Free · Certificate included

Data Privacy Basics

Protect the personal data your organization collects and stores.

35 min Beginner 8 modules Pass 80%

For: Nonprofit staff and volunteers

What you’ll learn

Tell the difference between PII and sensitive data — and protect each accordingly
Apply data minimization across the full data lifecycle: collect, store, use, share, dispose
Handle consent, donor data, and client data responsibly
Use access controls and need-to-know to limit who can see what
Recognize a breach and the first steps that follow
Understand the shape of GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA without needing a law degree

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Course outline

1
PII vs. sensitive data: what you’re protecting
Your organization runs on personal data. Volunteer applications, donor lists, client intake forms, email sign-ups, photos from your last event — every one of those…
5 min Quiz Interactive
2
Why privacy is everyone’s job
Data breaches aren’t just a "big company" problem, and they’re rarely caused by a Hollywood-style hacker.
5 min Quiz
3
Data minimization & the data lifecycle
The single most powerful privacy idea is also the simplest: data you never collect can’t be leaked.
7 min Quiz Interactive
4
Consent, donor data & client data
People hand you their data for a reason — to volunteer, to donate, to receive a service.
6 min Quiz Interactive
5
Access controls & need-to-know
You’ve minimized what you collect and tied it to a purpose.
5 min Quiz Interactive
6
Breach basics: spot it, contain it, report it
A data breach is any unauthorized access to or disclosure of personal data — and it’s not always a hack.
5 min Quiz Interactive
7
GDPR, CCPA & HIPAA — the overview
You don’t need to be a lawyer, but you should recognize the three privacy laws people mention most — and know whether they might touch your work.
5 min Quiz
8
Putting it together: a day of good data hygiene
Let’s walk a normal shift. You’re a volunteer coordinator named Riley. Make the privacy-smart call at each step.
4 min Interactive

Sources & further reading

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