1. Introduction

TipTheHerd ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform that enables content creators to spotlight their team members and allows fans to send tips directly to those crew members.

By using TipTheHerd, you consent to the data practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with these practices, please do not use our Service.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

Email address
Name
Password (stored using industry-standard encryption; we cannot see your password)

2.2 Profile and Team Information

When you create a team page, we collect:

Creator profile information (name, bio, profile image)
Crew member names, roles, descriptions, and photos
Team page customization preferences

Note: Team pages and crew member profiles are publicly visible. Do not include information you wish to keep private.

2.3 Payment and Financial Information

For Crew Members receiving tips: To receive tips, you must connect a Stripe account. When you do so, Stripe collects and processes your financial information directly. This may include:

Bank account or debit card information
Tax identification information (SSN/EIN for US users)
Identity verification documents
Business information (if applicable)

Important: TipTheHerd does not collect, store, or have access to your bank account numbers, card numbers, or tax identification numbers. This information is collected and stored solely by Stripe in accordance with their Privacy Policy.

For Tippers sending tips: When you send a tip, your payment card information is collected and processed directly by Stripe. TipTheHerd receives only:

Transaction confirmation and amount
Last four digits of the card used (for your reference)
Billing name (if different from account name)

2.4 Transaction Data

We collect and retain records of tip transactions, including:

Tip amounts
Date and time of transactions
Sender and recipient identifiers
Platform fees deducted
Messages included with tips (if any)

2.5 Usage Data

We automatically collect information about how you interact with our Service:

Pages and features accessed
Time spent on pages
Clicks, scrolls, and interactions
Referral sources
Search queries within the Service

2.6 Device and Technical Information

We automatically collect certain technical information:

IP address
Browser type and version
Device type and operating system
Time zone and language settings
Unique device identifiers

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

3.1 Providing the Service

Create and manage your account
Display your team page and crew member profiles
Facilitate tip transactions between Tippers and Crew Members
Calculate and deduct platform fees
Provide customer support

3.2 Communications

Send transactional emails (account verification, tip notifications, receipts)
Send service announcements and updates
Respond to your inquiries and support requests
Send marketing communications (with your consent, where required)

3.3 Improvement and Analytics

Analyze usage patterns to improve the Service
Develop new features and functionality
Conduct research and analysis
Monitor and prevent fraud and abuse

3.4 Legal and Safety

Comply with legal obligations and tax reporting requirements
Enforce our Terms of Service
Protect the rights, property, and safety of TipTheHerd and our users
Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

4.1 With Stripe (Payment Processor)

We share necessary information with Stripe to process payments, including names, email addresses, and transaction details. Stripe's use of your information is governed by their Privacy Policy.

4.2 Public Information

The following information is publicly visible on your team page:

Creator name and profile
Crew member names, roles, bios, and photos
Team page URL

4.3 Between Users

When a tip is sent, Crew Members can see the Tipper's display name (or "Anonymous" if the Tipper chooses). Creators can see tip activity for their team in their dashboard.

4.4 Service Providers

We may share information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as:

Cloud hosting and infrastructure (e.g., database providers)
Email delivery services
Analytics providers
Customer support tools

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and may only use it to provide services to us.

4.5 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, including:

In response to lawful requests by public authorities (e.g., subpoenas, court orders)
To comply with tax reporting requirements (e.g., IRS Form 1099-K)
To protect our legal rights or defend against legal claims
In connection with an investigation of fraud, intellectual property infringement, or other illegal activity

4.6 Business Transfers

If TipTheHerd is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change and any choices you may have.

5. Tax Reporting

For Crew Members: If you receive tips through TipTheHerd, you may be subject to tax reporting requirements. We or our payment processor (Stripe) may be required to:

Collect your tax identification information (SSN or EIN)
Report your earnings to the IRS via Form 1099-K if you meet applicable thresholds
Provide you with tax documentation for your records

You are solely responsible for reporting tip income and paying any applicable taxes. We recommend consulting a tax professional.

6. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to:

Provide you with the Service
Comply with legal obligations (including tax record retention requirements)
Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements

Transaction records and financial data may be retained for seven (7) years or longer as required by tax and financial regulations. When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within a reasonable timeframe, except where retention is required by law.

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information, including:

Encryption of data in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
Secure password hashing
Regular security assessments
Access controls limiting employee access to personal data
Monitoring for suspicious activity

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

8.1 Access and Portability

You can access most of your personal information through your account dashboard. You may request a copy of your data in a portable format by contacting us.

8.2 Correction

You can update your account information and team page directly through the Service. For other corrections, please contact us.

8.3 Deletion

You can delete your account at any time by contacting us at privacy@tiptheherd.com. Note that:

Some information may be retained as required by law (e.g., transaction records for tax purposes)
Information may persist in backups for a limited time
Publicly posted content may have been copied by others

8.4 Marketing Opt-Out

You can opt out of marketing emails by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email or by updating your email preferences in your account settings. You cannot opt out of transactional emails related to your account and tips.

8.5 Do Not Track

Our Service does not currently respond to "Do Not Track" signals from browsers.

9. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

9.1 Essential Cookies

Required for the Service to function, including maintaining your login session and security features. These cannot be disabled.

9.2 Analytics Cookies

Help us understand how users interact with the Service so we can improve it. These may include third-party analytics tools.

9.3 Preference Cookies

Remember your settings and preferences to provide a personalized experience.

Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. However, disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the Service.

10. Children's Privacy

The Service is not intended for children under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete that information.

11. International Data Transfers

TipTheHerd is based in the United States. If you access the Service from outside the United States, your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States. By using the Service, you consent to this transfer.

12. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

Right to Know: You can request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.
Right to Delete: You can request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@tiptheherd.com. We do not sell personal information as defined by the CCPA.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by:

Posting the updated Privacy Policy on this page with a new "Last updated" date
Sending an email notification for significant changes

Your continued use of the Service after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

TipTheHerd
Email: privacy@tiptheherd.com

For data protection inquiries, please include "Privacy Request" in the subject line of your email.