Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: September 2, 2026

The Smilo Foundation, Inc. ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit smilofoundation.org, use Smilo Compass or our other services, or communicate with us.

By using our website or submitting information to us, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following categories of information:

Personal Information

  • Name

  • Email address

  • Phone number

  • Mailing address

  • Information submitted through forms, applications, waitlists, intake forms, or support requests

Health-Related Information (If Voluntarily Provided)

  • Medical records

  • Medical history

  • Diagnosis information

  • Treatment history

  • Genomic or testing information

  • Care-related information you choose to share

By voluntarily submitting health-related information, you explicitly consent to our collection, use, storage, and processing of that information as described in this Privacy Policy. Submitted medical records may contain information that identifies you, including your name, date of birth, medical record number, healthcare provider information, or other identifiers.

Payment Information

Donation and payment transactions may be processed through third-party payment providers. We do not store complete payment card information on our servers.

Automatically Collected Information

We may automatically collect certain technical and usage information, including:

  • IP address

  • Browser type

  • Device information

  • Pages visited

  • Referral sources

  • Cookies and similar tracking technologies

2. How We Use Your Information

We may use information we collect to:

  • Respond to inquiries and provide support

  • Review requests for assistance or services

  • Communicate updates, educational content, resources, or opportunities

  • Process donations and transactions

  • Improve our website, services, and user experience

  • Maintain security and prevent fraud

  • Develop, train, test, improve, and enhance technology tools, educational resources, and artificial intelligence systems, including Smilo Compass

  • Conduct cancer research, analytics, reporting, and operational activities

  • Comply with legal obligations

3. Sharing and Disclosure of Information

We do not sell personal information or health-related information.

We may share identifiable information with:

  • Trusted service providers and vendors that help us operate our systems, under confidentiality agreements

  • Website hosting and technology providers

  • Donation and payment processors

  • Analytics and security providers

  • Professional advisors and consultants

  • Medical or advisory professionals with your consent when relevant to your request

  • Government authorities or legal entities if required by law

We may also share aggregated, anonymized, or de-identified information that cannot reasonably identify an individual for purposes including:

  • Cancer research

  • Analytics

  • Educational initiatives

  • Platform improvement

  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning development

  • Partnerships and collaborations

  • Reporting and operational purposes

4. Smilo Compass, Artificial Intelligence & Technology Tools

Smilo Compass is a tool developed by The Smilo Foundation to help patients and caregivers understand cancer treatment and clinical trial options. Smilo Compass and certain other services or tools we offer may utilize artificial intelligence, automated technologies, or third-party technology platforms to help organize information, generate educational insights, improve user experience, or support service delivery.

Information submitted through our services, including uploaded medical records, may be used in identifiable and de-identified form to develop, train, test, and improve these tools and technologies consistent with this Privacy Policy and applicable law.

Smilo Compass and our other tools provide educational information only. They do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and using them does not create a patient or healthcare provider relationship with The Smilo Foundation. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about your care.

5. Health Information and HIPAA

The Smilo Foundation is generally not a HIPAA-covered entity, and information submitted through this website may not be subject to HIPAA protections unless otherwise expressly stated.

Please only submit health information that you are comfortable sharing and that is needed for the service you are requesting. If you are submitting records on behalf of another person, you confirm that you are that person's parent, legal guardian, or authorized representative and have the right to share them.

6. International Users and Data Transfers

Our systems and service providers are located in the United States. If you access our services from outside the United States, your information, including any health-related information you submit, will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from those in your country. By submitting information to us, you consent to this transfer.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal and health-related information only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, operate and improve Smilo Compass, and meet applicable legal, regulatory, security, and operational requirements.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the purpose for which it was collected. When information is no longer reasonably necessary, we may delete, anonymize, or securely dispose of it, subject to applicable law and legitimate legal or operational requirements.

8. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to help protect your information. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We may use cookies, analytics tools, pixels, and similar technologies to:

  • Improve website functionality

  • Analyze traffic and usage trends

  • Personalize user experience

  • Enhance security and performance

You may adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies; however, some portions of the website may not function properly.

10. Third-Party Services

Our website may integrate or utilize third-party services, including:

  • Donation platforms

  • Analytics providers

  • Scheduling or communication tools

  • Spam prevention services (such as Google reCAPTCHA)

  • Embedded content or social media tools

These third parties may collect information in accordance with their own privacy policies.

11. Your Rights & Choices

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have the right to:

  • Request access to personal information we maintain about you

  • Request corrections or updates

  • Request deletion of your information

  • Withdraw consent to our processing of your health-related information

  • Opt out of certain communications

To make a request, please contact us using the information below.

12. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed toward children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children without appropriate consent. A parent or legal guardian may submit health-related information on behalf of a child as described in Section 5.

13. Business Transfers & Organizational Changes

In the event of a merger, acquisition, restructuring, partnership, organizational transition, or transfer of assets, information collected through our services may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to applicable law.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Continued use of the website after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how information is handled, please contact:

The Smilo Foundation, Inc. hello@smilofoundation.org