Privacy Policy

Education and Life Foundation (hereinafter referred to as "ELF", "the Foundation", "we", "us", or "our") is a registered nonprofit charitable organisation based in Lahore, Pakistan.

ELF is committed to protecting the privacy, dignity, security and confidentiality of individuals who interact with our organisation, including beneficiaries, children, families, donors, supporters, volunteers, employees, partners and website visitors.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, protect, disclose and manage personal information in connection with our website, charitable activities and organisational operations.

We aim to handle personal information responsibly and in accordance with applicable laws and recognised privacy principles.

This policy applies to personal information processed by ELF through:

• Our official website and online enquiry forms.

• Donations, grants, sponsorships and fundraising activities.

• Educational, healthcare, humanitarian and community development programmes.

• Beneficiary registrations, assessments and monitoring.

• Communications with donors, partner organisations and government authorities.

• Volunteer, employment, training and partnership applications.

• Meetings, correspondence, events, photographs, videos and project reporting.

This policy applies to our relevant activities in Pakistan and, where applicable, our international communications and representation.

Depending on the purpose of an interaction, ELF may collect the following categories of information:

• Personal and contact information: Names, email addresses, telephone numbers, mailing addresses, professional affiliations and correspondence.

• Donation and financial information: Donation amounts, transaction references, payment confirmations, donor preferences, information necessary for issuing receipts and records required for financial accountability.

• Programme and beneficiary information: Information reasonably necessary to assess eligibility, deliver charitable assistance, monitor outcomes and satisfy legitimate reporting obligations.

• Sensitive information: Where genuinely necessary for programme delivery, information concerning health, disability, financial hardship, family circumstances, religious affiliation or other sensitive matters may be processed with appropriate safeguards and a valid legal basis.

• Images and media: Photographs, audio recordings, video recordings and testimonials collected during authorised Foundation activities.

• Website and technical information: IP addresses, browser information, device information, access logs and other technical data generated through use of our website or its service providers.

ELF seeks to collect only information reasonably necessary for specified and legitimate purposes.

We may process personal information to:

• Deliver charitable, educational, medical and humanitarian assistance.

• Evaluate programme eligibility and beneficiary needs.

• Communicate with donors, beneficiaries, volunteers and partner organisations.

• Process and acknowledge donations, grants and sponsorships.

• Prepare financial statements, grant reports and programme evaluations.

• Organise meetings, applications, volunteer activities and institutional partnerships.

• Maintain safeguarding procedures and protect vulnerable individuals.

• Improve our website, services and organisational effectiveness.

• Detect, investigate and prevent fraud, misuse, security incidents and unlawful activity.

• Comply with legal, regulatory, contractual and legitimate audit requirements.

Where applicable privacy law requires a lawful basis for processing, ELF will rely on an appropriate basis, such as consent, fulfilment of an agreement, compliance with a legal obligation, legitimate interests or another legally permitted ground.

Sensitive personal information will receive additional protection where required by law.

ELF recognises that certain beneficiaries, including children, widows, individuals experiencing poverty, vulnerable families and people receiving healthcare or humanitarian assistance, may face increased risks if their information is improperly disclosed.

Accordingly:

• Personal beneficiary records will be available only to authorised individuals with a legitimate need for access.

• Sensitive case information will not be publicly disclosed without an appropriate legal justification or valid authorisation.

• Where practicable, public reports will use anonymised or aggregated information.

• We will exercise additional caution when sharing information that could expose an individual to discrimination, exploitation, retaliation or other harm.

• Partners receiving confidential beneficiary information must respect appropriate confidentiality and security requirements.

• Access to charitable assistance will not be made conditional on consent to publicity or promotional photography.

The safety, dignity and privacy of children are priorities for ELF.

We seek to apply additional safeguards when collecting, processing or publishing information relating to minors.

For identifiable photographs, videos, interviews or testimonials involving children, ELF will obtain appropriate permission from a parent or lawful guardian and, where appropriate, the child's assent, unless another lawful basis clearly permits the relevant use.

Before publication, ELF will consider whether disclosure could expose a child to harm.

We will avoid publishing unnecessarily identifying information about children, particularly when they are receiving assistance due to poverty, disability, family difficulties or other vulnerable circumstances.

ELF does not knowingly solicit personal information directly from children through its general website contact facilities without appropriate authorisation.

Requests concerning the privacy of children may be directed to the Foundation using the contact details in this policy.

ELF respects the confidentiality of its donors, contributors and institutional supporters.

Donor information will be used for legitimate purposes connected with donation administration, recordkeeping, donor communications, financial accountability and related activities.

ELF will not sell or rent donor personal information to commercial marketing organisations.

Information concerning donations may be disclosed to banks, financial institutions, auditors, regulatory bodies and authorised service providers where reasonably necessary or legally required.

Requests for donor anonymity will be respected wherever reasonably practicable and consistent with applicable financial reporting, anti-money-laundering and other legal obligations.

Public donor recognition will be undertaken with appropriate authorisation.

Donors should avoid sending unnecessary financial identifiers or other sensitive information through ordinary email, messaging platforms or unsecured communications.

ELF may document its charitable activities through photographs, videos, interviews and written testimonies for legitimate programme reporting, accountability, awareness and fundraising purposes.

When individuals are identifiable, ELF will establish an appropriate legal basis and obtain necessary permissions before publication.

Particular care will be taken with images and personal stories involving children, patients and vulnerable beneficiaries.

The Foundation may decline to publish, remove or anonymise material where doing so is appropriate to protect an individual's privacy, safety or dignity.

Individuals may contact ELF to raise concerns about identifiable material or request its removal. Such requests will be considered in accordance with applicable law, relevant permissions, safeguarding considerations and other legitimate obligations.

Photographs, videos, written materials and other original content published by ELF may be protected by applicable copyright and other laws. Permission may be required for their reproduction or use beyond applicable legal exceptions.

ELF may share personal information only where reasonably necessary and legally appropriate, including with:

• Authorised programme delivery partners.

• Schools, hospitals and other relevant service providers.

• Banks and financial institutions involved in donation processing.

• Auditors, legal advisers and professional consultants subject to suitable confidentiality obligations.

• Website hosting, communication and administrative service providers.

• Government, regulatory or law-enforcement authorities when disclosure is lawfully required or permitted.

Information-sharing arrangements will be proportionate to their purpose.

ELF will seek to ensure that external service providers handling personal information on its behalf maintain appropriate confidentiality and security protections.

We do not authorise unrelated third parties to use information supplied to ELF for their own unauthorised marketing or fundraising purposes.

ELF operates from Pakistan and maintains international communications and representative relationships.

Personal information may be accessed or transferred internationally where necessary for legitimate organisational activities, donations, partnerships, administration or reporting.

Where applicable laws impose restrictions on international transfers, ELF will take reasonable measures to ensure the transfer has a lawful basis and appropriate safeguards.

Different countries may have different data protection requirements. ELF will assess its obligations under relevant laws where those laws apply to its activities.

Our website may use essential technical functions, cookies or similar technologies necessary for website operation, security and functionality.

Where optional analytics, performance tracking, embedded third-party services or other non-essential technologies are implemented, ELF will provide information and obtain consent where required by applicable law.

Website visitors may be able to manage cookies through their browser settings or any consent controls provided on the website.

Our website may contain links to independent external websites, messaging services or third-party platforms.

Those services may operate under their own privacy policies and data-handling practices.

ELF is not responsible for the independent privacy practices or security measures of third-party services that it does not control, except to the extent responsibility is imposed by applicable law.

ELF recognises the importance of protecting information against unauthorised access, misuse, alteration, accidental loss and unlawful disclosure.

We seek to implement technical and organisational security measures appropriate to the nature and sensitivity of the information involved.

These may include access restrictions, confidential handling procedures, secure recordkeeping, account protection, staff guidance and appropriate oversight of service providers.

No internet transmission, electronic storage system or security measure can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Accordingly, while ELF takes reasonable steps to protect information, it cannot promise absolute protection against every possible cyberattack, technical failure or other security incident.

This statement does not diminish any responsibility imposed on ELF by applicable law.

ELF will retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the relevant purposes, including programme administration, donor accountability, financial reporting, auditing, safeguarding, dispute handling and legal compliance.

The appropriate retention period will depend on the category of information, the purpose of its collection, applicable laws, contractual requirements and the need to preserve legitimate organisational records.

Where information is no longer required, ELF will seek to securely delete, destroy or anonymise it, subject to applicable legal and operational requirements.

Depending on the laws applicable to the individual and the processing activity, individuals may have rights to:

• Request information about personal data held by ELF.

• Request access to their personal information.

• Request correction of inaccurate information.

• Request deletion or restriction of information in appropriate circumstances.

• Withdraw consent where consent is the legal basis for processing.

• Object to certain uses of their information.

• Opt out of optional fundraising or promotional communications.

• Submit a complaint to an appropriate supervisory authority.

These rights may be subject to lawful limitations, including financial recordkeeping, safeguarding, legal obligations, confidentiality owed to others and the preservation of information required for legitimate legal proceedings.

ELF may request reasonable identity verification before responding to a request involving personal information.

Requests can be submitted to info@educationandlifefoundation.org.

ELF is committed to addressing privacy concerns fairly, professionally and in good faith.

Individuals who believe their personal information has been mishandled are encouraged to contact the Foundation so their concerns can be examined and, where appropriate, resolved.

ELF may request sufficient details to identify the relevant matter and conduct an appropriate review.

Where a concern is substantiated, ELF will consider proportionate corrective action, taking account of legal obligations and the rights of affected individuals.

The Foundation may maintain confidential records of complaints and their resolution for accountability and legitimate legal purposes.

Nothing in this section prevents any individual from exercising a legal right, contacting a competent regulator or pursuing an available legal remedy.

If ELF becomes aware of a suspected or confirmed breach of personal information, it will assess the nature and consequences of the incident and take reasonable steps to contain the issue, investigate it and reduce further risks.

Where applicable laws require notification to affected individuals, competent authorities or other parties, ELF will comply with those requirements.

ELF may engage qualified technical, legal or other professional advisers when responding to significant security incidents.

ELF endeavours to maintain accurate and reliable information about its charitable programmes, activities and organisational operations.

However, website information may occasionally be incomplete, outdated or affected by technical or administrative errors.

Information presented on the website is provided for general informational purposes and should not automatically be interpreted as a contractual guarantee, professional medical advice or a binding commitment to provide a particular charitable benefit.

Programme availability, eligibility and delivery may depend on funding, resources, local circumstances, partner arrangements and other relevant factors.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, ELF does not accept responsibility for losses arising solely from matters beyond its reasonable control where no legal responsibility is otherwise established.

Nothing in this policy excludes or restricts liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, including any mandatory responsibility arising from unlawful processing of personal information.

ELF reserves the right to review and update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in law, technology, organisational practices, programme activities or relevant operational circumstances.

The current version will be published on the Foundation's official website with its effective date.

Where a change materially affects the handling of personal information, additional notice or consent will be provided when required by applicable law.

This Privacy Policy is intended to operate consistently with the applicable laws of Pakistan and any mandatory privacy or data protection laws that apply to particular activities or individuals in other jurisdictions.

Nothing in this policy is intended to override mandatory legal protections, restrict the jurisdiction of a competent regulatory authority or remove rights that cannot lawfully be waived.

For questions, concerns or requests relating to this Privacy Policy or the handling of personal information, please contact:

Education and Life Foundation (ELF)

Office: 181 Raza Block, Allama Iqbal Town, Lahore, Pakistan

Email: info@educationandlifefoundation.org

Phone: +92 300 9475513

Website: www.educationandlifefoundation.org

© 2026 Education and Life Foundation. All rights reserved.