Website Policies

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy
Our Approach to AI

Organisational details

NPO Registration Number: 151-411 NPO
Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) Number: 930050622
Registered address: Opposite 107 Mountain Road, Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa
Email: info@greenpop.org
Phone: +27 76 803 5729
Website: greenpop.org

Part 1: Terms of use

Welcome to greenpop.org (the “Website”), operated by The Greenpop Foundation NPC (“Greenpop,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), a registered non-profit organisation (NPO Reg. No. 151-411 NPO) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO No. 930050622) based in Cape Town, South Africa. These Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Website, including any content, functionality, and services offered on or through it.

1. Acceptance of terms

By accessing or using the Website, making a donation, subscribing to our newsletter, registering for an event, or otherwise interacting with the Website, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, which are incorporated by reference. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Website.

2. Who we are

Greenpop is a South African environmental non-profit working across Sub-Saharan Africa on reforestation, urban greening, environmental education, and impact events. Our full contact and organisational details are set out at the end of this document.

3. Eligibility

The Website is intended for users who are at least 18 years old, or who have the consent of a parent or guardian. Certain activities, such as event registration or volunteering, may have their own age requirements which will be communicated at the point of registration.

4. Use of the website

You agree to use the Website only for lawful purposes and in a way that does not infringe the rights of, or restrict or inhibit the use and enjoyment of the Website by, any third party. Prohibited uses include, without limitation:

  • Attempting to gain unauthorised access to the Website, our servers, or any connected systems
  • Introducing viruses, malware, or other harmful code
  • Using automated means (bots, scrapers) to access the Website without our prior written consent
  • Submitting false, misleading, or fraudulent information, including in donation, newsletter, or event registration forms
  • Using the Website in any way that could damage, disable, or impair Greenpop's operations or reputation

5. Donations and payments

The Website enables users to make monetary donations to support Greenpop's programmes. By making a donation, you confirm that you are authorised to use the payment method provided and that all information supplied is accurate.

  • Donations are processed through our third-party payment gateway, PayFast. Greenpop does not store full payment card details on its own servers; these are handled by PayFast in accordance with applicable card industry security standards.
  • Donations are generally non-refundable, except where required by law or at Greenpop's discretion in cases of error (e.g. duplicate transactions or processing mistakes). Refund requests can be sent to info@greenpop.org.
  • Section 18A tax certificates, B-BBEE affidavits, and SED letters are available on request for qualifying donations, in line with South African tax legislation.
  • Recurring or subscription donations may be cancelled at any time by contacting us or, where available, through your donor account settings.

6. Newsletter and email communications

If you subscribe to our newsletter or mailing list, we will use your email address to send you updates about Greenpop's projects, impact, campaigns, and fundraising appeals. You may unsubscribe at any time using the link provided in each email or by contacting info@greenpop.org. See our Privacy Policy for further detail on how this information is used.

7. Volunteer and event registration

Where the Website allows you to register for volunteer opportunities, tree-planting days, workshops, or other events, you agree to provide accurate registration details. Specific events may carry their own terms, waivers, or health and safety requirements, which will be communicated separately at the time of registration. Participation in physical activities (e.g. planting days, outdoor events) is at your own risk, and where required, you may be asked to sign a separate indemnity or waiver form.

8. Intellectual property

All content on the Website — including text, graphics, logos, images, video, and software — is the property of Greenpop or its licensors and is protected by South African and international copyright and trademark laws. You may view, download, and print content for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from any content on the Website without our prior written permission, except for standard sharing via social media share buttons provided on the Website.

9. User-submitted content

If the Website allows you to submit content (such as comments, testimonials, or event photos), you grant Greenpop a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, reproduce, and display that content in connection with our promotional and educational activities. You confirm that any content you submit does not infringe the rights of any third party.

10. Third-party links

The Website may contain links to third-party websites (for example, payment processors, social media platforms, or partner organisations). These links are provided for convenience only. Greenpop does not control and is not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or availability of third-party sites.

11. Disclaimer of warranties

The Website is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Greenpop makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, reliability, or availability of the Website or its content, and disclaims all warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

12. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by South African law, Greenpop shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of, or inability to use, the Website, including loss of data, revenue, or goodwill, even where we have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Nothing in these Terms limits liability for gross negligence, wilful misconduct, or any liability that cannot be excluded under South African law.

13. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Greenpop, its directors, employees, volunteers, and agents from and against any claims, losses, or damages arising from your breach of these Terms or your misuse of the Website.

14. Governing law and jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Website will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the South African courts.

15. Changes to these terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal or operational reasons. The “Effective Date” at the top of this document will be updated accordingly. Continued use of the Website after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

16. Contact us

Questions about these Terms can be directed to info@greenpop.org or +27 76 803 5729.

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Part 2: Privacy policy

Greenpop Foundation NPC (“Greenpop,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA). This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect through greenpop.org, how we use it, who we share it with, and the rights you have over it. Where visitors access our Website from the European Union, United Kingdom, or other regions with their own data protection laws, we also aim to align our practices with recognised international standards such as the GDPR.

1. Information we collect

We collect personal information directly from you, and in some cases automatically, through the following activities on our Website:

Donations and payments

  • Full name
  • Email address and contact number
  • Billing address
  • Payment information (processed by our payment gateway, PayFast; Greenpop does not directly store full card numbers)
  • Donation amount, frequency, and history
  • Tax reference information, if you request a Section 18A certificate

Newsletter and email sign-up

  • Name and email address
  • Your engagement with our emails (e.g. opens and clicks), via our email service provider, Mailchimp

Volunteer and event registration

  • Name, email address, and phone number
  • Emergency contact details, where relevant to an in-person event
  • Dietary requirements or accessibility needs, where relevant to attending an event
  • Photographs or video taken at events, where you have been notified and have not objected

Automatically collected information

  • IP address, browser type, device type, and operating system
  • Pages visited, time spent on the Website, and referring website
  • Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see our Cookie Policy for full detail)

2. How we use your information

We use personal information for the following purposes:

  • To process and acknowledge donations, and to issue Section 18A tax certificates, B-BBEE affidavits, or SED letters on request
  • To send newsletters, campaign updates, and fundraising appeals, where you have subscribed or otherwise consented
  • To manage volunteer and event registrations, including logistics, safety, and follow-up communication
  • To respond to enquiries submitted through contact forms
  • To maintain accurate donor and supporter records
  • To comply with legal, tax, and regulatory obligations applicable to a registered NPO/PBO
  • To monitor, maintain, and improve the security and performance of the Website
  • To comply with our own internal record-keeping and audit requirements, given our commitment to financial transparency

3. Legal basis for processing

Under POPIA, we process personal information on one or more of the following grounds:

  • Consent — for example, when you subscribe to our newsletter or agree to photography at an event
  • Performance of a contract or arrangement — for example, processing a donation or event registration
  • Legitimate interests — for example, maintaining donor records and Website security, balanced against your rights
  • Compliance with a legal obligation — for example, tax record-keeping as a registered PBO

4. Sharing your information

We do not sell personal information. We may share personal information with:

  • PayFast, our payment processor, to facilitate secure donation transactions
  • Mailchimp, our email service provider, to distribute newsletters and manage subscriber lists
  • Google Analytics, to understand Website traffic and usage patterns
  • IT, hosting, and website service providers, who process data on our behalf under confidentiality obligations
  • Auditors and regulators, where required for our annual independent audits or compliance as an NPO/PBO
  • Partner organisations, where you have consented to joint project participation (e.g. co-hosted events)
  • Law enforcement or regulatory bodies, where required by law

Any third-party service providers who process personal information on our behalf are required to protect it in accordance with POPIA and to use it only for the purposes we specify.

5. International transfers

Some of our service providers — including Mailchimp and Google Analytics, both of which operate internationally — may store or process data outside South Africa. Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure the receiving party is subject to a law, binding agreement, or other mechanism that provides an adequate level of data protection, as required by POPIA.

6. Data retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this Policy, including to meet our legal, tax, and audit obligations as a registered PBO. Donor records required for tax certification purposes are generally retained for the period required under South African tax legislation. You may request deletion of your information at any time, subject to our legal retention obligations (see Section 8 below).

7. Data security

We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, unauthorised access, alteration, or disclosure, including secure hosting, restricted access to donor and supporter data, and use of reputable third-party payment processors. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Your rights

Subject to POPIA, you have the right to:

  • Access the personal information we hold about you
  • Request correction or updating of inaccurate or incomplete information
  • Request deletion or destruction of your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements
  • Object to the processing of your personal information, including for direct marketing purposes
  • Withdraw consent at any time, where processing is based on consent (e.g. unsubscribing from our newsletter)
  • Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa) if you believe your information has been processed unlawfully

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 12 below.

9. Children's privacy

The Website is not directed at children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children without the consent of a parent or guardian. Where minors participate in Greenpop events (e.g. school greening programmes), any related personal information is collected through the relevant school or guardian in line with applicable requirements.

10. Cookies

Our use of cookies and similar tracking technologies is described in full in Part 3: Cookie Policy below.

11. Changes to this privacy policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by an updated “Effective Date” at the top of this document. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically.

12. Contact us

For any questions, requests, or complaints regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact our Information Officer:

  • Email: info@greenpop.org
  • Phone: +27 76 803 5729
  • Postal address: Opposite 107 Mountain Road, Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the South African Information Regulator (details available at inforegulator.org.za).

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Part 4: Our approach to AI (work in progress)

AI is a fast-moving technology that even governments are still working to regulate. As an environmental impact organisation, we take its environmental, social, economic, and intellectual property implications seriously, including the well-documented environmental cost of generative AI.

We do use AI tools in parts of our work, including built-in design assistants like Adobe Firefly. For public-facing creative and scientific content, our practice prioritises lived experience and human authenticity.

There are responsible and irresponsible ways to use these tools, and we continually update our internal practices as best practice around AI evolves. This section will be updated as our policy develops and as the regulatory landscape matures.