Privacy Policy

Effective Date: [July 1, 2017]

Last Updated: [July 1, 2026]

1. Introduction

NextGen Debate (“NGD,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a California nonprofit organization dedicated to making competitive debate accessible to every student. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information about you when you visit our website at nextgendebate.org and use our platform, services, and features (collectively, the “Platform”).

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing or using the Platform you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform.

This Privacy Policy is incorporated into and subject to our Terms of Use. Capitalized terms not defined here have the meanings given in our Terms of Use.

2. Who We Are

Organization: NextGen Debate

Type: California Nonprofit Organization

Website: nextgendebate.org

Contact: hello@nextgendebate.org

Phone: (877) 400-2310

For privacy-related questions or requests, contact us at hello@nextgendebate.org.

3. Information We Collect

We collect information in three ways — information you provide directly, information collected automatically, and information from third parties.

3.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you register for an account or use our Platform, we may collect:

•Identity information — first name, last name, username, profile photo

•Contact information — email address, phone number

•Account credentials — password (stored in encrypted form)

•Demographic information — age or date of birth, gender (optional), grade level

•Educational information — school name, league affiliation, debate formats

•Profile information — biography, profile photo, debate experience

•Payment information — when purchasing Gems or course packages, payment is processed through our third-party payment processor. NGD does not store your full credit card number, expiration date, or CVV. We retain only the information necessary to process and record transactions.

•Communications — messages you send to NGD or other members through the Platform

•Form submissions — information submitted through registration forms, volunteer applications, or contact forms

•User-generated content — posts, comments, and other content you contribute to the Platform

3.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the Platform we automatically collect certain technical information including:

•Log data — IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages visited, time and date of visits

•Device information — device type, screen resolution, language settings

•Usage data — features used, content accessed, time spent on pages, clicks and interactions

•Cookies and similar technologies — see Section 7 for details

3.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third-party services integrated into our Platform including:

•BuddyBoss — community platform provider

•MemberPress — membership management

•Gravity Forms — form submissions and user registration

•WP Mail SMTP — email delivery service

•Payment processors — transaction data from Gem and course purchases

•Analytics providers — aggregated usage data

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

4.1 Operate the Platform

•Create and manage your account

•Verify your identity and eligibility

•Process membership registrations and approvals

•Manage league and group affiliations

•Process Gem purchases and virtual currency transactions

•Award Merits, Gems, and Reps based on qualifying activities

•Provide access to courses and educational content

4.2 Communicate With You

•Send account confirmation and welcome emails

•Notify you of tournament registrations, results, and announcements

•Send platform updates and feature announcements

•Respond to your support requests and inquiries

•Send league and community notifications

4.3 Improve the Platform

•Analyze usage patterns to improve features and content

•Troubleshoot technical issues

•Conduct research to better serve our community

•Develop new features based on community feedback

4.4 Ensure Safety and Compliance

•Enforce our Terms of Use and community standards

•Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access

•Comply with applicable laws and regulations

•Protect the safety of minor users

4.5 Support Our Mission

•Report aggregated demographic data for grant applications and nonprofit reporting

•Communicate our impact to donors and supporters — using only aggregated, non-identifying data

5. Special Provisions for Minor Users

NGD serves students of all ages including minors under the age of 18. We take the privacy and safety of minor users seriously and have implemented specific protections.

5.1 Users Under 13 — COPPA Compliance

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) imposes requirements on websites that collect personal information from children under 13. NGD complies with COPPA as follows:

•We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent

•If a child under 13 wishes to register on the Platform, we require verifiable parental or guardian consent before collecting any personal information

•Parents or guardians of users under 13 may review their child’s personal information, request deletion of their child’s information, or refuse further collection by contacting us at hello@nextgendebate.org

•If we discover that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will delete that information promptly

5.2 Users Ages 13 to 17

For users between the ages of 13 and 17:

•We recommend that parents review our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy with their minor child before registration

•Minor profiles are not publicly visible — they are accessible only to logged-in registered members

•We do not display minor users’ personal contact information publicly

•Direct messaging features are available but monitored for safety

•We do not knowingly allow adult users to contact minor users for purposes unrelated to legitimate debate community activity

5.3 Parental Rights

Parents and guardians of minor users have the right to:

•Review the personal information we have collected about their child

•Request correction of inaccurate information

•Request deletion of their child’s account and associated data

•Withdraw consent for ongoing data collection

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@nextgendebate.org with your child’s username and your relationship to the child.

6. How We Share Your Information

NGD does not sell your personal information. We share information only in the following circumstances:

6.1 With Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate the Platform. These providers are contractually obligated to use your information only to provide services to NGD and to protect it appropriately. Our current service providers include:

•BuddyBoss — community platform and profile management

•MemberPress — membership and subscription management

•Gravity Forms — registration and form processing

•WP Mail SMTP — email delivery

•Payment processors — processing Gem purchases and course package transactions

•Web hosting providers — storing platform data securely

6.2 With League Administrators

If you are a member of a league on NGD, your League Administrator may have access to your profile information, league membership status, and participation data within that league. League Administrators are bound by our Terms of Use and may not use this information for purposes outside of legitimate league management.

6.3 For Legal Compliance

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or governmental authority, or when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of NGD, our users, or the public.

6.4 Business Transfers

In the unlikely event that NGD undergoes a merger, acquisition, or transfer of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify registered users of any such change in ownership or control.

6.5 With Your Consent

We may share your information with third parties when you have given us explicit consent to do so.

6.6 Aggregated and De-Identified Data

We may share aggregated or de-identified information — data that cannot reasonably be used to identify you — with partners, grant makers, and the public for research, reporting, and promotional purposes.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

7.1 What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. We use cookies and similar technologies to operate the Platform, remember your preferences, and analyze usage.

7.2 Types of Cookies We Use

•Essential cookies — required for the Platform to function. These include session cookies that keep you logged in and security cookies that protect your account. You cannot opt out of essential cookies.

•Preference cookies — remember your settings and preferences such as language and display options

•Analytics cookies — help us understand how users interact with the Platform so we can improve it

•Third-party cookies — some of our service providers may set their own cookies when you use the Platform

7.3 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the Platform. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies, delete existing cookies, or be notified when a cookie is set.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. Specifically:

•Account information — retained for the duration of your account and for a reasonable period thereafter in case you wish to reactivate

•Transaction records — retained for a minimum of seven years as required by applicable financial regulations

•Communications — retained for a reasonable period necessary for support and safety purposes

•Usage logs — typically retained for 12 months then aggregated or deleted

•Deleted accounts — upon account deletion we will remove or anonymize your personal information within a reasonable time, except where retention is required by law

To request deletion of your account and associated data, contact hello@nextgendebate.org.

9. Data Security

NGD takes reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. These measures include:

•Encrypted storage of passwords

•Secure HTTPS connections throughout the Platform

•Access controls limiting who within NGD can access user data

•Regular security reviews of our platform and plugins

However no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. If you believe your account has been compromised, contact us immediately at hello@nextgendebate.org.

10. California Privacy Rights — CCPA

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants you specific rights regarding your personal information.

10.1 Your Rights Under CCPA

•Right to Know — you have the right to request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you, the sources of that information, the purposes for which we use it, and the third parties with whom we share it

•Right to Delete — you have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions

•Right to Correct — you have the right to request correction of inaccurate personal information

•Right to Opt Out of Sale — NGD does not sell your personal information. If this practice changes we will update this policy and provide an opt-out mechanism

•Right to Non-Discrimination — we will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your CCPA rights

10.2 How to Exercise Your CCPA Rights

To submit a request under CCPA:

•Email us at hello@nextgendebate.org with the subject line “CCPA Privacy Request”

•Include your full name, email address associated with your account, and the specific right you wish to exercise

•We will respond within 45 days of receiving your request

We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

10.3 Authorized Agents

California residents may designate an authorized agent to submit requests on their behalf. The agent must provide written authorization from the California resident and we may require verification of the agent’s identity.

11. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

Regardless of your location, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

11.1 Access and Correction

You may access and update most of your personal information directly through your account profile. For information you cannot update yourself, contact us at hello@nextgendebate.org.

11.2 Account Deletion

You may request deletion of your account at any time by contacting hello@nextgendebate.org. Upon deletion we will remove or anonymize your personal information as described in Section 8.

11.3 Communication Preferences

You may opt out of non-essential emails by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email we send. Note that opting out of marketing emails does not affect transactional or account-related communications.

11.4 Profile Visibility

You can control certain aspects of your profile visibility through your account settings.

12. Third-Party Links and Services

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, resources, or services. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit. NGD is not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes we will:

•Post the updated policy on this page with a new effective date

•Notify registered users by email or by posting a notice on the Platform

•For significant changes affecting minor users, seek renewed parental consent where required by law

Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

14. Contact Us

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

NextGen Debate

Email: hello@nextgendebate.org

Phone: (877) 400-2310

Website: nextgendebate.org

For privacy requests specifically — including account deletion, data access requests, and parental consent matters — please use the subject line “Privacy Request” in your email so we can route your inquiry appropriately.

For urgent safety concerns involving a minor, please contact us immediately by phone at (877) 400-2310.