Last updated: June 22, 2026
The Kindling Initiative ("Platform", "we", "us") is a community volunteer platform that connects elderly neighbors ("Elders") who need help with everyday tasks to teenage volunteers ("Teens") who want to contribute to their communities. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, and how we use and protect it.
Account information. When you sign up — either by email or by signing in with Google — we collect your name, email address, and (if you provide one) your profile photo. If you sign up with email and password, we store a securely hashed version of your password; we never see or store the plain-text password.
Profile information. You may also provide a phone number and the role you play on the Platform (Elder or Teen). If you register as a Teen volunteer, we ask for your date of birth (used to confirm you meet our 13–18 age requirement and stored as your age), the school you attend, and optionally your city, so Elders know who is coming to help and so we can keep the community safe.
Activity information. We store the help requests you post, the tasks you accept, the chat messages you send, and any photos you attach to a chat, so the people you are coordinating with can see them and so we can show you your own history. We also record task completions and the service points Teen volunteers earn.
Technical information. When you use the Platform, our servers automatically receive your IP address. We use it only to apply rate limits and detect automated abuse (such as bot sign-ups); we do not use it to build advertising profiles.
We collect this information for a single purpose: to operate the Kindling Initiative volunteer-matching service. Specifically, we use it to:
• Create and secure your account, and let you sign back in.
• Match Elders who post requests with Teens who can help, and show each person who they are coordinating with.
• Power real-time chat between matched users so they can arrange the task.
• Send transactional emails and SMS messages (account confirmation, one-time verification codes, password reset, important account notices).
• Confirm that Teen volunteers meet our age requirement and keep the community safe.
• Protect the Platform from spam, bots, and abuse.
• Track volunteer service hours and recognize Teen contributions.
We do not use your information for advertising, and we do not sell it.
If you choose to sign in with Google, we request only the basic profile scopes (openid, email, and profile). This gives us your name, email address, and profile photo. We do not request access to your Gmail, Drive, Calendar, contacts, or any other Google service.
Google data we receive is used solely to create and identify your Kindling account, as described above. It is never sold, shared with advertisers, or used for any purpose other than running the Platform.
With other users.Once an Elder and a Teen are matched on a task, each can see the other's name, profile photo, and the chat messages exchanged about that task. Phone numbers are only shared if you choose to include yours in your profile.
With service providers. We use Supabase to host our database, store chat photos, and handle authentication; an SMS provider to deliver one-time phone verification codes; and Vercel to host the website. These providers process data on our behalf under their own security and privacy commitments.
Never with advertisers or data brokers. We do not sell or rent your personal information to anyone.
Data is transmitted over HTTPS and stored in an access-controlled database with row-level security so users can only read records they are entitled to see. Passwords are stored as salted hashes. We restrict internal access to the small number of maintainers who operate the Platform.
You can update your profile information at any time from your account page. You may request deletion of your account and associated personal data by contacting us at the email address below; once requested, your account and personal data will be removed within 30 days, except where we are required to retain limited records for legal or safety reasons.
You may also disconnect Google sign-in from your Google account settings at any time; doing so will prevent further sign-ins via Google but will not by itself delete your Kindling account.
The Platform is intended for Teen volunteers who are high-school students aged 13–18 and for adult Elders. Because all Teen volunteers are minors, a parent or legal guardian must review these policies and consent to the Teen's participation before they use the Platform. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has created an account, please contact us and we will remove it.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date above. Continued use of the Platform after an update means you accept the revised policy.
Questions about this policy or your data can be sent to ekaagar.chawla@gmail.com.