SEI Global Privacy Policy

​Last Updated: January 21, 2026

1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy
Your privacy is very important to us. SEI (“we,” “us,” or “our”) has developed this Global Privacy Policy for you to understand how we collect, use, communicate, disclose, and make use of personal information. This Policy applies to information we collect through our websites (including seiinc.org, energizeschools.org, energizecolleges.org, climatecorps.org, and energizecareers.org) and through our programs.
As a nonprofit, SEI is not subject to the (CCPA), the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), and the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). However, it is SEI’s intention to comply anyway as a matter of best practice.
For the purposes of the GDPR, SEI is the "Data Controller" of the personal information we process.

2. Notice at Collection
At or before the time we collect your personal information, we will provide you with a "Notice at Collection." This brief, "just-in-time" notice will summarize the categories of personal information we collect, the purposes for which we use it, and a link to this full Privacy Policy. For example, you will see this notice when you participate in one of our surveys or sign up for a program.

3. Personal Information We Collect
We have collected (or may collect) the following categories of personal information:

• A. Identifiers:

• Examples: Real name, email address, phone number, postal address (such as zip code), IP address.

• B. Professional, Education, and Employment-Related Information:

• Examples: Current employer, job title, industry, education level, or other information you provide in a survey or program application.

• C. Sensitive Personal Information / Special Categories of Data:

• Examples: Demographic data such as race, ethnic origin, or gender, which we may collect for program reporting.

• D. Internet or Other Electronic Network Activity Information:

• Examples: Cookie data, and information about your interaction with our website (as detailed in Section 9).

4. How We Use Your Information & Our Legal Basis
We collect and use personal information for the following specific business purposes. For individuals covered by the GDPR, we have also identified our legal basis for processing:
Purpose of Use (Legal Basis of GDPR)
To Provide Program Services: To provide you with information, resources, and support related to our career programs.
Performance of a Contract (to fulfill our agreement with you) or Legitimate Interest (to provide our services).
To Communicate With You: To follow up on survey responses, provide program updates, or respond to your inquiries.
Legitimate Interest (to respond to you and manage our programs).
To Improve Our Services: To understand the needs of program participants so we can improve our services.
Legitimate Interest (to improve and develop our services).
For Reporting and Administration: For aggregated and anonymized reporting to our program sponsors and funders.
Legitimate Interest (to fulfill our grant and sponsor obligations) or Legal Obligation.
To Meet Legal Obligations: To comply with legal requirements, grant obligations, or lawful data requests.
Legal Obligation.
For Website Analytics: To understand how users interact with our website.

Consent (for non-essential cookies) or Legitimate Interest (for essential cookies/basic analytics).
Sensitive Personal Information: We will only process Sensitive Personal Information (or "Special Categories of Data" under GDPR) with your explicit consent or as otherwise permitted by law (e.g., for aggregated statistical reporting where allowed). We only use this data for the permitted purpose stated at collection.

5. How We Disclose, "Sell," or "Share" Your Information
"Sale" or "Sharing" of Personal Information (CCPA/CPRA)
SEI does not "sell" personal information, and we have not "sold" personal information in the past 12 months.
SEI does not "share" personal information (as "share" is defined by the CPRA, which relates to cross-context behavioral advertising). We have not "shared" personal information in the past 12 months. Your information is never provided to third parties for their own commercial or marketing purposes.

Disclosure of Personal Information (General)
We may disclose your personal information to the following categories of third parties:

• Service Providers & Program Partners (Data Processors): We disclose your information to our program sponsors and partners who act as our "Service Providers" (under CCPA) or "Data Processors" (under GDPR). These partners are contractually bound to only use your personal information for the specific, program-related purposes we define (e.g., program administration, reporting) and are prohibited from using it for any other purpose.
• Analytics Providers: We disclose Internet Activity Information to providers like Google Analytics to help us understand website traffic.
• As Required by Law: We may disclose information if we are legally required to do so, such as in response to a subpoena, court order, or other legal process.

6. Your Privacy Rights
You have rights regarding your personal information. Your specific rights may vary depending on where you are located.
A. Your California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)
As a California resident, you have the following rights:

• The Right to Know/Access: The right to request what personal information we have collected, used, and disclosed about you over the past 12 months.
• The Right to Delete: The right to request that we delete the personal information we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions.
• The Right to Correct: The right to request that we correct inaccurate personal information.
• The Right to Opt-Out of Sale or "Sharing": As stated above, we do not sell or "share" your information, so we are in compliance with this right.
• The Right to Limit the Use of Sensitive Personal Information (SPI): SEI only uses SPI for permitted purposes (such as aggregated reporting) and not to infer characteristics about you. We therefore treat your SPI as if you have already submitted a "Limit" request.
• The Right to Non-Discrimination: The right not to be discriminated against for exercising any of your privacy rights.

B. Your Rights Under the GDPR
If you are located in the European Union, European Economic Area, or UK, you have the following rights:

• The Right to Access: The right to request copies of your personal data.
• The Right to Rectification (Correct): The right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
• The Right to Erasure (Delete): The right to request that we erase your personal data, under certain conditions.
• The Right to Restrict Processing: The right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data, under certain conditions.
• The Right to Object to Processing: The right to object to our processing of your personal data, under certain conditions (especially where we rely on "Legitimate Interest").
• The Right to Data Portability: The right to request that we transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions.

7. How to Exercise Your Rights
You may submit a request to exercise any of your rights by contacting us through one of the following methods:

1. Email: [email protected]
2. Phone Number: (415) 507 - 2181

Verifying Your Request:To protect your privacy, we will need to verify your identity before processing your request. We may require you to confirm information we already have on file (such as your email address or phone number).
Response Timing:We will respond to your request within the timeframes required by law (e.g., within 45 days for CCPA/CPRA requests and generally within 30 days for GDPR requests).

8. International Data Transfers (For GDPR Users)
SEI is based in the United States. If you are interacting with us from the European Union, your personal information will be collected and processed in the United States. This transfer is made on the basis of your explicit consent to this transfer, or as necessary for the performance of a contract with you, or based on Standard Contractual Clauses we may enter into with our Service Providers.

9. Cookies and Analytics
Our website uses cookies (small text files stored on your computer). Where required by law (such as in the EU), we will ask for your consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device. You can prevent cookies from being installed by adjusting your browser settings.
We also use Google Analytics, a web analysis service from Google, Inc. Google Analytics uses cookies to analyze your use of our site. This information is used to compile reports for us on internet activity. Users may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ads Settings.

10. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected. For SEI and our programs, personal information will be retained for a period of 5 years after the conclusion of your participation in the program, or as long as necessary to fulfill our grant reporting and legal obligations, whichever is later.

11. Data Security
We protect personal information by reasonable security safeguards against loss or theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use, or modification.

12. Children's Privacy
When dealing with personal information of children under 16, we do so exclusively with the consent of the parent or guardian, as and when required by law, and respect all applicable state and federal privacy laws. If the child is age 13-15 and a California resident, we will also collect their opt-in consent, in accordance with the CCPA/CPRA.

13. Right to Lodge a Complaint (GDPR)
If you are located in the EU, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority (the data protection regulator in your country) if you believe we have not processed your personal information in accordance with the GDPR.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated at any time. We will note the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy. For material changes, we will endeavor to provide a more prominent notice.

15. Contact Us
​For questions or requests regarding your data or this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:
[email protected]