Privacy Policy

Who We Are

Youth Entrepreneur Institute, also known as YEI, is a youth-serving organization based in Washington, DC. YEI provides entrepreneurship education, STE(A)M programming, arts-based learning, work-based experiences, youth marketplaces, social enterprise opportunities, events, and community partnerships.

This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through our website, forms, registration tools, events, programs, donations, product orders, communications, and related YEI services.

Information We May Collect

YEI may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide, such as name, email address, phone number, mailing address, school, organization, emergency contact information, registration details, donation information, order information, and messages submitted through forms.

For youth programs, we may collect participant information, parent or guardian contact information, grade level, school, age, permissions, emergency contacts, participation forms, workshop selections, attendance information, program interests, and other information needed to safely operate programs and events.

How We Use Information

YEI may use information to respond to inquiries, register participants, communicate with families, coordinate programs, process event sign-ups, manage workshops, fulfill product orders, process donations, support youth businesses, provide customer service, and improve our programs and website.

We may also use information to send updates, share opportunities, confirm attendance, coordinate volunteers or partners, document program outcomes, prepare reports, and communicate about YEI activities.

Youth Participant Information

Because YEI serves youth, we take youth information seriously. Information about youth participants may be collected through program applications, registration forms, parent or guardian forms, event forms, emergency contact forms, attendance records, surveys, and program activities.

Youth information is used to operate programs, communicate with families, support student safety, document participation, provide appropriate services, and meet program, funder, school, or partner requirements.

Parent and Guardian Information

YEI may collect parent or guardian information to confirm consent, communicate program updates, share student opportunities, coordinate transportation or attendance, collect required forms, respond to questions, and support youth participation.

Parents and guardians should contact YEI if they need to update information, ask questions about forms, or request changes related to communication or permissions.

Program, Event, and Workshop Registration

When you register for a YEI program, event, workshop, KidBizCON, youth marketplace, internship, travel opportunity, or community activity, we may collect information needed to manage registration, eligibility, participation, workshop selections, attendance, meals, safety, and communication.

Registration information may be stored in tools or platforms used by YEI to manage programs, events, communications, and reporting.

Orders, Purchases, and Made By Youth Products

If you purchase youth-made products, place a custom order, shop Made By Youth items, request a quote, or engage with a student business through YEI, we may collect information needed to process the order, communicate with you, complete payment, arrange pickup or delivery, and provide customer support.

This may include your name, contact information, order details, customization requests, payment status, pickup information, delivery information, and related communication.

Donations and Sponsorships

If you make a donation, sponsor an event, support a campaign, or contribute to YEI, we may collect information needed to process your contribution, send acknowledgments, maintain records, communicate impact, and manage donor or sponsor relationships.

Payment information may be processed through third-party payment platforms. YEI does not intentionally store full credit card numbers on its website.

Photos, Videos, Media, and Stories

YEI may collect photos, videos, interviews, testimonials, quotes, project examples, student business information, and program stories during programs, events, workshops, markets, travel experiences, and public activities.

Media may be used for websites, social media, newsletters, grant reports, fundraising, marketing, program documentation, and impact storytelling when appropriate permissions have been obtained. Youth media use may require parent or guardian permission.

Surveys, Forms, and Program Feedback

YEI may collect survey responses, feedback, assessments, reflections, exit tickets, pre- and post-program information, and other evaluation data to understand program impact, improve services, and meet reporting requirements.

Program data may be summarized in reports, grant materials, presentations, or public impact updates. When shared publicly, we aim to avoid unnecessary personal details unless permission has been provided.

Website Data and Cookies

Our website or third-party services may collect limited technical information such as browser type, device information, pages visited, general location information, referring links, and website usage data.

Cookies or similar tools may be used to help the website function, understand traffic, improve user experience, support analytics, or connect with third-party tools.

Third-Party Tools and Platforms

YEI may use third-party tools for website hosting, forms, registration, payment processing, donations, email communication, surveys, scheduling, analytics, event management, and online shopping.

These third-party platforms may have their own privacy policies and terms. YEI is not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites or platforms that we do not control.

How We Share Information

YEI may share information with staff, instructors, program partners, schools, funders, vendors, service providers, volunteers, or other authorized individuals when needed to operate programs, fulfill orders, process registrations, support youth, comply with reporting requirements, or protect safety.

We do not sell personal information. We may disclose information when required by law, to protect safety, to respond to legal requests, or to enforce YEI policies.

How We Protect Information

YEI uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational steps to protect information from unauthorized access, misuse, loss, or disclosure.

No website, email system, database, or online platform can guarantee complete security. Please avoid sending sensitive information through unsecured forms or email unless requested through an approved process.

Data Retention

YEI may retain information for as long as needed to operate programs, maintain records, meet legal or reporting obligations, process donations or orders, support youth participation, document impact, resolve disputes, and manage organizational operations.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information, program requirements, funder requirements, school or partner requirements, and operational needs.

Your Choices

You may contact YEI to request updates to your information, ask questions about communication preferences, request removal from certain email lists, or ask about media permissions.

Some records may need to be retained for program, safety, financial, legal, reporting, or operational reasons.

Children and Youth Privacy

YEI serves children and youth through programs, events, and educational opportunities. We collect youth information only as needed to support participation, safety, communication, evaluation, program documentation, and required reporting.

Parents and guardians may contact YEI with questions about youth participant information, consent forms, communication preferences, or media permissions.

Links to Other Websites

Our website may include links to partner websites, sponsor pages, payment processors, registration platforms, social media pages, shop platforms, or other external websites.

We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or terms of external websites. Please review their policies before providing information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

YEI may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date.

Continued use of our website or services after updates means you acknowledge the revised policy.

Contact Information

Questions about this Privacy Policy may be directed to Youth Entrepreneur Institute.