Effective Date: October 11, 2026 | Last Updated: October 11, 2026

Semper K9 Assistance Dogs (“Semper K9,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Virginia that trains and places assistance dogs with veterans and others who need them. Whether you are a donor, a volunteer, a puppy raiser, a service dog applicant, or simply visiting our website, you trust us with information about yourself. We take that trust seriously, and we want you to know exactly what we collect, why we collect it, and the choices you have.

This Privacy Policy applies to information we collect through our website, www.semperk9.org, the donation, event, and application forms we link to from it, our online store, our emails and text messages, and the information you share with us in person, by phone, or by mail.

The Short Version

  • We never sell, rent, trade, or share our donor, supporter, or applicant lists with other organizations for their own marketing or fundraising.
  • Service dog application information (including veteran, health, and disability information) is kept confidential and can be seen only by our veteran review committee.
  • We use trusted service providers to process donations, run events, send email, host forms, and run our website. They may use your information only to provide services to us.
  • Our website uses cookies, analytics, and a visitor identification tool, and may use advertising pixels. You can manage your cookie choices through our cookie banner or cookie settings and your browser settings, and you can opt out of visitor identification at any time.
  • You can ask us to see, correct, or delete your information, or stop contacting you, by emailing info@semperk9.org.

Our Donor Privacy Pledge

Semper K9 exists because of the generosity of people who believe in our mission. We honor the principles of the Donor Bill of Rights, including your right to have your information handled with respect and confidentiality. We promise that:

  • We will not sell, rent, trade, or exchange your name, contact information, or giving history with any other organization or business.
  • We will not send mailings on behalf of other organizations to our donor list.
  • We will share donor information only with service providers who help us process and acknowledge your gift, or when required by law.
  • You may give anonymously, and we will honor your request not to be publicly recognized.
  • You may ask at any time to be removed from our mailing, email, phone, or text lists.

Information We Collect

Information you give us

We collect information you choose to provide when you:

  • Make a donation, set up a recurring gift, or give in honor or memory of someone
  • Register for or attend an event, or create a peer-to-peer fundraising page
  • Apply for a service dog
  • Apply to volunteer, become a puppy raiser, or offer a puppy donation
  • Subscribe to our newsletter or agree to receive text messages
  • Shop at our online store, semperk9.shop
  • Contact us through a website form, our chat assistant, email, phone, mail, or social media

Depending on how you interact with us, this may include your name, mailing address, email address, phone number, donation amount and history, the name of a person you are honoring, event registration details, employer or matching-gift information, information about you as a volunteer or puppy raiser (such as availability, experience, and references), information about a puppy or litter you offer to donate, and anything else you choose to tell us. Service dog applications may also include sensitive information, described in the next section.

Information collected automatically

When you visit our website, we and our service providers automatically collect certain technical information, such as your IP address, browser and device type, general location (such as city or state), pages you visit, links you click, how you arrived at our site, and the date and time of your visit. This is collected through cookies and similar technologies, described in the “Cookies, Analytics, and Visitor Identification” section below.

Information from other sources

We may receive information about you from:

  • Our donation, event, and store platforms when you give, register, or purchase
  • Visitor identification technology, which may match your website visit to publicly or commercially available contact information (see below)
  • Friends or family who give in your honor or create a fundraising page that you donate to
  • Workplace giving and matching-gift programs, when you choose to share your information with us
  • Social media platforms, when you interact with our pages or posts
  • References or professionals you list on an application, when you authorize us to contact them

Service Dog Applicants: How We Protect Your Sensitive Information

When you apply for a service dog, we may ask about your military service, your health, your disability, and how a service dog could help you. Sharing this information takes courage, and we treat it with the highest level of care.

  • What we collect: the information requested on our application, which may include your contact information, details about your military service, information about your health or disability, how a service dog could help you, and anything else you choose to share with us.
  • Why we collect it: only to evaluate your eligibility, match you with the right dog, train and support you as a team, and meet any applicable legal or accreditation requirements.
  • Who sees it: only members of our veteran review committee can see service dog applications.
  • What we never do: we never sell this information, never use it for fundraising or marketing, and never share it outside Semper K9 without your permission, except where required by law or to protect someone’s life or safety.
  • Your story, your choice: we will never publish your name, photo, or story without your written consent, and you may withdraw that consent for future use at any time.
  • How it is stored: service dog applications are stored in Google Drive with secured access.

Semper K9 is not a health care provider. Even so, we hold applicant health and disability information to a high standard of confidentiality. If you are a veteran in crisis, please do not use our forms or chat for urgent help. Call 988 and press 1, or text 838255, to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to support our mission, including to:

  • Process donations, send receipts and tax acknowledgments, and thank you for your support
  • Review service dog, volunteer, and puppy donation applications and run our programs
  • Register you for events and coordinate volunteers
  • Fulfill orders from our online store
  • Answer your questions and requests
  • Send newsletters, updates, event invitations, and requests for support, based on your choices
  • Understand how our website is used so we can improve it and reach more people who need our help
  • Run online outreach and advertising, which may include Google Ads and advertising on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, to raise awareness of our services and mission
  • Keep accurate records and meet our legal, tax, audit, and reporting obligations
  • Protect the security of our website, our organization, and the people we serve

How We Share Information

We do not sell or rent your personal information. We share it only in these limited situations:

  • With service providers who help us operate. These companies process information on our behalf to provide services such as donation processing, donor management, event registration, email, forms, website hosting, and analytics. They are permitted to use your information only to provide those services to us.
  • With your permission, for example, when you ask us to notify a family that you made a gift in honor or memory of their loved one, or when you agree to let us share your story.
  • When required by law, such as to respond to a subpoena or court order, or when we believe in good faith that disclosure is needed to protect someone’s safety, prevent fraud, or protect the rights and property of Semper K9.
  • If Semper K9 ever merges with or transfers its assets to another nonprofit, in which case we would require the receiving organization to honor this policy.

We may share de-identified or summary information (for example, the number of veterans we served in a year) that does not identify any individual.

Our Service Providers and Platforms

These are the main outside platforms we use. Each has its own privacy policy, and we encourage you to review them.

  • Bloomerang: our donor and supporter database (CRM) and the platform we use to send our emails and newsletters.
  • Bloomerang / Qgiv: online donation and event forms (secure.qgiv.com and donate.semperk9.org).
  • Event registration and peer-to-peer fundraising platforms: we may use outside platforms from time to time to register participants and host fundraising pages for specific events and campaigns.
  • Shopify: our online store at semperk9.shop.
  • Jotform: online forms and our “Betty” AI chat assistant.
  • Cognito Forms: our website contact form, including the option to agree to receive text messages.
  • Nonprofit Megaphone / VisitorEmail: visitor identification.
  • Google: Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager, which help us understand how our website is used; Google Ads, which we may use to promote our mission; and Google Drive, where service dog applications are stored with secured access.
  • Meta (Facebook and Instagram): our social media pages and advertising, which may include advertising pixels such as the Meta Pixel.
  • YouTube and social media: embedded videos and social media feeds on our website.
  • Other service providers that help us host and maintain our website and run our day-to-day operations.

Cookies, Analytics, and Visitor Identification

Cookies are small files placed on your device when you visit a website. Our website uses cookies, analytics tools, and visitor identification technology provided by trusted third-party partners. These tools help us understand website traffic, improve our site, and connect with people who visit.

  • Essential cookies help our website and forms work properly and securely.
  • Analytics cookies, including Google Analytics, tell us how many people visit, which pages they view, and how they found us. To learn more or opt out, visit https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
  • Advertising cookies and pixels: our website may use advertising pixels and similar tools, such as the Meta Pixel and Google advertising tools, to measure the results of our ads and to show our ads to people who have previously visited our website. You can manage ad preferences in your Google and Facebook account settings, or opt out of many interest-based ads at https://optout.aboutads.info.

Visitor identification

For U.S.-based visitors, our visitor identification technology may match your visit to publicly or commercially available contact information, such as your name and email address. We may use this information to send you a limited number of emails about Semper K9’s programs, services for veterans, or ways to support our mission. Every email includes an unsubscribe link, and you can opt out at any time. We do not sell or rent your personal information.

To ask us not to collect or use your information this way, or to have it deleted, email info@semperk9.org.

Your cookie choices

You can manage your cookie choices through our cookie banner or cookie settings, and you can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. If you block all cookies, some parts of our website or donation forms may not work properly.

Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control

Some browsers offer a “Do Not Track” setting or send Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals. Because there is no common industry standard for responding to these signals, our website may not respond to them. Regardless of your browser settings, you can always manage your cookie choices through our cookie banner or cookie settings and your browser settings, and you can opt out of visitor identification by emailing us.

Online Donations and Payment Security

Online donations, event payments, and store purchases are processed by secure third-party payment platforms (including Bloomerang/Qgiv and Shopify) that are required to meet the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Payment information is encrypted when it is sent. Semper K9 does not store full credit card numbers on our servers. Our donation platforms may show us limited payment details, such as the card type and last four digits, so we can help with receipts and recurring gifts.

If you prefer not to give online, you are always welcome to mail a check to Semper K9 Assistance Dogs, PO Box 451, Quantico, VA 22134, or call us at (571) 494-5144.

Giving Anonymously and Donor Recognition

We love to thank our supporters, and from time to time we may recognize donors by name in our materials or at events. If you would like to give anonymously, you can choose to give anonymously on our Qgiv donation form or tell us at info@semperk9.org, and we will not publish your name. We will still keep a confidential record of your gift so we can send your tax receipt and meet our legal obligations.

If you give in honor or memory of someone, we may let the honoree or their family know about your gift. If you would prefer that we not share certain details, such as the amount of your gift, please let us know when you give or email info@semperk9.org.

Emails, Mail, Phone, and Text Messages

If you give to us, register for an event, or sign up for our updates, we may send you newsletters, event invitations, impact stories, and requests for support. Every marketing email includes an unsubscribe link, and we honor unsubscribe requests promptly. Our emails include our mailing address, and we follow the federal CAN-SPAM Act. Even if you unsubscribe from marketing, we may still send you messages about a donation, application, order, or event you are involved in.

To stop receiving mailed appeals or phone calls, contact us at info@semperk9.org or (571) 494-5144.

Text messages

If you give us your mobile number and agree to receive text messages, we may text you about our programs, events, and ways to help. Message frequency varies, and message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP at any time to opt out, or HELP for help. Consent to receive texts is not a condition of donating or receiving services.

We will not share your mobile phone number or text message consent with any third parties or affiliates for their marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging opt-in data and consent will not be shared with anyone, except the service providers who help us deliver our messages.

Our Chat Assistant (“Betty”)

Our website includes a chat assistant named Betty, powered by artificial intelligence and provided by Jotform. Betty is an automated assistant, not a person. It can answer common questions and point you to the right resources, but it can make mistakes, so please confirm important details with our team.

  • What you type into the chat is collected and processed by Jotform and its technology providers so that Betty can respond, and it may be stored and reviewed by Semper K9 staff to follow up and improve our answers. Chat transcripts are kept as described in “How Long We Keep Information” below.
  • Please do not share medical, financial, or other sensitive personal information in the chat. If you want to apply for a service dog, please use our official application.
  • Betty cannot help in an emergency. If you or a veteran you know is in crisis, call 988 and press 1, or text 838255.

Photos, Video, and Events

We often take photos and videos at our events, training sessions, and graduations to share our mission. When you attend a public Semper K9 event, you may appear in photos or video that we use on our website, social media, newsletters, or other materials. If you would prefer not to be photographed, please tell a staff member at the event or email us, and we will do our best to honor your request and remove existing images when we can.

We ask for permission before featuring service dog clients, their families, or children by name or in a personal story.

Social Media and Embedded Content

Our website includes content from other platforms, such as YouTube videos and Facebook and Instagram feeds. These platforms may set their own cookies or collect information about you when you view or interact with that content, even if you do not click on it. When you interact with us on social media, the platform’s own privacy policy applies, and anything you post publicly can be seen by others. Please do not share sensitive information in public comments or posts.

Links to Other Websites

Our website links to other websites, including our donation, event, and store platforms, partner organizations, and resources for veterans. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of websites we do not control, and we encourage you to read their privacy policies.

Children’s Privacy

Our website is meant for adults and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information online from children under 13. If you believe a child has given us personal information, please email info@semperk9.org and we will delete it. We expect minors who take part in Semper K9 activities, such as events or volunteering, to do so with the involvement and consent of a parent or guardian.

How Long We Keep Information

We keep personal information only as long as we reasonably need it for the purposes described in this policy, including to run our programs and to meet our legal, tax, audit, and accounting obligations, or as long as the law requires. How long we keep information depends on the type of information and why we have it. When information is no longer needed, we delete it, securely destroy it, or remove details that identify you.

How We Protect Your Information

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information, including secure, encrypted connections on our website and forms, password-protected systems, and limiting access to people who need it. No website or system is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security, but we work hard to protect your information. If we learn of a security incident that affects your personal information, we will notify you as required by law.

Your Choices and Rights

You are in control of your information. You can ask us to:

  • Tell you what personal information we have about you and give you a copy
  • Correct or update information that is wrong or out of date
  • Delete your personal information, except what we must keep for legal, tax, or audit reasons
  • Stop sending you emails, mail, phone calls, or text messages
  • Stop using visitor identification for you
  • Keep your gifts anonymous

To make a request, email info@semperk9.org, call (571) 494-5144, or write to us at PO Box 451, Quantico, VA 22134. To protect your privacy, we may need to verify your identity before acting on a request. We will respond within a reasonable time and as required by applicable law, and we will not treat you differently for exercising your choices.

State Privacy Rights

Several U.S. states have consumer privacy laws. Some, such as Virginia’s Consumer Data Protection Act, do not apply to nonprofit organizations. Others, such as those in Colorado and Oregon, can apply to nonprofits that meet certain thresholds. Whether or not a particular law applies to us, we want every supporter to have the same basic rights, which is why we offer the choices above to everyone. If you live in a state that gives you additional rights, including the right to appeal our decision on your request, contact us at info@semperk9.org and we will respond as that law requires.

California residents: we do not share personal information with third parties for their own direct marketing purposes.

Accessibility

We want this policy and our website to be accessible to everyone. If you have trouble reading this policy or using any part of our website, or would like this policy in another format, please contact us at info@semperk9.org or (571) 494-5144 and we will be glad to help.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time as our programs, tools, or the law change. When we do, we will post the updated policy on this page and change the “Last Updated” date at the top. If we make a significant change in how we use your personal information, we may also provide additional notice, such as a notice on our website or by email.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this policy or how we handle your information, or would like to make a privacy request, we would love to hear from you.

  • Semper K9 Assistance Dogs
  • PO Box 451, Quantico, VA 22134 (mailing address for privacy requests)
  • Email: info@semperk9.org
  • Phone: (571) 494-5144
  • Website: www.semperk9.org

Semper K9 Assistance Dogs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN 47-2671624.