Privacy Policy
Last Updated: February 2026
Next Step® Network, Inc. (“Next Step,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy of visitors to our website (“Site”). This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you visit nextstepus.org and any associated pages, tools, or services (collectively, the “Site”). By using this Site, you accept this Privacy Policy. Next Step reserves the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time by posting a revised version on this page with an updated effective date. Your continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.
Our Commitment to Our Donors
We will not sell, share, or trade our donors’ names or personal information with any other entity, nor send mailings to our donors on behalf of other organizations. This commitment applies to all information received by Next Step, both online and offline, on any platform, including this Site, as well as any electronic, written, or oral communications. Next Step will only share a donor’s personal information if the donor has given Next Step explicit permission to do so.
Information We Collect
Information You Provide
We collect personal information (which may include your name, physical address, email address, phone number, and similar details) only when you voluntarily submit it. For example, we collect information when you:
- Register to receive newsletter updates or email communications
- Submit a comment on our blog or other user content
- Request publications or resources from our Resource Library
- Submit an online inquiry or contact form
- Use interactive tools such as the TotalHome+ Calculator, Down Payment Seeker, or online education courses
- Participate in a homebuyer education or counseling program, including our Next Step Navigator program or online courses through our learning management system
- Make a donation through our giving platform
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit the Site, we may automatically collect certain information about your visit, including:
- Cookies: Small text files placed on your device that help us understand how visitors use the Site, enhance your experience, and improve the Site’s functionality. You can instruct your browser to stop accepting cookies or to prompt you before accepting a cookie. However, some features of the Site may not function properly if you disable cookies.
- Analytics Data: We may use third-party analytics services (such as Google Analytics) to collect information about Site traffic, including pages visited, time spent on pages, referring websites, browser type, and device information. This data is collected in aggregate form and does not personally identify individual visitors.
- Log Data: Our servers may automatically record information such as your Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type, referring and exit pages, and date and time of your visit.
Homebuyer Program Data
If you participate in Next Step’s homebuyer education, counseling, or Navigator program — including online courses delivered through our learning management system (Maple LMS) — we may collect additional personal information necessary to provide these services, including financial information, credit history, employment history, demographic data, and course completion records. The collection and use of this information is governed by a separate Privacy Policy and Release form provided to program participants at intake. That program-level privacy notice describes in detail what nonpublic personal information we collect, how it may be shared with program partners, and your right to opt out of certain disclosures.
Use and Disclosure of Your Information
We use your information for the purposes for which you provide it. For example:
- If you register for our newsletter, we use your information to send you the updates you selected.
- If you request publications or resources, we use your information to fulfill your request.
- If you submit an online inquiry, we use your information to respond and, where appropriate, to determine whether your organization and proposed project align with our program areas.
- If you use our interactive tools, we use the information you enter to provide the tool’s results. We may retain aggregate, de-identified data from tool usage for program evaluation and research purposes.
- We may use your information to contact you about updates to the Site, our programs, or other information we believe you may find of interest.
If you do not wish to receive communications from us, you can opt out by contacting us at info@nextstepus.org or by selecting the “Unsubscribe” option on our email communications.
Our service providers, such as those who host and maintain the Site, facilitate email communications, or process donations, may have access to your information solely to perform services on our behalf. We will not share, rent, or sell your information to any third parties for marketing or other commercial purposes.
We may also disclose information when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to comply with the law, protect our rights, or ensure the safety of our users.
Data Storage and Security
This Site is hosted on servers in the United States. If you are located outside the United States, your information will be transferred to the United States. By submitting your information, you consent to its transfer to the United States and to its storage, processing, and use in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
Next Step takes reasonable precautions to protect your information, including the use of secure cloud-based platforms, password protections, firewalls, and encryption for data in transit. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information, and submission is at your own risk.
Please remember that any information you share in public areas of the Site (such as blog comments) becomes public, and this Privacy Policy does not apply to information you choose to make public.
Data Retention
We retain your information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to securely delete or de-identify it. Specific retention periods for various record types are established in our internal Data Security and Privacy Policy and Financial Management Policy.
Third-Party Links and Services
The Site may contain links to third-party websites, including our donation platform (JustGiving), social media pages, and partner organizations. These third-party sites have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for their content or privacy practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
Children’s Privacy
Next Step does not knowingly collect personal information on the Site from children under the age of 13. If we learn that we have collected personally identifiable information from a child under 13 without verification of parental consent, we will delete that information. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child under age 13 may have provided personally identifiable information through the Site, please contact us at info@nextstepus.org or by mail at:
Next Step Network, Inc. 1287 Royal Avenue Louisville, KY 40204
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information. If we make material changes, we may provide additional notice on the Site’s home page.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to update or remove your information, please contact us:
Next Step Network, Inc.
1287 Royal Avenue, Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 694-1976
info@nextstepus.org