Privacy Policy
Last updated: September 15, 2025
TGC (“TGC”, “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a Canadian not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering women and gender-diverse individuals (“women+”) to thrive in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (“STEM”) and business sectors.
Every day we handle information about program participants, scholarship applicants, volunteers, donors, partners, and website users. Protecting that information—and being clear about how we use it—is fundamental to the service we provide and to the trust you place in us. This Privacy Policy explains, in straightforward language, how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information.
TGC is committed to complying with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”) as well as applicable provincial privacy legislation and charitable sector guidelines. By using our website at www.tgc.co or by engaging with any of our services, you are agreeing to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy (“Policy”). This Policy is part of, and subject to, our Terms of Use.
For clarity, “services” means the full range of programming, mentoring, scholarship, networking, fundraising, research, and other empowerment initiatives provided by TGC, whether delivered online, by phone, by email, or in person.
1. Scope
This Policy applies to personal information we collect from:
Program Participants – individuals who enroll in or attend TGC programs such as the Catalyst Course, workshops, mentorship circles, conferences, and networking events.
Scholarship Applicants – individuals who apply for the Catalyst Scholarship or any other bursary program administered by TGC.
Volunteers and Mentors – individuals who donate their time or expertise to support TGC’s mission.
Job Applicants – individuals who apply for paid or unpaid positions with TGC.
Donors and Partners – individuals or organizations that provide financial or in-kind support, sponsor events, or collaborate on initiatives.
Website Users – anyone who visits or interacts with www.tgc-org.ca or any related online service we operate.
By working with us or by using our website, you agree that we may collect, use, and share your personal information as described in this Policy. If you have questions at any time, please contact us using the details in Section 15.
2. Our Commitment
At TGC, inclusivity and integrity guide every aspect of how we handle your personal information. We are committed to earning and maintaining your trust by being transparent and responsible in all our privacy practices. Specifically, we:
Collect only the information we need to deliver our services and run our organization.
Explain why we are collecting personal information and how we will use it.
Obtain consent where the law requires it and honor your choices.
Protect the information in our care with appropriate safeguards.
Give you meaningful control over your information, including access, correction, and deletion where possible.
We regularly review our privacy practices to ensure they meet or exceed industry standards, and we train our team to handle your information with care and professionalism. If you have questions or concerns about how your information is managed, we encourage you to contact us at any time.
3. What Do We Mean by “Personal Information”?
“Personal information” means any information about an identifiable individual. This includes things such as a person’s name, contact details, résumé or curriculum vitae, scholarship responses, or program evaluation results. It does not include information that has been anonymized so that it can no longer identify a specific individual.
4. Non-Personally Identifiable Information
In addition to personal information, we also collect and use information that does not identify you as an individual, which we refer to as “Non-Personally Identifiable Information” or “NPI.” NPI includes data that has been aggregated, de-identified, or anonymized so that it cannot be connected to a specific individual. Examples of NPI include statistical or demographic information, browser type, device information, and details about how users interact with our website, such as pages visited and usage patterns.
We may collect NPI through cookies or similar technologies when you visit our website, as well as through internal research and analysis of our services. NPI is used to help us understand trends, improve our website and services, and enhance the experience for all users. We may also use NPI to customize the website, monitor website traffic, and analyze user size, usage patterns, demographics, interests, and behaviors. We may also use NPI in an aggregated form for research, reporting, or to share insights about our business, but this information cannot be used to identify any individual. NPI may be shared with trusted third parties, business partners, or service providers, but only in aggregate form and for lawful purposes such as improving our website and services. For example, we may use analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, to collect and analyze NPI about website traffic and activity.
NPI is not subject to the same restrictions as personal information, as it cannot be used to identify you. However, we are committed to handling all information responsibly and in accordance with applicable privacy laws. If you wish, you may disable cookies through your browser settings, though this may affect certain features of our website.
5. Information We Collect
5.1 Program Participants (Including Catalyst Course)
We may collect:
Contact details (name, mailing address, email, phone, date of birth).
Unique Client Identifier number assigned by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Demographic information you choose to provide (e.g., gender identity, pronouns, ethnicity, year of study, career stage).
Educational background, professional experience, and skills.
Registration details, attendance records, feedback forms, and progress or completion data.
Media (photos, testimonials, recordings) where you have provided consent.
Any additional information you choose to provide to us during programming, mentoring, or networking activities.
5.2 Scholarship Applicants
We may collect, in addition to the items above:
Financial-need information (e.g., household income range).
Personal statements, essays, and other application responses.
Letters of recommendation or reference contact details.
Sensitive identifiers such as date of birth and government-issued ID solely for verification and disbursement purposes.
5.3 Volunteers and Mentors
We may collect:
Contact details and professional background.
Areas of expertise, availability, and preferences for engagement.
Screening information, including references and, only where legally required, background or vulnerable-sector checks.
5.4 Donors and Partners
We may collect:
Contact and billing details, donation history, and recognition preferences.
Contractual or sponsorship information relating to joint initiatives.
5.5 Website Users
We may collect:
Information you choose to provide through web forms, email, or other interactive features.
Non-identifiable data such as browser type, device information, and pages visited, collected through cookies or similar technologies.
Information about your interactions with our website, such as the time and duration of your visits, the links you click, and the resources you access.
If you contact us through the website, we may retain records of your inquiry and our response.
We strive to collect only what is necessary to provide our services, improve your experience, and fulfill our legal obligations. If you have questions about the types of information we collect, please contact us for more details.
When we collect information from individuals located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or Switzerland, we do so based on your consent, our legitimate business interests, to fulfill a contract, or to comply with legal obligations. We will always explain the reason for collecting your information.
6. How We Use Your Information
We use your personal information only for purposes that a reasonable person would consider appropriate in the context of a not-for-profit organization. Specifically, we use your information to:
Deliver Program and Support Services.
Enroll you in courses, events, and mentorship offerings; track participation and progress; and communicate schedules and logistics.
Administer scholarships, including application review, selection, and verification.
Communicate With You
Respond to provide program updates, share resources, and invite you to events aligned with your interests.
Understand Needs and Improve Our Services
Analyze aggregated data and feedback to enhance program design, accessibility, and impact.
Use your feedback to refine our processes and ensure we are meeting your expectations.
Recognize Steward Supporters
Issue charitable tax receipts, acknowledge contributions, and report on program outcomes to donors and partners.
Meet Legal and Regulatory Obligations
Comply with CRA requirements for not-for profit organizations, fulfill audit duties, and adhere to anti-discrimination, privacy, and fundraising regulations.
Respond to lawful requests from regulators or authorities when required.
Manage Our Organization
Maintain accurate internal records, measure key performance indicators, and pursue funding or collaboration opportunities.
Manage and enhance the security of our systems to protect your information from unauthorized access or misuse.
We do not use artificial intelligence or automated decision-making to assess program or scholarship applicants without human review. If this changes, we will update this Policy and provide advance notice.
7. When We Share Information
We do not sell or rent personal information. We share it only in the situations below:
With Your Consent
We may share your personal information with third parties when you have given us your express or implied consent. This means we will always explain the purpose of the disclosure and seek your permission before sharing your information, except where otherwise permitted or required by law. You may withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions.
With Service Providers (“Affiliates”)
We may share your personal information with trusted third parties who help us operate our business, including companies assisting with program delivery, data analysis, or communications services. Affiliates are given access only to the information necessary to perform their work for us, and they are required to protect your information and keep it confidential.
Disclosure to Funders
In some cases, TGC may disclose certain personal information, such as your Date of Birth and Unique Client Identifier number assigned by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), to funders of our programs when required to fulfill funding agreements, reporting obligations, or to verify program eligibility. We will only disclose the minimum amount of information necessary and will do so in accordance with applicable privacy laws and contractual requirements.
Sharing Aggregated, Non-Identifiable Data
We may share aggregated, non-identifiable data with funders, partners, or other stakeholders to demonstrate program impact, outcomes, and reach. This information cannot be used to identify any individual.
Business Transactions
If TGC contemplates an amalgamation, winding-up, or other re-organization permitted under Canadian charity law, your information may be transferred as part of that process.
Legal Reasons
We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or other lawful request, or to protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property.
International Transfers
Some of our service providers may store or process information outside Canada (for example, in the United States). When this happens, your information may be subject to the laws of those jurisdictions. We will make sure it is protected by appropriate safeguards, such as contracts or approved frameworks, to keep your information safe.
We share information only as necessary to deliver our services, comply with legal obligations, or as otherwise described above. We do not use or disclose your personal information for any other purpose without your consent.
8. Notification of Legal Disclosure
If we are required to disclose your personal information due to a legal request (such as a court order, subpoena, or lawful request from a regulator or law enforcement agency), we will make reasonable efforts to notify you of the disclosure, unless we are legally prohibited from doing so. Our goal is to be transparent about how your information is handled and to keep you informed whenever possible.
9. Your Choices and Consent
You have choices regarding your personal information to us. Below, we outline how you can provide, manage, or withdraw your consent for the processing of your personal information.
Giving Consent – Consent can be express (written, verbal, or electronic) or implied (for example, when you provide a résumé for a search assignment). We will always explain why we are collecting your information and how it will be used, so you can make an informed decision.
Withdrawing Consent – You may withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions. If you choose to withdraw your consent, this may limit your ability to access our programs. If this happens, we will explain the impact and any next steps.
Marketing – We comply with Canada’s anti-spam legislation (CASL), and we will not send you electronic communications in contravention of this law. We will ensure that each electronic messages includes an opt-out feature and instructions on how to unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive future emails from us. You can unsubscribe using the link included in the email or electronic message, or by using the contact information set forth below. If we do not have consent, express or implied, to send you commercial electronic messages, we will only communicate with you for the limited purposes permitted under CASL.
You are always in control of your information. If you have questions about your choices or need help with your consent preferences, please contact us at any time.
10. Access, Correction, and Other Rights
You have the right to:
Ask whether we hold personal information about you and receive a copy, subject to limited exceptions.
Request corrections to keep your information accurate and current.
Ask us to delete information we no longer need, provided no law requires us to keep it.
If you make a request, we will respond within a reasonable time and at minimal or no cost. We will always do our best to fulfill your request.
Please note, we may not be able to provide access to certain information for legal, security, or proprietary reasons (for example, if the information contains references to other individuals, is subject to legal privilege, or cannot be disclosed for regulatory reasons). If we cannot provide access, we will explain the reason to you.
If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you have specific rights under privacy laws, including the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict the use of your personal information, and to object to certain uses. You may also have the right to receive your information in a portable format or to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
To make a request or exercise your rights, please contact our Privacy Officer using the details in Section 15. We are here to help and will work with you to address your concerns.
11. Retention
We keep personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes in this Policy and to comply with legal obligations, including Canada Revenue Agency requirements to retain certain donor and scholarship records for a minimum of seven years. When information is no longer required, we securely delete it or render it anonymous. You can ask us to delete your information at any time, unless we are required to keep it for legal reasons.
12. Safeguards
We use physical, administrative, and technical safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information, including:
Secure offices and locked filing cabinets.
Role-based access controls and staff confidentiality agreements.
Password protection, encryption, firewalls, and intrusion-detection systems.
Regular review of our security measures and employee training on privacy best practices.
No system is perfect, but we strive to protect information from loss, misuse, or unauthorized access.
13. Children
Our services and website are not directed to children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone in that age group.
14. Links to Other Websites
Our website may contain links to other sites for your convenience and information. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of those external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit, as their practices may differ from ours.
15. Contact Us
If you have questions, wish to exercise your rights, or want to make a privacy complaint, please contact our Privacy Officer:
TGC
Attention: Privacy Officer
Email: support@tgc.co
Mail: 1655 Dupont St, Suite #101 Toronto, ON, M6P 3T1, Canada
We investigate all privacy complaints and will respond within 14 business days. If you are not satisfied with our resolution, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada or the relevant provincial regulator.
16. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Policy from time to time. When we do, we will post the revised version and change the “Last updated” date at the top. Your continued relationship with us after any change means you accept the updated policy. If we make significant changes to this policy, we will let you know by posting a clear notice on our website before the changes take effect.
Thank you for trusting TGC. We are committed to safeguarding your privacy while helping you build exceptional leadership teams.