Privacy Policy

Sri Guruvayurappan Temple Houston

(A DBA of Kerala Hindu Society Houston)
Effective Date: January 1, 2026

Sri Guruvayurappan Temple Houston ("Temple," "we," "our," or "us") is a religious organization operating as a Doing Business As (DBA) of Kerala Hindu Society Houston (KHS), a Texas nonprofit corporation recognized as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

This Privacy Policy is established in accordance with:

  • Texas nonprofit laws
  • Federal IRS 501(c)(3) requirements
  • Generally accepted nonprofit data-protection and donor-privacy standards

1. Purpose of This Policy

This policy explains how we collect, use, safeguard, and disclose personal information provided to us in connection with:

  • Donations and charitable contributions
  • Religious services, sevas, and events
  • Membership and volunteer activities
  • Website usage and communications

2. Information We Collect

We collect only information necessary to fulfill our nonprofit, religious, and charitable purposes.

a. Personal Information
  • Name
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Mailing address
b. Donation & Financial Records
  • Donation amount
  • Date of contribution
  • Payment method (credit/debit card, ACH, check, or third-party processor)
Payment Security Notice:
All electronic donations are processed through PCI-DSS-compliant third-party payment processors. The Temple and KHS do not store full credit card numbers, bank account numbers, or security codes.
c. Program & Participation Data
  • Event registrations
  • Seva bookings
  • Volunteer participation details
d. Website Information
  • IP address
  • Browser and device type
  • Cookies for basic functionality and analytics

3. Use of Information

Information collected is used solely for lawful nonprofit purposes, including:

  • Processing charitable donations and issuing IRS-compliant tax receipts
  • Communicating temple announcements, events, and religious services
  • Managing memberships, sevas, and volunteer coordination
  • Maintaining accurate financial, operational, and audit records
  • Compliance with IRS, Texas Attorney General, and regulatory requirements

We do not use personal information for commercial purposes.

4. Donor Privacy & Confidentiality

Sri Guruvayurappan Temple Houston and Kerala Hindu Society Houston:

  • Do not sell, rent, trade, or share donor information with third parties for marketing
  • Respect donor anonymity requests where legally permissible
  • Limit access to donor data to authorized personnel only

5. Information Sharing

Information may be shared only:

  • With trusted service providers strictly for nonprofit operations (e.g., payment processors, email services)
  • When required by law, court order, or governmental authority
  • For internal administrative use within Kerala Hindu Society Houston

All service providers are required to maintain confidentiality and reasonable data-security measures.

6. Record Retention

Personal and financial records are retained in accordance with:

  • IRS record-keeping requirements
  • Texas nonprofit and charitable solicitation regulations
  • Internal audit and governance policies

Records are securely destroyed when no longer legally or operationally required.

7. Data Security

We implement reasonable safeguards to protect information against unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse.

However, no electronic transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.

8. Children’s Privacy

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 without parental or guardian consent, consistent with applicable law.

9. Your Rights

You may request:

  • Access to your personal information
  • Corrections to inaccurate records
  • Removal from non-essential communications

Requests are handled within a reasonable timeframe, subject to legal obligations.

10. External Websites

Our website or communications may link to external sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites.

11. Policy Updates

This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically. Any changes will be posted with a revised effective date.

12. Contact Information

For privacy or data-related inquiries:

Sri Guruvayurappan Temple Houston
A DBA of Kerala Hindu Society, Houston (Texas 501(c)(3))
11620 Ormandy St, Houston, TX 77035
(713) 729-8994
temple@guruvayur.us