SIGNATURE OF HOPE TRUST

Privacy Policy

In accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), Act 4 of 2013

Last updated: May 2026

Your privacy matters to us. The Signature of Hope Trust is committed to protecting your personal information and processing it lawfully, transparently, and with care. This policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your data, and sets out your rights under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

 

1. Who We Are

The Signature of Hope Trust (“we”, “us”, or “our”) is a registered non-profit, public benefit organisation and approved Section 18A trust operating in South Africa. We are the philanthropic arm of the Carrick Group of Companies, and our mission is to empower people, build communities, and create sustainable change across Southern Africa.

 

As the responsible party for the personal information we collect, we are accountable for ensuring that all data is handled in compliance with POPIA.

 

Contact details for privacy-related queries:

Signature of Hope Trust

Website: www.signatureofhope.org

Email: info@signatureofhope.org

 

2. What Personal Information We Collect

We collect personal information that you provide to us voluntarily, or that we gather through your interaction with our website and services. This may include:

 

2.1 Information you provide directly

• Your name, email address, phone number, and postal address
• Financial information necessary to process donations, including banking details for debit order mandates
• Information submitted through contact forms, event registrations, or survey responses
• Information provided when volunteering, applying for a grant, or entering into a partnership with us

 

2.2 Information collected through your use of our website

• Technical data such as your IP address, browser type, and device information
• Browsing behaviour on our website, including pages visited and time spent
• Cookie data, subject to your consent (see Section 8 on Cookies)

 

2.3 Information from third parties or public sources

• Information you have made publicly available, such as on social media platforms
• Information received from payment processors or fundraising platforms when you make a donation

 

3. Why We Collect Your Information

We collect and process your personal information only for lawful, specific purposes. These include:

 

• To communicate with you about our projects, campaigns, and fundraising initiatives
• To process donations, issue Section 18A tax certificates, and fulfil any related administrative obligations
• To respond to enquiries, feedback, or support requests
• To manage volunteer, partner, or beneficiary relationships
• To send you updates, newsletters, and event invitations where you have consented to receive these
• To improve our website and digital communications through analytics
• To comply with our legal obligations under South African law

 

We will never collect more information than is necessary for these purposes, and we will not use your information for any purpose that is incompatible with the reason it was originally collected.

 

4. Children’s Personal Information

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 18 unless it has been provided by a parent or legal guardian with explicit consent. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has submitted personal information to us without your knowledge, please contact us immediately at info@signatureofhope.org.

 

If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 18 without appropriate parental consent, we will promptly delete that information from our records.

 

5. How We Share Your Information

We treat your personal information with strict confidence. We do not sell, rent, or trade your information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

 

• With employees, trustees, or contractors who require access to fulfil their responsibilities on our behalf. All such persons are bound by confidentiality agreements and may only process your information in accordance with our instructions.
• With trusted third-party service providers, such as payment processors, email marketing platforms, or website hosting providers, who assist us in operating our services. These providers are carefully selected and contractually required to protect your information.
• With partner organisations where you have given explicit consent for us to share your details in connection with a specific project or campaign.
• Where required by law, regulation, or a court order, or where disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, safety, or property of the Trust, our staff, donors, or the public.

 

6. How We Protect Your Information

We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to safeguard it. These include:

 

• Secure, encrypted storage of personal data
• Restricted access to personal information, limited to those with a legitimate need
• Regular review of our data handling procedures and security controls
• Confidentiality obligations for all staff and contractors with access to personal data

 

In the event that we become aware of any unauthorised access, disclosure, loss, or misuse of your personal information, we will notify you and the Information Regulator as required by POPIA, without undue delay.

 

While we take all reasonable precautions, no method of electronic storage or transmission is entirely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and you provide your information at your own risk. We will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from a security breach that occurs despite our reasonable safeguards being in place.

 

7. How Long We Keep Your Information

We retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. When your information is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymise it.

 

Donation records, including banking information and tax certificate data, are retained for a minimum of five years in accordance with South African tax and financial legislation.

 

8. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience and help us understand how visitors use our site. Cookies are small text files stored on your device.

 

We use cookies for the following purposes:

• Essential cookies: required for the website to function correctly and cannot be disabled.
• Analytics cookies: help us understand how visitors navigate our site, which pages are most visited, and where users come from. This data is aggregated and anonymised.
• Preference cookies: remember your settings and choices to personalise your experience.

 

When you first visit our website, you will be asked to consent to non-essential cookies. You may withdraw your consent or manage your cookie preferences at any time through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain parts of our website.

 

9. Your Rights Under POPIA

As a data subject under the Protection of Personal Information Act, you have the following rights:

 

• The right to be informed about how your personal information is collected and used.
• The right to access the personal information we hold about you.
• The right to request correction of inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated information.
• The right to request the deletion of your personal information, subject to our legal retention obligations.
• The right to object to the processing of your personal information, including for direct marketing purposes.
• The right to withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on your consent.
• The right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe your rights have been infringed.

 

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@signatureofhope.org. We will respond to your request within a reasonable time, and in any event within 30 days.

 

Information Regulator of South Africa:

Website: www.justice.gov.za/inforeg

Email: inforeg@justice.gov.za

 

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, social media platforms, or fundraising pages. This Privacy Policy applies only to the Signature of Hope Trust website and our own data processing activities. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of any third-party sites and encourage you to read their privacy policies before submitting any personal information.

 

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or the services we offer. The most current version will always be available on our website at www.signatureofhope.org/privacy-policy, with the effective date noted at the top of the page.

 

Where changes are material, we will notify donors and subscribers by email or by a prominent notice on our website.

 

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy or the way we handle your personal information, please contact us:

 

Signature of Hope Trust

Email: info@signatureofhope.org

Website: www.signatureofhope.org

We are committed to resolving any concerns promptly and transparently.

Signature of Hope Trust is a registered non-profit organisation and approved Section 18A public benefit organisation operating in South Africa.