Cookie & Web Technologies Notice

Effective Date: September 2026

Last Updated: June 2024

1. Overview

World Vision Canada uses cookies, pixels, tags, scripts, web beacons, software development kits, local storage objects, device identifiers and similar technologies to operate the Site, maintain security, process transactions, remember preferences, measure performance, improve user experience, support communications and outreach activities, and understand engagement with our digital services.

This Notice explains what these technologies are, how and why they are used, how they may involve personal information, how consent and preferences are managed, and how individuals can make choices about their use.

2. Relationship to Other Terms and Policies

This Notice supplements our Privacy Policy, Website Terms of Use and Transactional Terms. Where information collected through cookies and similar technologies can identify an individual or be linked to an identifiable individual, it is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable privacy laws.

3. What Are Cookies and Similar Technologies

Cookies are small data files stored on a browser or device when a person visits a website. Similar technologies, including web beacons, pixels, tags, scripts, local storage, device identifiers and analytics tools, may collect or store technical and usage information, recognize a browser or device, support website functionality, measure interactions, or help us understand how users engage with our website and communications.

These technologies may be placed by World Vision Canada or by service providers acting on our behalf. In some cases, third-party providers may also use information for their own purposes, subject to their own terms and privacy practices.

4. Categories of Technologies We Use

Depending on the part of the Site or digital service being used, we may use the following categories of technologies:

  • Strictly necessary technologies, which are required for core website operation, security, accessibility, fraud prevention, consent management, load balancing, account access, checkout, donation, event registration, sponsorship, payment and similar functionality.
  • Functionality technologies, which remember preferences such as language, region, display choices, form progress or other settings that improve usability.
  • Analytics and performance technologies, which help us understand website usage, pages visited, traffic sources, user interactions, campaign performance, errors and performance issues.
  • Advertising, targeting and outreach technologies, which may help us measure fundraising campaigns, understand engagement, avoid repeating irrelevant messages, and deliver or measure relevant content or appeals where permitted by law and user choices.
  • Email and communications technologies, which may help us understand whether emails are opened, links are clicked, messages are delivered, preferences are respected and communications are effective.
  • Security and fraud-prevention technologies, which help protect the Site, transactions, users, donors, children, beneficiaries, systems and data from misuse, fraud, unauthorized access, automated abuse, malware or other security threats.

5. Identification, Location and Profiling Technologies

Some cookies and similar technologies may allow a user or device to be identified, recognized, approximately located or profiled. For these purposes, profiling means the collection and use of information to evaluate certain characteristics, interests, preferences, behaviour, engagement patterns or interactions with our digital properties or communications.

Where required by applicable law, including Quebec privacy law, World Vision Canada provides notice of technologies that allow identification, location or profiling, explains the purposes for which they are used, and provides available means to activate, deactivate, manage or limit those functions through the cookie banner, preference tool, browser settings, unsubscribe tools or other available controls.

6. How We Use These Technologies

We may use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes, as applicable:

  • to operate, secure, troubleshoot and maintain the Site and related digital services;
  • to process donations, gift catalogue transactions, event registrations, subscriptions, account access, sponsorship-related interactions and other digital transactions;
  • to remember user choices and improve accessibility, language preferences, usability and user experience;
  • to measure website traffic, content performance, campaign effectiveness, donor engagement and communication performance;
  • to understand how users interact with forms, donation pages, sponsorship pages, event pages, campaign pages and communications;
  • to prevent fraud, misuse, unauthorized activity, automated abuse, security incidents and other harmful activity;
  • to tailor communications and outreach where permitted by law and consistent with user choices; and
  • to support legal, regulatory, audit, compliance, safeguarding and operational requirements.

7. Cookie Inventory and Preference Tool

The specific cookies and similar technologies used on the Site may change over time as technologies, service providers, campaigns and website features change. World Vision Canada will maintain or make available, through its cookie banner, preference-management tool, website scan, or other appropriate means, information about the material categories of non-essential technologies used on the Site.

World Vision Canada may update cookie and technology information from time to time as technologies, service providers, campaigns and website features change. Where a cookie banner, preference-management tool or similar mechanism is available, it may provide additional information about the cookies and similar technologies used on the Site and the choices available to users.

View our Cookie Inventory and Preference Tool.

8. Email Tracking Technologies

We may use, link tracking and similar technologies in emails and other electronic communications to measure delivery, opens, clicks, engagement, communication effectiveness, fundraising campaign performance and user preferences. These technologies help us understand whether communications are useful, improve future communications, reduce irrelevant messaging and respect unsubscribe or preference-management choices.

Where required by law, electronic communications are sent with appropriate consent and include unsubscribe or preference-management mechanisms.

9. Personal Information

Information collected through cookies and similar technologies may constitute personal information where it identifies or can reasonably be linked to an identifiable individual. This may include IP addresses, device identifiers, browser information, approximate location derived from technical information, online identifiers, user interactions, communication engagement data, transaction-related technical data or usage patterns.

Where cookie or technology data is personal information, World Vision Canada handles it in accordance with its Privacy Policy, including applicable safeguards, retention practices, individual rights and service-provider oversight.

10. Third-Party Technologies and Cross-Border Processing

We may use third-party providers for website analytics, tag management, consent management, payment processing, fraud prevention, hosting, security, communications, email delivery, event tools, fundraising platforms, advertising measurement, social media integrations or similar services. These providers may process information on our behalf or, in some cases, for their own purposes.

Information collected through cookies and similar technologies may be processed or stored outside the province or country in which it was collected, including in the United States. When this occurs, the information may be accessible to courts, law enforcement or national security authorities in those jurisdictions in accordance with applicable laws. Where required by law, we assess privacy risks and use contractual, technical and organizational safeguards appropriate to the circumstances.

11. Consent and Preference Management

Where required by law, World Vision Canada obtains consent before placing or using non-essential cookies or similar technologies. Users may be offered choices such as accepting all cookies, rejecting non-essential cookies, or managing preferences by category through a cookie banner or preference-management tool.

The preference-management tool may store a record of consent choices so that the Site can remember and respect those choices. Individuals may withdraw or change consent at any time by using the cookie preference tool where available, adjusting browser settings, using applicable opt-out tools, unsubscribing from eligible communications, or contacting us.

Strictly necessary technologies may remain active because they are required to operate the Site, maintain security, remember privacy choices, process transactions or provide requested services.

12. Browser and Device Controls

Most browsers allow users to block, delete or manage cookies through browser settings. Users may also be able to manage tracking preferences through device settings, browser privacy controls, private browsing modes, advertising settings or industry opt-out tools. The available controls vary by browser, device and technology provider.

For example, users may review the privacy or cookie settings for browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Apple Safari. Disabling or blocking some cookies may affect website functionality, donation processing, event registration, account access, language preferences, form completion, accessibility features or other Site functions.

13. Retention

Cookies and similar technologies may be session-based, meaning they expire when the browser is closed, or persistent, meaning they remain for a defined period unless deleted earlier. Retention periods vary depending on the category, provider, purpose and user choices.

World Vision Canada retains information collected through cookies and similar technologies only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Notice, consistent with its Privacy Policy, legal requirements, security needs, audit requirements, consent records, safeguarding obligations and operational practices.

14. Updates to This Notice

This Notice may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in our technologies, service providers, website features, legal requirements or privacy practices. The latest version will be posted on the Site with the effective date and last updated date. Where required by law, we will take additional steps to provide notice of material changes or obtain updated consent.

15. Contact

Questions or requests about this Notice or our use of cookies and similar technologies may be directed to:

Steven Pink, Chief Privacy Officer

World Vision Canada, 1 World Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5T 2Y4

Email: steven_pink@worldvision.ca