Privacy Policy

a. Information you provide. When you contact us, submit a tip, ask a question, request information, or sign up for updates, we may collect your name, email address, postal address, telephone number, and the contents of your message — along with any other information you choose to provide.

b. Text messaging and calling opt-in data. If you provide a telephone number and consent to receive calls or text messages from us, we collect your phone number and the related data needed to deliver those communications and to maintain a record of your consent.

c. Email opt-in data. If you opt in to our newsletters and research reports, we collect your email address and your subscription preferences.

d. Information collected automatically. When you visit the Site, we may automatically collect limited technical information about your device, browser, and usage — such as IP address, pages viewed, and similar analytics data, including through cookies and comparable technologies.

We use the information we collect to respond to your inquiries, tips, and correction requests and route them to the appropriate Institute staff; to send you updates, newsletters, research reports, and other communications you have requested; to operate, maintain, analyze, and improve the Site and our research; and to comply with the law and protect our rights. We use telephone and text-messaging opt-in data only to communicate with you about the Institute’s work, as described below.

If you provide your telephone number and opt in, you may receive calls and text messages from LGAI. By providing your telephone number, you consent to receive calls and text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. Messaging may include requests for donation. Reply STOP to opt out at any time, and reply HELP for help.

Your opt-in is never shared. Text messaging opt-in data, consent and related collected personal information will not be shared with or sold to any third parties, unless required by law.

No sharing of mobile information for marketing. Mobile information — including your telephone number and SMS consent — will not be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. We may share mobile information only with the vendors that help us operate the messaging program (for example, our text-messaging platform provider), solely so that they can deliver the service on our behalf, and only as permitted or required by law.

You can stop receiving text messages at any time by replying STOP. You may continue to receive a single confirmation message acknowledging your opt-out.

If you opt in to email updates, you may unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email or by contacting us. We never sell or share your email address, and we use it only to send the communications you requested and to operate our email program through our email service providers.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We do not share it with candidates, campaigns, political parties, or government. We may disclose information only: (a) to service providers who perform functions on our behalf (such as hosting, analytics, email, and text-messaging vendors) and who are bound to protect it; (b) when required by law, subpoena, or court order; or (c) to protect the rights, safety, or property of LGAI or others. Text-messaging opt-in data is treated as described in Section 3.

We use reasonable, industry-standard measures to protect your information. No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, however, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

The Site may link to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for their privacy practices or content, and we encourage you to review their policies when visiting them.

The Site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected such information without parental consent, we will delete it.

Text messages: reply STOP to opt out at any time, or HELP for help. Email: use the unsubscribe link in any email, or contact us. Access or deletion: contact us to request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information, subject to applicable law.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes are effective when the revised policy is posted on the Site, and we encourage you to review this page periodically for the latest information on our privacy practices.

Questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices? All correspondence is received through our contact form at /contact, and by mail: Local Government Accountability Institute, 1250 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 700 PMB 5459, Washington, DC 20036. Phone: 202-349-3720 (main).