Privacy Policy

This notice applies to all information collected or submitted on the Youth For Understanding USA web site. In general, our system may collect usage information that we use in aggregate form to improve our web site and maintain site security. YFU USA utilizes cookies to collect non-personally identifiable information used to improve our site content and layout, to better understand our audience, to analyze trends, to gather demographics, to administer the site, and for general YFU business purposes. YFU USA retains data for 30 days. Third party vendors, including Google, show YFU USA ads on internet sites and use cookies to serve ads based on prior visits to the yfuusa.org site. To opt out of Google’s use of cookies visit the Google ad settings page.

On some pages, you can make requests, apply to programs, register to receive materials, and order products. The types of personal information collected at these pages are name, address, e-mail address, and phone number. Personal information necessary to process your application includes data needed to make arrangements for your participation in YFU programs or ensure a safe and successful YFU program experience, and expressed interest in specific programs, scholarship opportunities, or related information.

On some pages, you can submit information about other people. For example, an educator may nominate a student for a YFU study abroad program or you may wish to submit an information request on another person’s behalf In this circumstance, the types of personal information collected are name, address, phone number, and the type of information/service request.

To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect on line. We reserve the right to use cookies to track identifying information with the purpose of maintaining and enforcing site security, preventing abuse of the restricted areas of our web sites, and protecting our systems and the information contained in them.

Protecting the privacy of the very young is especially important to us. We encourage parents to inform children to obtain parental consent before providing personal information. We will strive to ensure that requests from minors are done with the consent of their parents. We do not specifically collect or maintain information at our web site from children under 13 and our web site is not structured to attract children under 13.

YFU USA (located at 3995 Fashion Square Blvd, Suite 2, Saginaw, MI. 48603) does not sell or lease the information you provide. We use the information you provide about yourself when placing a request, to apply to a program, scholarship, or to join us as a volunteer or staff to complete the service requested and follow up accordingly. We use the information you provide about yourself to make information about the programming/scholarship/volunteering opportunities that fall within the scope of your order or information request available to you. We do not share this information with outside parties except to the extent necessary to complete the order or delivery of related information. 

We use the information you provide about someone else when placing an order to e-mail information or ship the information or product and to confirm delivery. On occasion, we use the information you provide to make information about other programming/scholarship/volunteering opportunities that fall within the scope of your order or information request available to you. YFU USA does not sell or lease the information you provide. We do not share this information with outside parties except to the extent necessary to complete the order or delivery of related information.

We use return e-mail addresses to answer the e-mail we receive and provide the information you have requested. Such addresses are not used for any other purpose and are not shared with outside parties.

You can register with our web site if you would like to see information about our inbound international students, request information, receive our newsletters, applications, or updates on our new programs and services.

We use non-identifying and aggregate information to better design our web site and to share with sponsors or advertisers. For example, we may tell a sponsor that X number of individuals visited a certain scholarship area on our web site or that Y number of men and Z number of high school juniors or seniors filled out our registration form, but we would not disclose anything that could be used to identify those individuals without their consent or the consent of the parents of a minor.

Finally, we never use or share the personally identifiable information provided to us on line in ways unrelated to the ones described above without also providing you an opportunity to opt-out or otherwise prohibit such unrelated uses.

You can access all the personally identifiable information we collect and maintain by calling the admissions office at 800.833.6243. We use this procedure to safeguard your information better. You can correct factual errors in your personally identifiable information by sending us a request that credibly shows errors. To protect your privacy and security, we will also take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections.

Should you have other questions or concerns about these privacy policies, please send us an e-mail at marketing@yfu.org or call the admissions office at 800.833.6243.