Privacy Policy

1. Your church owns its data

For the names, contact details, and responses your visitors and members write on connect cards, your church is the owner and decision-maker (the “controller”). Steeple processes that information on your church's behalf and on your instructions (we're the “processor”).

Planning Center remains your system of record. Steeple is the workshop in between — we help you get clean records into Planning Center, then get out of the way.

2. What we collect

Account information

When you create an account we collect your name, email address, church name, role, and password (stored encrypted).

Connect-card data

When you scan or upload cards, we process the information written on them — typically names, email addresses, phone numbers, and the response boxes a person checked — so we can create or update records in your Planning Center.

Planning Center data

When you connect Planning Center, you authorize Steeple to read and write the information needed to match people, prevent duplicates, write records, and trigger the workflows you've chosen. We request only the access the service needs.

Demo uploads (trysteeple.com/try)

If you try the live demo, the card image you upload is processed to show you what Steeple would extract. The demo does not connect to your Planning Center account. Demo uploads are used only to produce your result and are deleted automatically within 30 days.

Usage and device data

Like most websites and apps, we collect basic technical data — log records, device and browser type, and cookie or analytics identifiers — to keep the service secure and working well.

3. How we use information

We use the information above to:

• Provide the service — read handwriting, prevent duplicates, and write clean records into your Planning Center.
• Recognize text from card images using automated handwriting-recognition technology, including trusted third-party processing services.
• Improve accuracy and reliability, and provide support when you ask for it.
• Keep accounts secure, prevent abuse, and meet legal obligations.

We do not sell your data, and we do not use the personal information on your church's connect cards for advertising.

4. Who we share it with

We share information only with service providers who help us run Steeple — for example, cloud hosting, automated handwriting-recognition processing, error monitoring, analytics, and email delivery. These providers may only use the information to perform services for us.

We also write information into Planning Center at your direction — that's the whole point of the product. We may disclose information if required by law, or to protect the rights and safety of our users and the public.

We never sell personal information.

5. How long we keep it

We keep account information for as long as your church has an account. Connect-card data is retained while you need it to review and sync, and then according to your account settings. Demo uploads are deleted automatically within 30 days.

When you cancel, the records Steeple has synced are already in your Planning Center and stay there. We delete or anonymize the data held in Steeple within 90 days of cancellation, except where we must keep limited records for legal or security reasons.

6. How we protect it

We use encryption in transit and at rest, access controls, and routine security practices to protect your information. No system is perfectly secure, but protecting the data your church entrusts to us is a responsibility we take seriously.

7. Your choices and rights

Because your church owns its connect-card data, you can access, correct, export, or delete it through your account or by contacting us. If a member of your church asks you to remove their information, you can do so, and we'll help.

Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights over your personal information. To make a request, email hello@getsteeple.com and we'll respond promptly.

8. Children's information

Steeple is a tool for church staff and is not directed to children. A church may, however, collect information about minors on its connect cards. In that case your church is responsible for obtaining any required consent, and Steeple processes that information solely on your church's behalf under this policy.

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the product evolves. When we make material changes, we'll update the date above and, where appropriate, let you know in the app or by email.

10. Contact us

Questions about privacy? Email a real person on our team at hello@getsteeple.com.