Privacy policy

Information we handle

ChinGroups handles account names, email addresses, passwords or sign-in codes, optional phone numbers, member contact details, addresses, birthdays, group memberships, roles and preferences. Group administrators may enter member information on behalf of their group. A group affiliation or information voluntarily included in a record may reveal sensitive information, such as religious or ethnic affiliation.

We also handle projects, contribution amounts and payment methods, income and expenses, posts, selected photos, comments, reactions, polls and votes, and reports sent to moderators or support. ChinGroups records money received or spent; it does not charge a bank account, process payments or transfer money. Do not enter bank account numbers, payment-card details or unnecessary sensitive information in notes.

Account and device identifiers, sign-in tokens, notification tokens and preferences, and security and change-history records help protect accounts and operate the service. Our hosting service may process network information such as IP addresses in security logs. Unfinished forms may be stored on your device. Authentication tokens use the device’s secure storage.

How we use information

We use this information to authenticate users, administer groups, maintain member and financial records, provide reports and community features, deliver requested notifications, prevent abuse and respond to support requests. ChinGroups does not sell personal information, display advertising, use third-party analytics in the native app, or track users across other companies’ apps and websites.

Who can see information

Group administrators can access records needed to manage their groups. Other members see information according to their roles and the group’s sharing settings. Administrators control whether a group is listed and whether selected project information is public. Only share information that you are authorized to provide.

Our hosting and email services process information needed to operate ChinGroups. Apple processes push-notification delivery when you enable notifications. Providers must protect the information they process for us and may use it only for the services they provide or as required by law. We may disclose information when required by applicable law or to protect users and the security of the service.

When you export or share a report, the recipient receives the information included in it. Copies independently held by your group or other recipients are outside the app’s control. Contact the relevant group administrator about those copies.

Retention and account deletion

We retain account and group information while it is needed to provide the service. You can initiate deletion inside the app: My group → Settings → Account settings → Delete my account. Members who sign in by email code can use My group → Settings → Delete my account. You do not need to email support to initiate deletion.

Deletion removes your ChinGroups app account or member access, contact details, authored posts, photos and comments, votes, sign-in sessions and notification registrations. Deletion normally completes immediately; any remaining deletion processing in the active service is completed within 30 days. You are signed out when deletion succeeds. Local drafts on the device are removed.

Groups you own are archived when you delete your account. Transfer ownership first if a group must continue operating. Accounting amounts remain with your name and contact details removed so group totals and financial history stay accurate. A separately managed WordPress website administrator login is distinct from an app-created account and is not removed by app-account deletion.

Information we are legally required to retain is restricted to that purpose and retained only for the required period. We do not retain identifiable financial records indefinitely by default. Restricted disaster-recovery backups may persist until their scheduled replacement. They are not used as active account data, and deletion must be reapplied before a restored backup is returned to service. Copies exported by group administrators are controlled by those administrators.

Your choices and security

You can choose whether to upload photos and enable notifications. Change notification preferences in the app or iOS Settings. Contact your group administrator to correct member records, or contact support@chingroups.com for help with access, correction, export or privacy requests. We may verify your identity before responding. We use HTTPS, access controls and protected authentication storage; no system can guarantee absolute security.

Children and community safety

ChinGroups is a general community administration service and is not designed specifically for children. Group administrators must have appropriate authority and consent when entering another person’s information, including information about minors. Do not use the service to publish a child’s private information without appropriate authorization. Report concerns to support@chingroups.com.

Use the Safety menu on posts and comments to report content or block an author. We aim to review abuse reports within 24 hours. This is a response target, not an emergency service.

Policy changes

We update this page and its effective date when practices change. Material changes will be communicated through the app or another appropriate notice.