Cookie Notice & Consent Policy
What cookies we use, why we use them, which third-party services may set cookies through our site, and how you can control your preferences.
Plain-Language Summary: We use a small number of cookies to keep our website working and to understand how visitors use it. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies. You can control cookies through your browser settings.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that a website places on your device — computer, tablet, or smartphone — when you visit. They help websites function properly, remember your preferences, and provide website owners with information about how their site is being used.
Cookies are not programs and cannot run software, install malware, or access files on your device. However, they can store information that is retrieved by the website that set them on your next visit.
Similar technologies include:
- Local storage / session storage: Browser-side storage that works like cookies but stores data locally on your device.
- Pixel tags / web beacons: Tiny invisible images embedded in pages or emails that signal when content has been loaded.
- Analytics scripts: JavaScript that collects aggregated usage data when a page loads.
This notice covers all of these technologies collectively.
How We Use Cookies
Access 2 Play uses cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
- To ensure our website functions correctly (e.g., keeping you on the right page, preventing form errors)
- To understand how visitors navigate our site so we can improve it
- To remember actions you've taken during a session (e.g., form field data)
- To measure the effectiveness of our content and programs
We do not use cookies to:
- Track you across other websites
- Serve personalized advertising
- Build a profile of your browsing behavior for commercial purposes
- Sell your data to any third party
Types of Cookies We Use
| Cookie Type | Purpose | Can Be Disabled? |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly Necessary | Required for the website to function. Examples: session management, security tokens, CSRF protection for form submissions. | No — disabling these breaks the site |
| Analytics / Performance | Help us understand aggregate visitor behavior — pages visited, time on site, traffic sources. Data is anonymized where possible. We may use Google Analytics or a similar tool. | Yes — via browser settings or opt-out tool |
| Functionality | Remember actions or preferences during or between sessions (e.g., newsletter confirmation, form progress). | Yes — may affect some features |
We do not currently use marketing, advertising, or behavioral targeting cookies on our website. If this changes, we will update this notice and provide an updated consent mechanism.
Third-Party Cookies
Some features of our website involve third-party services that may set their own cookies. These include:
| Service | Purpose | Their Privacy Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Google Fonts | Delivers typeface files for our site design. May log your IP address. | policies.google.com/privacy |
| Web3Forms | Processes contact form submissions. | web3forms.com/privacy |
| Social media platforms | Share buttons or embedded links to our Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. | Varies by platform |
| Payment processors | If you make a donation, the payment processor may set cookies during checkout. | Varies by processor |
We do not control third-party cookies. We recommend reviewing the privacy and cookie policies of any third-party service you interact with through our site.
If you have concerns about any specific third-party cookie set through our site, please email info@access2play.org and we will investigate.
Cookies We Do Not Use
We want to be explicit about what we do not do. Access 2 Play does not use:
- Advertising or retargeting cookies — we do not run ads and do not track you for advertising purposes
- Cross-site tracking cookies — we do not follow you across other websites
- Fingerprinting — we do not use browser fingerprinting techniques to identify you without a cookie
- Persistent identification cookies — we do not use cookies to create persistent user profiles tied to your identity
- Social login cookies — we do not offer "log in with Facebook/Google" or similar
As a nonprofit, our website exists to serve our mission — not to generate advertising revenue or build data profiles. We aim to use the minimum tracking technology necessary to keep our site functional and improving.
Your Choices & Controls
Browser Settings
All modern browsers allow you to control cookies through settings. You can:
- View and delete existing cookies
- Block all cookies (note: this will break some website features)
- Block third-party cookies only
- Set your browser to alert you before accepting cookies
Browser-specific instructions:
Google Analytics Opt-Out
If we use Google Analytics, you may opt out of all Google Analytics tracking across all websites by installing the browser add-on at: tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
Do Not Track
Some browsers support a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal. Currently, there is no industry-wide standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals. Our website does not currently respond differently to DNT signals, but we do not engage in behavioral tracking regardless of DNT status.
Cookie Consent Banner
Our website displays a cookie consent notice on first visit for non-essential cookies. You may accept or decline non-essential cookies at that time. Your preference will be remembered for future visits. You may update your preference at any time by clearing your browser cookies and revisiting the site.
Impact of disabling cookies: Strictly necessary cookies cannot be disabled without breaking the website. Disabling analytics cookies means we lose the ability to understand how visitors use our site — which affects our ability to improve it. Disabling functionality cookies may cause some features to behave unexpectedly.
Cookie Duration
| Cookie Type | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Session cookies | End of browsing session | Deleted automatically when you close your browser |
| Analytics cookies | Up to 26 months | Standard Google Analytics retention |
| Functionality cookies | 30–90 days | e.g., newsletter confirmation, form preferences |
| Third-party cookies | Varies | Determined by the third-party provider |
Changes to This Notice
We may update this Cookie Notice from time to time as:
- Our use of cookies changes
- We add or remove third-party services
- Applicable law or best practices evolve
When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and, if the changes significantly affect your experience, display a new consent notice. We encourage you to review this notice periodically.
Contact
For questions about this Cookie Notice or to request information about specific cookies used on our site:
Access 2 Play, Inc.
EIN: 33-1921117 · Maryland 501(c)(3)
Email: info@access2play.org
Subject line: "Cookie Question"
Response time: 5 business days