WMFE Privacy Policy

The membership base of the public broadcasting stations of WMFE is a financially important and uniquely valuable asset to WMFE. Its principal value, however, is the inherent trust and belief by the members that WMFE will follow ethical best practices in the confidential care and maintenance of the list and its use as a communications tool for the stations.

It is the policy of WMFE to protect the privacy of our donors and the confidentiality of information- both hard copy and electronic-concerning them and their contributions. Furthermore, the use of donor information for political or commercial purposes is strictly prohibited. WMFE maintains databases of biographical and financial information about WMFE members and prospects in accordance with the general needs and expectations of WMFE. The information contained in this database is intended exclusively for purposes related to WMFE programs and is highly protected.

It shall also be the policy of WMFE to maintain and advance a practice that allows the stations to mail to contacts from within the WMFE database, information regarding membership, renewal and periodic or ongoing communication with the member, whether lapsed or current. The list shall also be utilized, for similar telemarketing purposes by WMFE.

For member acquisition beyond the database, WMFE may elect to purchase or rent names from a third party provider of mailing lists. Under no circumstance shall WMFE rent or purchase names for acquisition purposes from any political party or religious group. WMFE may exchange or share names from its member database with another entity; however, such entity shall not be a political party or religious organization.

It shall be WMFE's policy, practice and custom to annually communicate to its current member's the ability of any member to "opt out" from any future list exchange that WMFE may make. Members shall also be provided the "opt out" ability from any WMFE initiated communication such as program guides, additional gift appeals, renewals, sweepstakes and the like. Such "opt out" advisories to members shall be made in WMFE's program guides, printed correspondence to members, on-air announcements and its internet page. The receipt by WMFE of "opt out" requests by members shall immediately be entered into that member's file in such a way as to permanently suppress that member's name from ever being sold, rented, shared or exchanged by WMFE with any source.

For more information on WMFE's Privacy Policy please email the membership department at wmfe@wmfe.org.

This policy shall be formally communicated to and acknowledge by appropriate WMFE staff, service agencies; list brokers and direct response vendors.