state student-privacy laws, and our agreements with each school or district. Student information is never used for marketing.

Keeping your information safe, and your choices

Retention. We keep personal information only as long as we need it for the purposes above, or as required by law, tax, audit, or grant rules. Research data is kept for the period stated in each study's consent materials. When information is no longer needed, we delete it or de-identify it.

Security. We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), access controls, and reputable service providers. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your choices and rights. You can ask us to:

• Tell you what personal information we hold about you
• Correct information that is wrong or out of date
• Delete your information, unless we must keep it for legal or recordkeeping reasons
• Stop sending you newsletters or other non-essential email

To make a request, email info@thecraftedu.org. We will respond within 30 days. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under your state's privacy law, and we will honor them where they apply.

Visitors outside the United States. The CRAFT is based in the United States, and information you provide is stored and processed here.

Changes and contact

We may update this policy as our work and the law change. We will post the new version here with a new effective date, and notify subscribers by email of significant changes.

Questions or requests about your privacy:

The CRAFT Attn: Privacy 742 Charingworth Road, Westminster, MD 21158