1. Introduction
This Privacy Policy explains how The Parent Group Blueprint ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, shares, and protects information in connection with Smooth Books — Treasurer's Report & Budget Toolkit (the "Service"), a subscription-based suite of financial management and reporting tools for PTA/PTO treasurers and other parent-group volunteers.
By creating an account or using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.
2. Information We Collect
Account information. When you register for the Service, we collect your name, email address, password (stored in encrypted/hashed form), and the name of your parent group (PTA/PTO).
Financial and group data you enter. The Service is a financial toolkit, so it is designed to hold the information your treasurer role requires: budget line items, transaction records, reimbursement requests, fundraiser income and expenses, group member names and roles you choose to enter, and related notes. You control what you input, and this data is associated with your group's account.
Payment information. Subscription payments are processed by our third-party payment processor, Stripe. We do not collect or store your full credit card number, bank account number, or other card details — Stripe handles that directly. We receive limited billing information from Stripe, such as subscription status and transaction confirmations.
Branding assets. If you customize your group's documents, we store the group name, color choices, and any logo image file you upload.
Usage and technical data. We automatically collect certain information when you use the Service, including IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, and timestamps, generally through standard log files and, where used, cookies or similar technologies (see Section 9).
3. How We Use Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Provide, operate, and maintain the Service, including generating your Treasurer's Report, Annual Budget, Activities Tracker, Fundraiser Tally, Reimbursement Receipts, Budget vs. Actual, Monthly Summary, and Year-End Report tools
- Enable group-based collaboration, so that up to 10 members of your group (My Group) can access shared group data
- Apply your custom branding (group name, colors, logo) to generated documents
- Process subscription payments and manage your $79/year subscription through Stripe
- Send you service-related communications, such as billing confirmations, password resets, and important updates about the Service
- Send you optional marketing or product communications, which you may opt out of at any time
- Provide customer support and respond to your requests
- Monitor, maintain, and improve the Service, including troubleshooting and security purposes
- Comply with legal obligations
4. How Information Is Shared
We do not sell your personal information. We share information only as follows:
Payment processing. Payment details are shared with Stripe to process your subscription. Stripe's use of your information is governed by Stripe's own privacy policy.
Within your group. Financial and activity data you enter is visible to the other members you invite into your group (up to 10, under My Group). The Service is built with row-level data isolation, meaning each group's data is kept separate from other groups and is not visible to users outside your group.
Service providers. We may share information with third-party vendors who help us operate the Service, such as hosting, email delivery, and analytics providers. These providers are only permitted to use your information to perform services on our behalf.
Legal requirements. We may disclose information if required to do so by law, or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a legal obligation, protect our rights or safety, or investigate fraud.
Business transfers. If The Parent Group Blueprint is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to this policy or a policy at least as protective.
5. Data Security
We use commercially reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your information, including encryption of data in transit, hashed password storage, and access controls. Group data is separated using row-level data isolation so that one group's financial records cannot be accessed by another group.
No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for keeping your login credentials confidential.
6. Data Retention
We retain your account and group data for as long as your subscription is active and as needed to provide the Service. If you cancel your subscription, we retain your data for a limited period (for example, to allow reactivation or to comply with recordkeeping obligations) before it is deleted or anonymized, unless a longer retention period is required by law or necessary to resolve disputes or enforce our agreements.
You may request earlier deletion of your data as described in Section 7 below.
7. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your location, you may have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you
- Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
- Request deletion of your personal information
- Object to or restrict certain processing of your information
- Opt out of marketing communications by using the unsubscribe link in any marketing email or contacting us directly
- Export or receive a copy of your data (many of the underlying tools already support CSV and PDF export)
To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the information in Section 11. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable law. Please note that group data you have entered may also be controlled in part by your group's account administrator.
8. Children's Privacy
The Service is intended for use by adult parent-group volunteers, officers, and treasurers, and is not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or the applicable age of consent in your jurisdiction). If we learn that we have inadvertently collected such information, we will take steps to delete it.
9. Cookies and Tracking
Our websites and the Service may use cookies and similar technologies to keep you logged in, remember your preferences, and understand how the Service is used. You can control cookies through your browser settings; disabling them may affect some functionality of the Service.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by updating the effective date at the top of this policy and, where appropriate, by additional notice (such as email or an in-Service notice). Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
11. Contact Us
If you have questions or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:
The Parent Group Blueprint
Email: info@lisaclarkespeaks.com
Website: LisaClarkeSpeaks.com | TheParentGroupBlueprint.com