Introduction

The Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) respects your privacy. BTI is an independent, nonprofit research institute located in Ithaca, New York.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you visit btiscience.org (the “Site”), how we use it, and the choices you have. It applies only to the Site. It does not cover BTI’s internal systems, or third-party sites we link to, which have their own policies.

By using the Site, you agree to the practices described here. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

Information We Collect

We collect two kinds of information: information you choose to give us, and information collected automatically when you use the Site.

Information you provide

You can browse most of the Site without telling us who you are. We collect personal information only when you choose to provide it, such as when you:

• Subscribe to our newsletter: your email address and, if requested, your name.
• Contact us: your name, email address, and anything you include in your message.
• Make a gift: your name, contact details, gift amount, and any dedication or employer-matching details you enter.
• Register for an event, internship, or program: the information requested on that form, such as your name, school or institution, and contact details.
• Request services from a BTI core facility: your name, institution, billing contact, and project details.

Information collected automatically

When you visit the Site, our servers and service providers automatically record certain technical information. This may include your IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, referring website, pages viewed, time spent on pages, and the date and time of your visit.

We use this information in aggregate to understand how the Site is used. We do not use it to identify you personally.

Cookies and Analytics

The Site uses cookies and similar technologies. Cookies are small text files stored on your device by your web browser.

We use cookies to:

• Keep the Site working properly and loading quickly.
• Remember your settings, such as your preferred language or accessibility options.
• Understand how visitors use the Site so we can improve it.

We use Google Analytics to measure Site traffic. Google Analytics collects information such as pages visited and general location (city or region), and reports it to us in aggregate. You can learn how Google uses this data at How Google uses information from sites that use its services. You can opt out by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

We do not use cookies to serve targeted advertising on the Site.

Most browsers let you block or delete cookies in their settings. If you do, some parts of the Site may not work as intended. Some browsers send a “Do Not Track” signal. Because there is no common standard for these signals, the Site does not currently respond to them.

How We Use Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Respond to your questions and requests.
• Send our newsletter and other updates you have asked to receive.
• Process gifts, send receipts and acknowledgments, and keep the records nonprofits are required to keep.
• Manage event registrations, internship and program applications, and core facility service requests.
• Operate, maintain, secure, and improve the Site.
• Comply with legal obligations and protect the rights and safety of BTI and others.

We will not use your personal information for a purpose that is materially different from these without telling you first.

How We Share Information

BTI does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We share it only in these limited situations:

• Service providers. We work with trusted vendors who help us run the Site and our programs, such as website hosting, email newsletters, online giving, and analytics. They may use your information only to provide services to BTI.
• Research and program partners. If you apply to or register for a program BTI runs with a partner, such as Cornell University, we may share your information with that partner to administer the program.
• Legal requirements. We may disclose information if required by law, subpoena, or court order, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of BTI, our visitors, or others.
• With your consent. We may share information for other purposes when you have given us permission.

We may also share aggregated or de-identified information that cannot reasonably be used to identify you.

Online Giving

Online gifts to BTI are processed through a secure third-party donation platform. Your card or bank details are entered directly into that platform and handled by its payment processors. BTI does not receive or store your full payment card number.

We receive your name, contact information, gift amount, and gift details so we can thank you, issue tax receipts, and maintain accurate donor records.

BTI does not sell, rent, or exchange donor information with other organizations. If you would prefer not to receive fundraising communications, or would like your gift listed anonymously, contact us using the information below.

Third-Party Sites and Embedded Content

The Site links to websites and services that BTI does not control. These include our job postings, our social media pages (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, Bluesky, and YouTube), research databases, and partner institutions.

Some pages also include embedded content, such as YouTube videos, or tools such as our translation and accessibility features. These providers may collect information about your visit under their own privacy policies.

When you leave the Site or interact with embedded content, this Privacy Policy no longer applies. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Data Retention and Security

We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law. For example, we keep gift records for the periods required for nonprofit tax and audit purposes. Newsletter subscribers remain on our list until they unsubscribe.

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information. The Site is served over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection. No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, however, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Choices and Rights

You can make the following choices at any time:

• Unsubscribe from our newsletter or other emails by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in any message, or by contacting us.
• Opt out of fundraising communications by contacting us.
• Manage cookies through your browser settings, as described above.

You may also ask us to:

• Tell you what personal information we hold about you.
• Correct information that is inaccurate or incomplete.
• Delete your personal information, unless we must keep it for legal, tax, or audit reasons.
• Stop using your information for a particular purpose.

Depending on where you live, including certain U.S. states, the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, you may have additional rights under local law. These can include the right to receive a copy of your data in a portable format or to file a complaint with a data protection authority. Where the law requires a legal basis for processing, BTI relies on your consent, the need to fulfill a request you made, our legal obligations, or our legitimate interest in operating the Site and advancing our nonprofit mission.

To make a request, contact us using the information below. We will respond within the time required by applicable law, and we may need to verify your identity first. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.

BTI is based in the United States, and information collected through the Site is processed in the United States. U.S. data protection laws may differ from those in your country.

Children’s Privacy

The Site is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information online from children under 13.

Some BTI education and outreach programs serve students under 18. For those programs, we collect only the information needed to run the program, and we request parent or guardian involvement where appropriate.

If you believe a child under 13 has given us personal information through the Site, please contact us and we will delete it.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will post the revised version on this page. If we make material changes, we will provide a more prominent notice on the Site. Your continued use of the Site after changes are posted means you accept the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or want to make a privacy request, please contact:

Boyce Thompson Institute Attn: Communications Office 533 Tower Road Ithaca, NY 14853

Email: contact@btiscience.org Phone: (607) 254-1234