Privacy Policy

Effective Date: August 15, 2026

Last Updated: October 2, 2026

The Rice Collective LLC, doing business as The Rice Collective (“The Rice Collective,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), respects the privacy of our visitors, clients, prospective clients, collaborators, subscribers, and members of the public.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and protect personal information in connection with https://thericecollective.org (the “Website”), communications initiated through the Website, and related online interactions with The Rice Collective.

This Privacy Policy also explains the privacy choices and rights that may be available to you under applicable law.

This Policy does not apply to third-party websites, applications, platforms, or services that maintain their own privacy policies, even when they are linked from our Website.

1. Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected through or in connection with:

• thericecollective.org;
• Website forms and interactive features;
• newsletter subscriptions;
• comments;
• inquiries and project requests;
• communications initiated through the Website;
• advertising and conversion-measurement technologies;
• analytics and Website-performance technologies;
• social-media links and integrations; and
• other Website features that expressly reference this Privacy Policy.

Separate written agreements may govern information collected in connection with formal client engagements, employment relationships, contractor relationships, licensed productions, collaborations, purchases, or other business relationships.

Where another valid written agreement expressly governs the handling of particular information, that agreement may supplement this Privacy Policy.

2. Personal Information We Collect

“Personal information” or “personal data” generally means information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or can reasonably be linked to an identifiable individual, depending on applicable law.

A. Information You Provide Directly

We may collect information that you voluntarily provide, including:

• name;
• email address;
• telephone number;
• company or organization name;
• professional or business information;
• project information;
• messages and inquiries;
• correspondence;
• newsletter subscription information;
• comments;
• website URLs;
• portfolio links;
• social-media or professional-profile links;
• creative materials or files you choose to provide;
• information contained in project briefs; and
• other information you intentionally submit.

Please do not provide Social Security numbers, financial-account credentials, government identification numbers, medical information, biometric identifiers, passwords, authentication codes, or other highly sensitive information through ordinary Website forms or email unless The Rice Collective specifically requests the information for a legitimate purpose and provides an appropriate secure method for transmitting it.

B. Comments and Public Contributions

When comments are enabled, information associated with your comment may include:

• your name or display name;
• email address;
• website URL;
• comment content;
• IP address;
• account or platform information, when applicable; and
• technical information associated with the submission.

Information you intentionally place in a public comment may become publicly visible.

Do not include private, confidential, sensitive, or third-party personal information in public comments.

We may moderate, remove, restrict, or retain comments where reasonably necessary for security, spam prevention, legal compliance, moderation, or Website administration.

C. Newsletter Information

When you subscribe to Website updates or newsletters, we may collect:

• your email address;
• subscription status;
• subscription preferences; and
• information concerning delivery or engagement with communications where such functionality is enabled.

Our Website uses WordPress.com/Automattic infrastructure for certain subscription and Website functionality.

D. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit or interact with the Website, we or our service providers may automatically collect certain technical or usage information, including:

• IP address;
• browser type;
• device type;
• operating system;
• referring website or source;
• pages visited;
• links or buttons selected;
• approximate location derived from IP address;
• date and time of access;
• session information;
• Website interactions;
• cookie identifiers;
• advertising identifiers where permitted;
• error and diagnostic information; and
• similar technical information.

E. Information From Third Parties

We may receive information from third parties when you interact with The Rice Collective through third-party services.

Those sources may include:

• Website-hosting and infrastructure providers;
• social-media platforms;
• advertising platforms;
• analytics providers;
• newsletter and communication services;
• security and anti-spam services; and
• persons who contact or refer you to us.

We process information received from third parties in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable law.

3. Sensitive Personal Data

The Rice Collective does not intentionally seek to collect sensitive personal data through ordinary Website interactions except where reasonably necessary for a legitimate and lawful purpose.

Depending on applicable law, sensitive personal data may include information concerning:

• racial or ethnic origin;
• religious beliefs;
• health information;
• sex life;
• sexual orientation;
• gender identity;
• national origin;
• citizenship or immigration status;
• precise geolocation;
• genetic information;
• biometric information used for identification;
• government identification numbers; or
• personal information of a child.

Where Maryland law applies, The Rice Collective will not sell sensitive personal data and will collect, process, or share sensitive personal data only where permitted by applicable law.

4. How We Use Personal Information

We may use personal information to:

• operate and maintain the Website;
• provide Website functionality;
• respond to inquiries;
• respond to project or collaboration requests;
• communicate with prospective and existing clients;
• provide requested information;
• send newsletters or updates requested by subscribers;
• administer comments and community interactions;
• prevent spam, fraud, abuse, and malicious activity;
• authenticate or validate communications where reasonably necessary;
• secure our Website and systems;
• diagnose technical problems;
• understand Website traffic and performance;
• improve Website functionality and user experience;
• measure advertising effectiveness;
• measure conversions;
• administer advertising campaigns;
• maintain business and legal records;
• enforce agreements and policies;
• establish, exercise, or defend legal claims;
• protect the rights, property, intellectual property, safety, and security of The Rice Collective, our users, and others;
• comply with legal and regulatory obligations; and
• carry out other purposes disclosed at the time information is collected.

We seek to limit collection and processing to information reasonably necessary and proportionate to the purposes for which it is collected.

5. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The Website and its service providers may use technologies such as:

• cookies;
• pixels;
• tags;
• scripts;
• local storage;
• device identifiers; and
• similar technologies.

These technologies may support:

• essential Website functionality;
• security and fraud prevention;
• preferences;
• analytics;
• Website-performance measurement;
• newsletter functionality;
• advertising;
• advertising attribution; and
• conversion measurement.

Additional details are provided in our Cookie Policy.

Where applicable law requires consent before non-essential technologies are activated or personal information is disclosed, we will use appropriate consent controls.

Where an implemented Cookie Settings control is available, visitors may use it to manage the optional technologies it covers.

6. Cookie Categories

Where these technologies are enabled, the categories described in this Policy are:

Strictly Necessary

Technologies necessary for Website operation, security, consent-preference storage, forms, and requested functionality.

These technologies may remain active where permitted by applicable law.

Functional

Optional technologies that support preferences or enhanced Website functionality.

Analytics

Optional technologies that help us understand Website traffic, interactions, errors, and performance.

Advertising

Optional technologies used for advertising measurement, attribution, conversion tracking, remarketing, targeted advertising, or related advertising functions where permitted.

Additional details are available in our Cookie Policy and Cookie Settings.

7. WordPress.com and Automattic

The Website uses WordPress.com and related Automattic infrastructure and services.

Depending on the Website features enabled and your interactions, WordPress.com or Automattic may process information associated with:

• Website visits;
• security;
• comments;
• spam prevention;
• newsletter subscriptions;
• Website analytics;
• account interactions;
• cookies;
• IP addresses; and
• Website administration.

Automattic may process certain information on our behalf and may independently process other information under its own applicable terms and privacy practices.

Visitors should review Automattic’s privacy disclosures for more information concerning its independent processing.

8. Microsoft Advertising and Universal Event Tracking

The Rice Collective may use Microsoft Advertising in connection with advertising, attribution, audience measurement, campaign analysis, and conversion tracking.

The Website may use Microsoft’s Universal Event Tracking (“UET”) technology.

When Microsoft Advertising or UET is active, Microsoft may collect or receive information from Website visitors or from The Rice Collective for purposes associated with Microsoft Advertising, including:

• advertising measurement;
• attribution;
• reporting;
• conversion tracking;
• audience measurement;
• fraud prevention; and
• related advertising services.

Microsoft may process information it receives in accordance with the Microsoft Privacy Statement.

Microsoft Privacy Statement:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/privacystatement

Where required, Microsoft Advertising technologies will be configured to receive applicable consent signals and respect applicable privacy choices.

We do not intentionally configure Microsoft UET to transmit sensitive personal information.

9. Advertising and Targeted Advertising

The Rice Collective may use advertising technologies to:

• measure advertising performance;
• determine whether an advertisement resulted in a Website visit or conversion;
• understand campaign effectiveness; and
• create or use permitted advertising audiences.

Certain processing associated with advertising may constitute “targeted advertising,” “sharing,” or a “sale” under the definitions used by particular privacy laws even where no monetary payment is exchanged for personal information.

The Rice Collective does not sell personal information for money.

Where applicable law treats particular advertising disclosures as a sale, sharing, or targeted-advertising activity, eligible consumers may exercise applicable opt-out rights through our Privacy Choices process and, where technically applicable, Cookie Settings.

We do not knowingly process personal information for targeted advertising or sell personal information where we know or reasonably should know that the consumer is under 18 in circumstances prohibited by applicable Maryland law.

10. Categories of Third Parties

Depending on the Website feature or business interaction involved, we may disclose personal information to the following categories of recipients.

Website Hosting and Infrastructure Providers

Providers that host, operate, deliver, maintain, or secure Website infrastructure, including WordPress.com and Automattic-related services.

Advertising and Measurement Providers

Providers of advertising, conversion measurement, attribution, analytics, audience measurement, or advertising security services, including Microsoft Advertising when enabled.

Email and Newsletter Providers

Providers that deliver Website subscriptions, newsletters, notifications, and related communications.

Security and Anti-Abuse Providers

Providers used to detect or prevent spam, malware, fraud, unauthorized access, or other misuse.

Professional Advisers

Attorneys, accountants, insurers, consultants, and similar advisers where access is reasonably necessary for professional services, compliance, risk management, or legal matters.

Government Authorities or Other Parties Required by Law

We may disclose information where reasonably necessary to comply with applicable law, lawful legal process, court orders, subpoenas, or valid governmental requests.

Business Transactions

Information may be disclosed or transferred in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, sale of assets, or similar transaction, subject to applicable law.

At Your Direction or With Your Consent

We may disclose information where you request, authorize, or consent to the disclosure.

11. We Do Not Sell Sensitive Personal Data

The Rice Collective does not sell sensitive personal data.

We also do not knowingly sell personal information belonging to minors where prohibited by applicable law.

12. Data Minimization

We seek to collect only personal information reasonably necessary and proportionate for the purposes for which it is processed.

We discourage submission of unnecessary sensitive or confidential information.

Where information is no longer reasonably necessary for a legitimate business or legal purpose, we may delete, anonymize, aggregate, or otherwise dispose of it in accordance with applicable law and our record-retention practices.

The FTC likewise recommends collecting only information a business has a legitimate need to retain and maintaining appropriate security over the information it keeps.

13. Data Retention

We retain personal information for periods reasonably necessary to:

• provide requested Website or business services;
• maintain our relationship with you;
• respond to inquiries;
• administer subscriptions;
• maintain security;
• prevent fraud or abuse;
• maintain appropriate records;
• comply with legal, accounting, tax, contractual, or regulatory obligations;
• resolve disputes; and
• establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.

Different categories of information may be retained for different periods.

For example, information necessary to maintain an email-suppression or unsubscribe record may be retained after a person unsubscribes so that we can continue honoring the request.

Backup copies may persist temporarily after information is deleted from active systems until those backups are overwritten or securely retired.

14. Data Security

The Rice Collective uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, acquisition, destruction, loss, alteration, misuse, or disclosure.

Security measures may include, as appropriate:

• access controls;
• account authentication;
• secure Website connections;
• vendor controls;
• software and platform updates;
• malware and spam protections;
• backup and recovery practices;
• incident-response procedures; and
• limitations on access to information.

Maryland PIPA requires businesses that own or license qualifying personal information to maintain reasonable security procedures and practices appropriate to the nature of the information and the nature and size of the business.

No Internet transmission, network, platform, or information-storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Accordingly, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

15. Security Incidents and Data Breaches

If The Rice Collective becomes aware of a security incident involving personal information, we may investigate the incident and take reasonable steps to:

• contain it;
• assess its scope;
• remediate identified vulnerabilities;
• preserve relevant records;
• determine notification obligations; and
• reduce the risk of recurrence.

Where applicable law requires notification to affected individuals, regulators, law enforcement, or other authorities, we will provide notifications in accordance with applicable requirements.

Maryland PIPA includes breach-investigation and notification obligations for qualifying incidents involving Maryland residents’ personal information.

16. Your Privacy Choices

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights or choices concerning personal information.

These may include:

• managing cookie preferences;
• rejecting or limiting non-essential advertising technologies;
• unsubscribing from promotional email;
• requesting access to personal information;
• requesting correction;
• requesting deletion;
• requesting a portable copy of certain information;
• requesting information concerning applicable disclosures;
• withdrawing consent where processing depends on consent;
• opting out of qualifying targeted advertising;
• opting out of qualifying sales or sharing;
• opting out of qualifying profiling; and
• appealing certain denied privacy requests.

The availability and scope of these rights depend on applicable law.

For detailed instructions, visit our Privacy Choices page.

17. Maryland Privacy Rights

The Maryland Online Data Privacy Act (“MODPA”) became effective October 1, 2025. Where MODPA applies to The Rice Collective and the relevant processing activity, qualifying Maryland consumers may have rights concerning their personal data.

Subject to applicable requirements and exceptions, those rights may include:

• confirmation of whether we process your personal data;
• access to personal data;
• correction of inaccuracies;
• deletion of qualifying personal data;
• data portability;
• information concerning categories of third parties to which personal data has been disclosed;
• opting out of targeted advertising;
• opting out of the sale of personal data;
• opting out of qualifying profiling involving solely automated decisions producing legal or similarly significant effects;
• revoking qualifying consent; and
• protection from unlawful discrimination for exercising applicable privacy rights.

Submit a Maryland Privacy Request

Email:

thericecollective@outlook.com

Use the subject line:

Maryland Privacy Request

Please describe the right you wish to exercise and provide enough information for us to reasonably locate relevant records.

We will not require you to create a new account solely to exercise a privacy right.

Where permitted, we may request information reasonably necessary to verify your identity or authority.

Response Time

Where MODPA applies, we will respond to a qualifying Maryland consumer request within 45 days after receipt, subject to applicable verification and lawful exceptions.

Where permitted by law and reasonably necessary, the response period may be extended by an additional 45 days, with notice where required.

Authorized Agents

Where applicable law permits, you may designate an authorized agent to exercise certain privacy rights on your behalf.

We may take commercially reasonable steps permitted by law to verify the consumer’s identity and the agent’s authority.

Maryland Privacy Appeals

If we decline a qualifying Maryland privacy request, you may appeal the decision.

Email:

thericecollective@outlook.com

Subject:

Maryland Privacy Appeal

Where MODPA applies, we will respond to a qualifying appeal within 60 days after receipt.

If an appeal is denied, we will provide information regarding an available mechanism for contacting the Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division where required by law.

18. Privacy Rights in Other U.S. States

Residents of certain other U.S. states may have privacy rights when applicable statutory requirements are satisfied.

Depending on the jurisdiction, those rights may include:

• access;
• confirmation of processing;
• correction;
• deletion;
• portability;
• disclosure information;
• targeted-advertising opt-outs;
• sale or sharing opt-outs;
• qualifying profiling opt-outs;
• certain sensitive-data rights;
• appeals; and
• protection from unlawful discrimination.

To submit an applicable request, email:

thericecollective@outlook.com

Subject:

U.S. Privacy Request — [Your State]

We will evaluate the request under the law applicable to the requesting consumer and the relevant processing activity.

19. California Online Privacy Notice

The Website may be accessed by California residents.

Categories of personally identifiable information that may be collected are described in Section 2.

Categories of third parties to whom information may be disclosed are described in Section 10.

Privacy-request procedures are described in Sections 16–18 and on our Privacy Choices page.

Material changes are addressed in Section 30.

Do Not Track

Some browsers offer a legacy “Do Not Track” (“DNT”) setting.

Because DNT has not developed into a single universally implemented technical standard, the Website may not respond to legacy DNT signals uniformly across all technologies.

This does not limit legally enforceable privacy rights.

Where applicable law requires recognition of a valid opt-out preference signal or universal opt-out mechanism and the signal applies to our processing, we will process the signal in accordance with applicable law and available Website technology.

20. Cookie and Advertising Preferences

Where an implemented Cookie Settings control is available, visitors may manage the optional Website technologies it covers through that control.

Available categories may include:

• Strictly Necessary;
• Functional;
• Analytics; and
• Advertising.

Rejecting non-essential cookies should not prevent access to basic Website content, although optional features or measurement functions may be affected.

A consent choice may be retained so that the Website can remember and respect the preference.

Browser settings may also allow you to block, restrict, or delete cookies.

For broader privacy rights, use our Privacy Choices page.

21. Email Communications

You may unsubscribe from promotional or newsletter communications using the unsubscribe mechanism included in the communication where available.

You may also contact:

thericecollective@outlook.com

to request removal from promotional communications.

We may retain information necessary to honor an unsubscribe request.

Unsubscribing from marketing does not prevent us from sending non-promotional communications reasonably necessary to:

• respond to an inquiry;
• administer an existing relationship;
• provide requested information;
• address security concerns;
• comply with law; or
• communicate about an existing transaction or agreement.

Providing a telephone number does not, by itself, constitute consent to receive automated marketing calls or texts where separate consent is required.

22. Children and Minors

The Website is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13 years of age.

We do not knowingly collect personal information online from children under 13 in circumstances requiring parental consent under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.

If we learn that personal information from a child under 13 was collected in violation of applicable law, we will take reasonable steps to delete or otherwise handle the information as required.

Parents or legal guardians may contact:

thericecollective@outlook.com

Where Maryland law applies, we do not knowingly sell personal data of consumers under 18 or knowingly use such personal data for targeted advertising where prohibited.

23. Creative Materials and Confidential Information

You may choose to provide project descriptions, portfolio links, creative materials, or other content when contacting The Rice Collective.

Do not submit confidential trade secrets, highly sensitive personal information, or confidential third-party information through ordinary Website channels unless an appropriate agreement and secure transmission method are already in place.

The treatment of creative submissions, project concepts, pitches, scripts, artwork, music, designs, and similar materials is addressed in our Terms of Use, Contact Policy, and applicable written project agreements.

24. Third-Party Websites, Social Media, and Embedded Services

The Website may link to or interact with websites or platforms operated by third parties.

When you leave our Website or interact directly with a third-party service, that provider may independently collect information under its own privacy policy and terms.

The Rice Collective does not control and is not responsible for the independent privacy practices of third-party services.

Review applicable third-party privacy notices before submitting information.

25. International Visitors

The Rice Collective is based in the United States.

Personal information may be processed in the United States or other locations where our service providers operate.

Privacy and data-protection laws differ between jurisdictions.

Where a non-U.S. privacy law applies to our processing, we will seek to comply with applicable requirements, including applicable consent requirements concerning tracking or advertising technologies.

26. Legal Disclosures

We may preserve, use, or disclose information where we reasonably believe doing so is necessary to:

• comply with applicable law;
• respond to lawful legal process;
• respond to valid governmental or regulatory requests;
• investigate suspected fraud or unlawful activity;
• protect Website security or integrity;
• enforce agreements or policies;
• protect our legal rights or intellectual property;
• protect users or other persons from harm; or
• establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.

Nothing in this Privacy Policy requires us to disclose information where disclosure would violate applicable law, legal privilege, trade-secret protection, or another lawful restriction.

27. Business Transfers

If The Rice Collective is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, restructuring, sale of assets, insolvency proceeding, or similar business transaction, information may be disclosed or transferred as part of that transaction, subject to applicable law.

Any successor that assumes personal information covered by this Privacy Policy will be expected to handle that information consistently with applicable legal requirements.

28. Contact and Communications

How individuals may communicate with The Rice Collective, including privacy, accessibility, security, intellectual-property, media, project, and general business inquiries, is described more fully in our Contact Policy.

Contacting The Rice Collective through ordinary Website or email channels does not automatically create a client, confidentiality, employment, partnership, fiduciary, or other professional relationship.

29. Accessibility

If an accessibility barrier prevents you from accessing this Privacy Policy or exercising a privacy right through the Website, you may contact us directly.

Email:

thericecollective@outlook.com

Subject:

Accessibility Request

Additional information is available in our Accessibility Statement.

30. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may revise this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in:

• Website functionality;
• business operations;
• service providers;
• advertising technologies;
• legal requirements;
• regulatory guidance; or
• privacy practices.

When changes are made, we will update the Last Updated date at the beginning of this Policy.

If a change materially affects how personal information is processed, we may provide additional notice or obtain consent where required by applicable law.

We will not use a Privacy Policy revision as a basis to disregard privacy rights or consent requirements imposed by applicable law.

31. Contact The Rice Collective

For questions about this Privacy Policy, privacy requests, or concerns regarding personal information:

The Rice Collective LLC

Doing business as The Rice Collective

Maryland, United States

Website:

Home

Email:

thericecollective@outlook.com

Privacy Request Subject Lines

General Privacy Request:

Privacy Request

Maryland Privacy Request:

Maryland Privacy Request

Maryland Privacy Appeal:

Maryland Privacy Appeal

For additional instructions concerning access, correction, deletion, portability, advertising opt-outs, authorized agents, appeals, and related privacy rights, review our Privacy Choices page.

32. Related Policies and Controls

This Privacy Policy should be read together with:

Cookie Policy

Explains cookies and similar technologies used on the Website.

Terms of Use

Governs use of the Website and Website content.

Privacy Choices

Explains available privacy rights and how to exercise them.

Accessibility Statement

Explains our accessibility commitment and assistance process.

Contact Policy

Explains how communications and inquiries are handled.

Cookie Settings

An implemented Cookie Settings control allows visitors to manage the optional Website technologies it covers. A policy page or downloadable document does not itself change technology preferences.

© 2026 The Rice Collective LLC. All rights reserved.