AFRICAN CAREER, EDUCATION & RESOURCE, INC.

Website Legal Policy Package

Table of Contents

This document contains the following legal and policy pages for acerinc.org:

  1. Privacy Policy
  2. Terms of Use
  3. Cookie Policy
  4. Accessibility Statement
  5. Donor Disclosure & Charitable Solicitation Statement
  6. Non-Discrimination Policy

I. Privacy Policy

Effective Date:  07. 02 .2026

African Career, Education & Resource, Inc. (“ACER,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit acerinc.org or engage with our programs and services.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly:

  • Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address
  • Contact form, event registration, volunteer, and program application submissions
  • Newsletter subscription information
  • Donation and payment information (processed securely via third-party processors)

Information Collected Automatically:

  • IP address, browser type, and operating system
  • Pages visited, time on page, and referring URLs
  • Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Cookie Policy, Section III)

Information from Third Parties:

  • Payment processor data (we do not store full card numbers)
  • Social media interactions on our pages

2. How We Use Your Information

  • Respond to inquiries and communicate about programs and services
  • Process and acknowledge donations
  • Send newsletters and event announcements (with your consent)
  • Register participants for events, fellowships, and training programs
  • Improve website content and user experience
  • Fulfill grant reporting and nonprofit compliance obligations
  • Comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws

3. How We Share Your Information

ACER does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share it only with:

  • Service Providers: Trusted vendors who help operate our website or programs, bound by data protection agreements
  • Legal Authorities: When required by law, court order, or government inquiry
  • Organizational Protection: To protect the safety and rights of ACER, staff, or community members
  • With Your Consent: For any other purpose you expressly authorize
  1. Data Retention
    We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, meet our legal and contractual obligations, and satisfy applicable recordkeeping requirements. Specifically:
  • Donor and financial records are retained for a minimum of ten (10) years, consistent with Minnesota’s charitable solicitation recordkeeping requirements (Minn. Stat. § 309.54).
  • Program application, volunteer, and event records are retained for seven (7) years from the date of last interaction, unless a longer period is required by a specific grant or funding agreement.
  • Website analytics data is retained according to the retention settings of our analytics provider(s), as described in our Cookie Policy.

4a. Privacy Policy — Section 4a. Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act (MCDPA)

The Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act (Minn. Stat. § 325O) applies only to entities that, during a calendar year, control or process the personal data of 100,000 or more consumers, or that control or process the personal data of 25,000 or more consumers and derive over 25% of annual gross revenue from the sale of personal data. ACER does not meet either threshold, does not sell personal data, and does not engage in the targeted advertising or profiling activities the Act is designed to regulate. Accordingly, ACER is not subject to the MCDPA and is not required to comply with its consumer rights, disclosure, or assessment provisions. ACER will continue to monitor its data practices and will revisit this determination if its operations change.

5. Your Rights and Choices

  • Access, correct, or request deletion of your personal information
  • Opt out of marketing emails at any time via the unsubscribe link or by contacting us
  • Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances

To exercise your rights, contact us at info@acerinc.org.

6. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your data. No internet transmission is 100% secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Children’s Privacy

Our site is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13. If we become aware of such collection, we will delete it promptly.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy periodically. Changes will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.

9. Contact

Questions? Contact us at info@acerinc.org or 763-657-7711.

II. Terms of Use

Effective Date:  07. 02 .2026

Welcome to acerinc.org. By accessing or using this website, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of this site.

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Use constitute a legally binding agreement between you and ACER. ACER reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

2. Use of the Site

You agree to use this site only for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not infringe the rights of others. You may not:

  • Use the site to transmit harmful, offensive, or unlawful content
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the site or its systems
  • Use automated tools to scrape, copy, or harvest content without permission
  • Impersonate ACER, its staff, or any other person or entity
  • Use the site in any way that could disable, overburden, or impair its functionality

3. Intellectual Property

All content on acerinc.org — including text, images, logos, graphics, and program materials — is the property of ACER or its content licensors and is protected by applicable copyright and trademark laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without prior written consent from ACER.

4. User-Submitted Content

If you submit content to us (e.g., through forms, applications, or email), you grant ACER a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use that content for organizational purposes. You represent that you have the right to submit such content and that it does not violate any third-party rights.

5. Third-Party Links

Our site may contain links to third-party websites. ACER is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or privacy practices of those sites. Links do not constitute an endorsement by ACER.

6. Disclaimer of Warranties

This site is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis without warranties of any kind, express or implied. ACER does not warrant that the site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components.

7. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, ACER shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of your use of or inability to use this site.

7a. Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless ACER, its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of or in any way connected with: (a) your access to or use of this site; (b) your violation of these Terms of Use; (c) your violation of any applicable law or the rights of any third party; or (d) any content you submit, post, or transmit through this site. ACER reserves the right, at your expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, and you agree to cooperate with ACER’s defense of such claims.

8. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of Hennepin County, Minnesota.

9. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Contact us at info@acerinc.org.

III. Cookie Policy

Effective Date:  07. 02 .2026

This Cookie Policy explains how ACER uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on acerinc.org and how you can manage your preferences.

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They help the site remember information about your visit — such as your preferences or session — to improve your experience on future visits.

2. Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies: Required for the site to function. These cannot be disabled. Examples include session cookies that keep you logged in or remember form data.

Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our site (e.g., pages visited, time spent). We may use tools like Google Analytics. Data is aggregated and anonymized.

Functionality Cookies: Remember your preferences (e.g., language or region) to personalize your experience.

Marketing/Third-Party Cookies: May be set by third-party platforms (e.g., social media widgets, donation platforms) embedded on our site. We do not control these cookies.

3. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our site. Most browsers allow you to:

  • View cookies currently stored on your device
  • Block or delete cookies from specific or all sites
  • Set preferences for cookie acceptance before they are placed

For guidance on managing cookies by browser, visit your browser’s help documentation.

4. Third-Party Analytics

We may use Google Analytics to analyze site traffic. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect information about site usage. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

5. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy as our practices or applicable law change. Updates will be posted on this page.

6. Contact

Questions? Email us at info@acerinc.org.

IV. Accessibility Statement

Effective Date:  07. 02 .2026

ACER is committed to ensuring that acerinc.org is accessible to all people, including individuals with disabilities. Accessibility is central to our mission of advancing equity and opportunity for all communities.

1. Our Commitment

We strive to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities.

2. Measures We Take

  • Regular review of our site against WCAG 2.1 AA standards
  • Use of descriptive alt text for images
  • Ensuring sufficient color contrast for readability
  • Keyboard-navigable menus and interactive elements
  • Descriptive link text and headings for screen reader compatibility
  • Responsive design for mobile and tablet devices

3. Feedback and Assistance

If you experience any difficulty accessing content on acerinc.org or would like to request information in an alternative format, please contact us:

Email: info@acerinc.org

Phone: 763-657-7711

We aim to respond to accessibility feedback within 5 business days and will make every reasonable effort to provide the information or service you need in an accessible format.

4. Formal Complaints

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division or file a complaint under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

V. Donor Disclosure & Charitable Solicitation Statement

Effective Date:  07. 02 .2026

African Career, Education & Resource, Inc. (ACER) is a nonprofit organization committed to transparency with our donors and the communities we serve.

1. Tax-Exempt Status

ACER is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization registered with the Internal Revenue Service. Contributions to ACER are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Our federal tax identification (EIN) number is: 47-1207676.

2. Minnesota Charitable Registration

ACER is registered to solicit charitable contributions in the State of Minnesota. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the State. A copy of ACER’s most recent annual report is available upon request or on file with:

Minnesota Attorney General’s Office

Charities Division

445 Minnesota Street, Suite 1200

St. Paul, MN 55101

www.ag.state.mn.us

3. Use of Donations

Donations to ACER support our programs in economic development, housing justice, health equity, civic engagement, and leadership development. ACER does not provide goods or services in exchange for donations unless explicitly stated in connection with a specific fundraising event or benefit.

4. Donor Rights

ACER is committed to the Donor Bill of Rights. You have the right to:

  • Be informed of ACER’s mission and how donations will be used
  • Receive an acknowledgment and receipt for your gift
  • Be assured your gift will be used for the purposes for which it was given
  • Have your name removed from mailing lists upon request
  • Ask questions and receive prompt, honest answers
  • Be treated with respect and dignity

5. Refund Policy

Donations are generally non-refundable. If you believe a donation was made in error, please contact us within 30 days at info@acerinc.org or 763-657-7711 and we will review your request on a case-by-case basis.

6. Financial Transparency

ACER’s financial information, including our Form 990, is publicly available through the IRS and platforms such as GuideStar/Candid. You may also request a copy of our most recent audited financial statements by contacting us directly.

7. Contact

For questions about your donation or our charitable status, contact us at info@acerinc.org or 763-657-7711.

VI. Non-Discrimination Policy

Effective Date:  07. 02 .2026

ACER is deeply committed to the principles of equity, inclusion, and justice. We believe that all people deserve equal access to opportunity, resources, and services — regardless of who they are or where they come from.

1. Our Commitment

ACER does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, socioeconomic status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law in the administration of its programs, services, employment practices, or activities.

2. Program Access

All ACER programs and services are open to eligible participants without discrimination. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to ensure full and equal participation for individuals with disabilities. To request an accommodation, contact us at info@acerinc.org.

3. Employment

ACER is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions — including hiring, compensation, promotion, and termination — are made without regard to any protected characteristic. We actively seek a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.

4. Reporting Discrimination

If you believe you have experienced discrimination in connection with an ACER program, service, or employment matter, please contact us:

Email: info@acerinc.org

Phone: 763-657-7711

Mail: 6096 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430

Complaints will be reviewed promptly and confidentially. ACER prohibits retaliation against any person who files a good-faith complaint or participates in an investigation.

5. Federal and State Compliance

This policy is consistent with applicable requirements under:

  • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • The Age Discrimination Act of 1975
  • The Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA)
  • All other applicable federal and state civil rights laws

6. Contact

For questions about this policy, contact us at info@acerinc.org or 763-657-7711.