Cookie Policy
Last Updated: July 25, 2026
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners. Cookies can be "persistent" or "session" cookies. Persistent cookies remain on your device after you close your browser, while session cookies are deleted when you close your browser.
How We Use Cookies
When you visit our website, we use cookies to:
- Remember your cookie consent preferences
- Understand how you use our website (see section 3.2 for when your permission is required)
- Analyze website traffic and user behavior (see section 3.2)
- Improve our website and user experience
Types of Cookies We Use
3.1 Necessary Cookies (Always Active)
These cookies are essential for the website to function properly. They enable basic features like storing your cookie consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information and cannot be disabled.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| cookie-consent | Stores your cookie preferences | 12 months |
3.2 Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. We use this information to improve our website and user experience.
When we ask permission first
If you are in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, Google Analytics sets no cookies and collects no identifiers until you accept. It still counts your visit in an aggregate, cookie-free way so we know how many people used the site — that measurement cannot be tied back to you or to your next visit.
Everywhere else, Google Analytics cookies are set from your first visit. You can turn them off at any time using the cookie settings link in our footer, and we will delete the cookies listed below when you do.
Microsoft Clarity is different. It records how visitors move through pages, so it runs only if you explicitly accept analytics cookies — everywhere in the world, not just in Europe. Declining, or simply not answering the banner, keeps it off.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. We use Google Analytics to understand how users interact with our website.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Distinguishes unique users | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Maintains session state | 2 years |
| _gid | Distinguishes users | 24 hours |
Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
Microsoft Clarity
Microsoft Clarity is a user behavior analytics tool that helps us understand how users interact with our website through session recordings and heatmaps.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _clck | Persists Clarity User ID | 1 year |
| _clsk | Session cookie | 1 day |
Privacy Policy: https://privacy.microsoft.com/privacystatement
3.3 Marketing Cookies (Requires Consent)
These cookies are used to track visitors across websites. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for users and thereby more valuable for publishers and advertisers.
Meta Pixel (Facebook Pixel)
The Meta Pixel is an analytics tool that helps us measure the effectiveness of advertising by understanding the actions people take on our website.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _fbp | Tracks user behavior for advertising | 3 months |
| fr | Enables ad delivery and targeting | 3 months |
Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/
3.4 Functional Cookies
These support features you actively use. They are not used to build a profile of you or for advertising, and because removing them would break the feature itself, they are not covered by the analytics and marketing choices above.
Tawk.to (Live Chat)
Powers the chat widget. Its cookies keep a conversation attached to you as you move between pages, so you do not lose your place mid-conversation.
Privacy Policy: https://www.tawk.to/privacy-policy/
Zeffy (Donation Forms)
Every donation form on this site is operated by Zeffy, either embedded in the page or opened on their website. Zeffy sets its own cookies when a form loads; these are required for a donation to complete. What you enter into a donation form goes to Zeffy, and their privacy policy governs it.
We ask Zeffy to count donation-form page views in our own Google Analytics, so we can see how many people reach a form and where they came from. That measurement covers page views and referral sources only — we do not receive donation amounts, payment details, or donor identities through analytics.
Legal & Privacy: https://support.zeffy.com/legal-data-privacy-security
How to Manage Cookies
You have several options for managing cookies:
4.1 Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit our website, you'll see a cookie consent banner. You can:
- Accept All: Allow all cookies including analytics and marketing
- Decline All: We delete the analytics and marketing cookies listed above, stop Microsoft Clarity, and set no further ones. Google Analytics keeps counting your visit in an aggregate, cookie-free way that cannot identify you or recognize you on a return visit — see section 3.2.
- Customize: Choose which types of cookies you want to allow
You do not have to answer the banner. If you ignore it, the rules in section 3.2 apply: in Europe and the UK nothing is stored until you say yes, and Microsoft Clarity stays off wherever you are.
4.2 Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically:
- View what cookies are stored and delete them individually
- Block third-party cookies
- Block all cookies from specific websites
- Block all cookies from being set
- Delete all cookies when you close your browser
Please note that if you block all cookies, you may not be able to use all features of our website.
4.3 Opt-Out Links
You can opt out of specific third-party cookies:
- Google Analytics: Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
- Meta (Facebook): Facebook Ad Settings
Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers have a "Do Not Track" feature that lets you tell websites that you do not want to have your online activities tracked. At this time, we do not respond to browser "Do Not Track" signals. However, you can control cookies through our cookie consent banner.
Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Please review this policy periodically for changes.
Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:
- Email: privacy@freeforcharity.org
- Emergency Contact: Clarke Moyer
- Phone: 520-222-8104
More Information
For more information about how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.