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Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 11/6/2025
Last Updated: 1/15/2026

Built for Wildfire is created and powered by Headwaters Economics, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and non-government organization. Our purpose is to offer you solutions while protecting your privacy. Your data will not be sold. We collect as little information about you as possible and do not provide it to insurers, vendors, or any other commercial interest. Our complete Privacy Policy is below.

Introduction

Headwaters Economics, Inc., a Montana nonprofit corporation (“Headwaters,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), respects your privacy and is committed to protecting it through compliance with this Privacy Policy (“Policy”).

Built for Wildfire (the “Platform”) is created and powered by Headwaters, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and non-government organization. Our mission is to provide free, anonymous, and science-based guidance to help you make safer, more informed decisions about improving your home’s wildfire resistance. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights under applicable laws, including GDPR and CCPA. By using https://builtforwildfire.org you agree to this Privacy Policy.

Information We Collect

We collect as little information as possible to provide you with a functional, reliable, and anonymous experience. Information collected may include:

  1. Information you voluntarily provide:
    1. If you choose to subscribe to updates or newsletters, we may collect your email address.
    1. If you contact us through our website, we may collect your name, email, and message content.
  2. Automatically collected information (non-identifiable):
    1. Technical information such as browser type, device type, operating system, and IP address (which is anonymized and not linked to you personally).
    1. General analytics data (e.g., page views, time on page) collected through tools such as Google Analytics, used only to improve functionality and performance.
  3. Information related to home characteristics:
    1. When you use the Built for Wildfire tool, you may enter data about your home’s location, building materials, or features to generate wildfire retrofit recommendations. This data is not linked to your identity or any contact information and is used solely to generate your results in real time.

We do not collect personally identifiable information such as names, mailing addresses, or precise geolocation data unless you voluntarily provide it (for instance, through a contact form or newsletter subscription).

How We Collect Information

We collect information directly from you when you voluntarily provide it and automatically through limited analytics technologies when you use our websites.

Cookies and similar technologies may be used for technical reasons—for example, to ensure that the Platform operates correctly or remembers your session state. We do not use cookies for tracking, advertising, or profiling users.

You may set your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being used. However, some features of the Platform may not function properly without essential cookies.

How We Use Information

Headwaters uses the limited information we collect only for purposes consistent with our nonprofit mission, including to:

  • Operate, maintain, and improve the Platform;
  • Respond to inquiries or support requests;
  • Communicate with you if you choose to subscribe to updates;
  • Analyze aggregate usage to improve usability and user experience; and
  • Comply with applicable legal reporting requirements.

We do not sell, rent, or share your information with any third party, advertiser, insurer, or commercial entity. Your information will never be used to target advertising, adjust insurance rates, or for any other commercial purpose.

Sharing and Disclosure of Information

We may disclose aggregate or de-identified data (that does not identify any individual) for research or reporting purposes consistent with our nonprofit mission. We may also share information with trusted service providers that help us operate our websites, such as website hosting or analytics tools, provided that these providers are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of your information. We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, or valid legal process, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect Headwaters’ rights, safety, or property, or that of our users.

We will never sell, trade, or otherwise transfer personal information to third parties for marketing or commercial purposes.

Third-Party Services

To operate the Platform, we may rely on trusted third-party service providers, including:

  • Amazon Web Services (AWS) – Hosting and cloud infrastructure (U.S.)
  • Google Analytics – Aggregated, non-personal usage analytics (U.S.)

These subprocessors do not have access to any personally identifiable information and may not use stored data for their own purposes.

Data Retention

We retain information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, comply with our legal obligations, and maintain system integrity.

  • Email addresses collected for newsletters or contact purposes are retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion.
  • Technical and analytical data are retained only in aggregated or anonymized form.

When data is no longer needed, it is securely deleted.

Data Security

We implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your information against accidental loss, unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure.

These include:

  • Encryption of communications using HTTPS;
  • Limited access to data by authorized personnel only;
  • Regular security reviews and monitoring; and
  • Use of reputable cloud providers with strong security certifications.

While we strive to protect your information, no method of internet transmission is completely secure. You use the Platform at your own risk.

Your Privacy Rights

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have the following rights regarding personal information that Headwaters may hold about you:

  • Right to Know: You may request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal data collected.
  • Right to Delete: You may request that we delete your personal information.
  • Right to Non-Discrimination: You will not receive discriminatory treatment for exercising your privacy rights.

To make a request, please contact privacy@headwaterseconomics.org. We will verify your identity before processing your request and respond within the time period required by law.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

If you are located in the EEA, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you have the following rights under GDPR:

  • Right of Access: You may request a copy of your personal data.
  • Right to Rectification: You may request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
  • Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): You may request deletion of your personal data where it is no longer needed or where consent has been withdrawn.
  • Right to Restrict Processing: You may request that we limit processing of your data in certain situations.
  • Right to Data Portability: You may request that we provide your data in a structured, commonly used format.
  • Right to Object: You may object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority if you believe your data has been processed unlawfully.

To exercise these rights, please contact privacy@headwaterseconomics.org.

International Data Transfers

Headwaters is based in the United States, and the Platform is operated from servers located in the U.S. If you access the Platform from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, processed, and stored in the U.S.

We take measures to ensure that any cross-border data transfers comply with applicable data protection laws, including by using standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission when applicable.

Children Under the Age of 13

Built for Wildfire is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us at privacy@headwaterseconomics.org, and we will delete it promptly. For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), you may only use the Platform if you are above the age of consent under your country’s laws or have verifiable parental consent.

Automated Decision-Making

Built for Wildfire does not use automated decision-making or profiling in connection with any personal data. All risk and retrofit recommendations are generated through rule-based models derived from scientific data, not from user profiling or behavioral prediction.

Do Not Track

Headwaters does not track users across third-party websites and does not respond to “Do Not Track” browser settings. However, some third-party embedded services (e.g., Google Analytics) may observe standard web traffic metrics.

Third-Party Links

The Platform may contain links to other websites or embedded third-party resources. We are not responsible for the content, security, or privacy practices of those third-party sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any information.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. Updated versions will be posted on this page with a revised “Effective Date.” If we make material changes, we will notify users via the Platform or by email if contact information is available.

Contact Information

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

Headwaters Economics, Inc.

P.O. Box 7059

Bozeman, Montana 59771

Email: privacy@headwaterseconomics.org

Website: https://headwaterseconomics.org

Built for Wildfire is created and operated by Headwaters Economics, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to providing science-based, public-benefit information.