Last updated: February 1, 2026

Walpurgis Words for Literacy ("Walpurgis Words," "we," "us," or "our") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in Ohio. We are committed to protecting the privacy of everyone who visits our website and takes part in our programs — and because much of our work supports high school students, we take special care with the personal information of minors.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. By using walpurgiswords.org or submitting information to us, you agree to the practices described here.

Information we collect

Information you give us directly. We collect the information you choose to provide, including when you:

• Enter a contest (such as the Halloween Horror Flash Fiction Student Contest). This may include the student's name, email address, age, grade level, school name and location, story title and submitted manuscript, and — where the student is a minor — a parent or guardian's name, email address, and consent, and optionally a teacher's name and email.
• Contact us through our contact form or by email, which includes your name, email address, and the contents of your message.
• Subscribe to our newsletter or updates, which includes your email address.
• Donate or offer to support us, in which case payment details are handled by our third-party payment processors and are not stored on our servers.

Information collected automatically. Like most websites, we may automatically collect limited technical information such as your browser type, device type, referring pages, and general usage data. We use only the cookies and similar technologies necessary for the site to function and to understand aggregate, non-identifying traffic.

How we use your information

We use the information we collect to:

• Administer, judge, and announce the results of our contests and programs;
• Communicate with entrants, parents or guardians, teachers, and supporters about submissions and events;
• Respond to your questions and messages;
• Send newsletters and updates to people who have asked to receive them;
• Operate, maintain, and improve our website; and
• Comply with our legal, tax, and reporting obligations as a nonprofit organization.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information.

Children's and students' privacy

Our programs are designed for high school students, many of whom are minors. When a contest entrant is under the age of 18, we ask for the name, email address, and consent of a parent or guardian, and we email that parent or guardian a confirmation of the entry.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at info@walpurgiswords.org and we will delete it.

Parents and guardians may review, request changes to, or request deletion of their child's information, and may withdraw consent for its continued use, by contacting us at the email above.

How we share information

We share personal information only in limited circumstances:

• With service providers who help us operate — such as website hosting, email delivery, and payment processing — and only as needed to perform those services.
• For contest recognition, we may publish a winner's first name, last initial, grade, general location (such as city and state), and winning story. We obtain consent before publishing a minor's work or identifying details.
• When required by law, such as to comply with a subpoena, legal process, or governmental request, or to protect the rights, safety, and property of Walpurgis Words or others.

Submitted stories and creative work

Entrants retain ownership of the stories and creative work they submit. By entering a contest, you grant Walpurgis Words a non-exclusive license to review, judge, and — with appropriate consent — publish or promote winning and selected entries in connection with our mission. Specific contest rules govern each contest and control if there is any conflict.

Data retention and security

We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy or as required by law, after which we take reasonable steps to delete or anonymize it. We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, however, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your choices and rights

You may:

• Unsubscribe from our emails at any time using the link in any message or by contacting us;
• Ask us to access, correct, or delete personal information we hold about you; and
• Ask questions about how your information is handled.

To make any of these requests, email us at info@walpurgiswords.org.

Third-party links

Our website may link to other sites we do not control, such as our fundraising and social media pages. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those sites, and we encourage you to review their own privacy policies.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date above. Significant changes will be noted on this page.

Contact us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please contact us:

Walpurgis Words for Literacy
Email: info@walpurgiswords.org