PRIVACY POLICY

Kidney Nutrition Institute

Last Updated: March 10, 2025

This Privacy Policy describes how the Kidney Nutrition Institute ("KNI", "we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, and discloses your personal information when you visit our website or use our services. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you understand how your information is handled.

1. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

Information You Provide to Us

We may collect the following types of information when you provide it to us directly:

Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address
Account Information: Username, password, and profile information
Health Information: Information about your kidney health, dietary needs, and medical history that you choose to share with us
Payment Information: Credit card details, billing address, and other financial information (processed through secure third-party payment processors)
Communications: Information you provide when contacting us or participating in surveys, forums, or other interactive features

Information We Collect Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and usage, including:

Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers
Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, and other actions taken on our website
Cookies and Similar Technologies: Information collected through cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies (see our Cookie Policy section below)

2. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We may use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Provide and improve our services
Process transactions and manage your account
Communicate with you about our services, updates, and promotional offers
Respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
Personalize your experience and deliver relevant content
Analyze usage patterns to improve our website and services
Protect against fraud and unauthorized access
Comply with legal obligations

3. EMAIL COLLECTION AND COMMUNICATION POLICY

Email Collection

We collect email addresses when you:

Register for an account
Subscribe to our newsletter
Contact us through our website
Participate in surveys or promotions
Download resources or educational materials

Email Communications

By providing your email address, you consent to receive the following types of communications:

Transactional emails related to your account or services
Newsletters and educational content
Promotional offers and marketing communications
Service updates and announcements

You may opt out of receiving marketing emails at any time by:

Clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any marketing email
Updating your communication preferences in your account settings
Contacting us directly at support@knicare.org

Please note that even if you opt out of marketing communications, you will still receive transactional emails necessary for the administration of your account.

4. TEXT MESSAGING POLICY

Consent to Receive SMS/MMS Notifications

By providing your mobile number, you agree that Kidney Nutrition Institute may send you periodic SMS or MMS messages containing but not limited to important information, updates, deals, and specials. Message and data rates may apply. You will receive up to 4 messages per month. You may unsubscribe at any time by texting the word STOP to our texting number. You may receive a subsequent message confirming your opt-out request. Though Kidney Nutrition Institute will never charge you for the text messages you receive, depending on your phone plan, you may see some charges from your mobile provider. Please reach out to your wireless provider if you have questions about your text or data plan.

No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.

Text Message Collection and Consent

We may collect your mobile phone number when you:

Opt in to receive text message notifications
Register for text message alerts or reminders
Provide your phone number and explicitly consent to receive text messages

By providing your mobile phone number and consenting to receive text messages, you understand and agree that:

We may send you text messages regarding your account, services, appointments, reminders, and promotional offers
Standard message and data rates may apply as charged by your mobile carrier
Message frequency varies based on your interaction with our services
Text messages are not encrypted and may not be secure

Opting Out of Text Messages

You may opt out of receiving text messages at any time by:

Replying "STOP" to any text message you receive from us
Updating your communication preferences in your account settings
Contacting us directly at support@knicare.org

5. HOW WE SHARE YOUR INFORMATION

We may share your personal information with:

Service Providers

Third-party vendors who provide services on our behalf, such as payment processing, data analysis, email delivery, hosting services, and customer service.

Business Partners

With your consent, we may share information with business partners who offer complementary services that may be beneficial to you.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., court orders or government agencies).

Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

6. COOKIES AND SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing activities and to analyze website traffic. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device when you visit our website.

Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies: Necessary for the website to function properly
Functional Cookies: Enable personalized features and remember your preferences
Analytical Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website
Marketing Cookies: Track your browsing habits and deliver targeted advertising

Cookie Management

You can manage your cookie preferences by:

Adjusting your browser settings to refuse cookies
Using our cookie preference center (if available on our website)
Clearing cookies from your browser periodically

7. DATA SECURITY

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no internet transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee the security of information transmitted to or from our website.

8. DATA RETENTION

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

9. YOUR RIGHTS AND CHOICES

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

Access: Request access to the personal information we hold about you
Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information in certain circumstances
Restriction: Request restriction of processing of your personal information
Portability: Request the transfer of your personal information to another service provider
Objection: Object to processing of your personal information for certain purposes

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section below.

10. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

11. CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS

California residents may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and other California privacy laws. For more information about these rights, please refer to our California Privacy Notice (if applicable).

12. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS

If you are located outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other countries where our servers are located. By using our services, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may have different data protection rules than your country.

13. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated Privacy Policy on our website and updating the "Last Updated" date.

14. CONTACT US

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

Kidney Nutrition Institute
5155 Volusia Ave
Titusville, FL 32780
Email: support@knicare.org

15. OPT-OUT PROCEDURES

To opt out of:

Email communications: Click the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email or contact support@knicare.org

Text messages: Reply "STOP" to any text message or contact support@knicare.org

Targeted advertising: Adjust your cookie preferences or use the opt-out mechanisms provided by our advertising partners

Data sharing with third parties: Contact support@knicare.org with your specific request