Privacy Policy | FORWARD

FORWARD Privacy Policy

Effective as of April 8, 2025.

This “Privacy Policy” describes the privacy practices of Geocko, Inc. d/b/a FORWARD and our subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, “FORWARD”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) in connection with the http://www.forwardplatform.com and forward-*.com websites, and any other website or mobile application that we own or control and which posts or links to this Privacy Policy (collectively, the “Service”), and the rights and choices available to individuals with respect to their information. FORWARD may provide additional or supplemental privacy policies to individuals for specific products or services that we offer at the time we collect Personal Information. These supplemental privacy policies will govern how we may process the information in the context of the specific product or service.

This Privacy Policy does not apply to Personal Information relating to FORWARD’s employment or recruitment-related activities. For purposes of this Privacy Policy, “Personal Information” means any information relating to an identified or identifiable individual (e.g., name, address, email address, or phone number).

Table of Contents

• About Us
• FORWARD as a Service Provider
• Privacy Principles
• Personal Information We Collect Related to the Service
• Contact Us Form
• Cookies and Other Information Collected by Automated Means
• Referrals
• Personal Information We Collect Related to Program Services
• Job Applicants
• How We Use Your Personal Information
• How We Share Your Personal Information
• Your Choices
• Other sites, mobile applications and services
• Compliance
• Security practices
• International data transfers
• Children
• Changes to this Privacy Policy
• How to Contact Us

About Us

We are FORWARD. We administer programs on behalf of certain government and nonprofit organizations that contract with us for program administration (our “Customers”). In support of our mission to effectively and efficiently administer programs, we provide websites and related systems and tools (the “Program Services”), that help people access information about government programs and services and participate in programs for which they are eligible. You can find out more about us and the FORWARD Program Services here.

FORWARD As A Service Provider

FORWARD Customers are organizations that use the FORWARD Program Services to help them manage and engage with eligible participants. FORWARD processes Personal Information in these services only according to our Customer’s instructions (as defined in our Customer agreements). If you have questions about Personal Information you have entered into the Program Services used by one of our Customers, or want to exercise any of your rights regarding your Personal Information, our Customer contract requires that we redirect your inquiry back to that Customer.

FORWARD is not responsible for the privacy or security practices of our Customers, which may differ from those set out in this Privacy Policy. Please review the relevant Customer’s privacy policy to understand more about their data processing activities.

Privacy Principles

FORWARD follows these principles in order to protect your privacy:

• We do not collect any more Personal Information than is necessary to provide the Services or Program Services or to fulfill our legitimate business purposes;
• We only use your Personal Information for the purposes we specify in this Privacy Policy, unless you are notified otherwise;
• We do not keep your Personal Information after it is no longer needed; and
• Other than as specified in this Privacy Policy, we do not share your Personal Information with third parties and are not in the business of selling your Personal Information.

Personal Information We Collect Related to the Service

Personal Information you provide to us. The Personal Information you provide to us through the Service or otherwise includes:

• Registration information, such as information that may be related to a service, an account, or an event you register for.
• Business and personal contact information, such as your first and last name, email and mailing addresses, phone number, professional title, and company name.
• Applications and other content you choose to upload to the Service, such as application information, text, and images, along with the metadata associated with the files you upload.
• Profile information, such as your username and password that you may set to establish an online account with us, your photograph, interests, and preferences.
• Feedback or correspondence, such as information you provide when you contact us with questions, feedback, or otherwise correspond with us online.
• Usage information, such as information about how you use the Service and interact with us, including information associated with any content you upload to the websites or otherwise submit to us, and information you provide when you use any interactive features of the Service.
• Marketing information, such as your preferences for receiving communications about our activities, events, and publications, and details about how you engage with our communications
• Other information that we may collect which is not specifically listed here, but which we will use in accordance with this Privacy Policy or as otherwise disclosed at the time of collection.

Contact Us Form

By providing a telephone number and submitting this form you are consenting to be contacted by SMS text message. Message & data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. Privacy Policy. Reply Help for more information. You can reply STOP to opt-out of further messaging.

Cookies and Other Information Collected by Automated Means

We, our service providers, and our business partners may automatically log information about you, your computer or mobile device, and activity occurring on or through the Service, including but not limited, to your computer or mobile device operating system type and version number, manufacturer and model, browser type, screen resolution, IP address, the website you visited before browsing to our website, general location information such as city, state or geographic area; information about your use of and actions on the Service, such as pages or screens you viewed, how long you spent on a page or screen, navigation paths between pages or screens, information about your activity on a page or screen, access times, and length of access; and other Personal Information. Our service providers and business partners may collect this type of information over time and across third-party websites and mobile applications.

On our web pages, this information is collected using cookies, browser web storage (also known as locally stored objects, or “LSOs”), web beacons, and similar technologies, and our emails may also contain web beacons.

A “cookie” is a text file that websites send to a visitor‘s computer or other Internet-connected devices to uniquely identify the visitor’s browser or to store information or settings in the browser. Browser web storage, or LSOs, are used for similar purposes as cookies. Browser web storage enables the storage of a larger amount of data than cookies. A “web beacon,” also known as a pixel tag or clear GIF, is typically used to demonstrate that a webpage was accessed or that certain content was viewed, typically to measure the success of our marketing campaigns or engagement with our emails and to compile statistics about usage of our websites.

Web browsers may offer users of our websites or mobile apps the ability to disable receiving certain types of cookies; however, if cookies are disabled, some features or functionality of our websites may not function correctly. Some cookies are required to access the Service.

You can learn more about the cookies we use on our site in our Cookie Declaration. If you would like to change your choices about what cookies FORWARD uses, in your browser settings you can elect to delete all cookies, or just cookies placed by specific websites. Many browsers provide directions for managing cookies in their “help” or other user support directories (for example, this information is provided by Google for managing cookies in Chrome).

You can also click here for more information about cookies, including how to disable them. If you disable cookies, you may still use our website, but your ability to use some areas of our website will be limited.

We use cookies served by Google Analytics to collect limited data directly from Service Users’ browsers to enable us to better understand your use of the Services, including making use of the demographics and interests reports services of Google Analytics. Further information on how Google collects and uses this data can be found at www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/. You can opt-out of all Google supported analytics within the Services by visiting https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

We also partner with third-party ad networks to manage our advertising on other sites and with third-party analytics companies to assist us with analyzing the use of our own website. These third-party companies use cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, and related technologies to collect information about your activities on this and other websites to provide you targeted advertising based upon your interests and to provide measurement and analytic services.

Referrals

Users of the Service may have the opportunity to refer friends or other contacts to us. If you are an existing user, you may only submit a referral if you have permission to provide the referral’s contact information to us so that we may contact them.

Personal Information We Collect Related to Program Services

If you are a participant or potential participant in a Program Service, you (or the organization from which you have been provided access to the Program Services) may provide certain Personal Information to us through the Program Services – for example, when you register for a FORWARD account to access and use the Program Services, or when you consult with customer support, send us an email, or communicate with us in any way (for example, to make a support request).

The Personal Information we collect may include:

• Personally identifiable information (such as your name, job title, home address, phone number, email address, income);
• Personal information that you provide to us or that is collected on behalf of our Customer as it relates to your Program Service eligibility (such as gender, race and ethnicity, income, revenue, financial reports, housing status);
• Contact information (such as your contact preferences);
• Account log-in credentials (such as your email or username and password when you sign up for an account with us and the unique User ID assigned to you in our systems);
• Troubleshooting and support data (which is data you provide or we otherwise access in connection with support queries we receive from you). This may include, for example, contact or authentication data, the content of your chats and other communications with FORWARD, and the Program Service you are using related to your help inquiry; and
• Payment information (including your banking information and associated identifiers, mailing address, and background information, but only where you are eligible for payment related Program Services).

If you ever communicate directly with us, we will maintain a record of those communications and responses. Please note that if you choose not to provide your Personal Information to us, we may not be able to fulfill your request(s) (e.g., to enroll you in Program Services or to receive communications from us).

Job Applicants

How We Use Your Personal Information

We use your Personal Information for the following purposes and as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy or at the time of collection:

To operate the Service and Program Services. We use your Personal Information to:

• provide, operate and improve the Service and Program Services
• provide information about our products and services
• establish and maintain your user profile on the Service or Program Services
• enable security features of the Service, such as by sending you security codes via email or SMS, and remembering devices from which you have previously logged in
• communicate with you about the Service or Program Services, including by sending you announcements, updates, security alerts, and support and administrative messages
• understand your needs and interests, and personalize your experience with the Service or Program Services and our communications
• provide support and maintenance for the Service or Program Services
• respond to your requests, questions and feedback

No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. All other categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.

For research and development. We analyze use of the Service to analyze and improve the Service and to develop new products and services, including by studying user demographics and use of the Service.

To send you marketing and promotional communications. We may send you FORWARD-related marketing communications as permitted by law. You will have the ability to opt-out of our marketing and promotional communications as described in the Opt out of marketing section below.

Handling contact and support requests. If you fill out a “Contact Us” web form or request support as a Program Participant, or if you contact us by other means including via phone or email, we process your Personal Information to perform our contract with you and/or (if we have not entered into a contract with you) to the extent it is necessary for our legitimate interest in fulfilling your requests and communicating with you.

To comply with the law. We use your Personal Information as we believe necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable laws, lawful requests, and legal processes, such as responding to subpoenas or requests from government authorities.

For compliance, fraud prevention, and safety. We may use your Personal Information and disclose it to law enforcement, government authorities, and private parties as we believe necessary or appropriate to: (a) protect our, your or others’ rights, privacy, safety or property (including by making and defending legal claims); (b) enforce the terms and conditions that govern the Service; and (c) protect, investigate and deter against fraudulent, harmful, unauthorized, unethical or illegal activity.

With your consent. In some cases, we may specifically ask for your consent to collect, use or share your Personal Information, such as when required by law.

To create anonymous, aggregated or de-identified data. We may create anonymous, aggregated or de-identified data from your Personal Information and other individuals whose Personal Information we collect. We make Personal Information into anonymous, aggregated or de-identified data by removing information that makes the data personally identifiable to you. We may use this anonymous, aggregated or de-identified data and share it with third parties for our lawful business purposes, including to analyze and improve the Service and promote our business.

How We Share Your Personal Information

We do not share your Personal Information with third parties without your consent, except in the following circumstances or as described in this Privacy Policy:

• Service providers. We may share your Personal Information with third-party companies and individuals that provide services on our behalf or help us operate the Service (such as customer support, hosting, analytics, email delivery, marketing, and database management services). These third parties may use your Personal Information only as directed or authorized by us and in a manner consistent with this Privacy Policy and are prohibited from using or disclosing your information for any other purpose.
• Municipalities and Local Agencies. The Program Services are designed to assist users with locating and applying for funding, loans and other forms of business recovery and growth projects and assistance. As such, if you use the Program Services to apply for any such assistance, we will share your application and any information contained therein, with the applicable municipality, local agency or other governmental entity.
• Professional advisors. We may disclose your Personal Information to professional advisors, such as lawyers, bankers, auditors and insurers, where necessary in the course of the professional services that they render to us.
• For compliance, fraud prevention and safety. We may share your Personal Information for the compliance, fraud prevention and safety purposes described above.
• Business transfers. We may sell, transfer or otherwise share some or all of our business or assets, including your Personal Information, in connection with a business transaction (or potential business transaction) such as a corporate divestiture, merger, consolidation, acquisition, reorganization or sale of assets, or in the event of bankruptcy or dissolution.

Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, your jurisdiction, and applicable law, you may have the rights below with regard to the Personal Information we control about you. We will respond to your requests within the appropriate timeline under applicable law. Please note, however, that the rights described below are not absolute and, depending on applicable law or in certain cases, may be subject to conditions or limitations. In responding to any request to disclose/delete, FORWARD shall maintain a record of the requests as required under applicable law.

• The right of access, or the right to know, means that you have the right to request that we disclose what Personal Information we have collected, used, and disclosed about you. You can do so at any time by contacting us using the contact details provided under the “How to Contact Us” heading below.

• If you are located in California, under the CCPA you have the right to request to know:

  • The specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you;
  • The categories of personal information we have collected, used, and/or disclosed about you;
  • The categories of sources from which we have collected personal information about you;
  • Business and/or commercial purposes for collecting and disclosing your personal information; and
  • The categories of third parties with whom your personal information has been disclosed or shared.

• The right of deletion means that you have the right to request that we delete Personal Information collected or maintained by us, subject to certain exceptions. As mentioned above, you can do so at any time by contacting us using the contact details provided under the ”How to Contact Us” heading below.

• The right to non-discrimination means that you will not receive any discriminatory treatment when you exercise one of your privacy rights, and FORWARD will not discriminate against an individual for exercising any rights under the CCPA or other applicable privacy law, including, but not limited to, (a) denying goods or its professional services, (b) charging different prices or rates (including discounts/penalties) not directly related to the value provided to FORWARD for Personal Information, or (c) suggesting an individual will receive a different rate/price or level of quality of goods/professional services.

• The right to opt-out, if you are located in California under the CCPA, means you can opt-out of the sale or certain sharing of your Personal Information at FORWARD’s Privacy Rights page here. Note that FORWARD does not sell Personal Information, though in certain instances FORWARD does share Personal Information as described in this Privacy Policy.

• You can also ask us to correct or update your Personal Information; object to the processing of your Personal Information; ask us to restrict processing of your Personal Information; or request the portability of your Personal Information. Again, you can exercise these rights at FORWARD’s Privacy Rights page here.

• While you cannot opt out of service-related emails if you are an account holder, as this is an essential part of the Program Services, you have the right to opt-out of marketing communications we send you at any time. You can exercise this right by clicking on the “unsubscribe” or “opt-out” link in the marketing emails we send you, or you can contact us using the contact information below.

• Similarly, if we have collected and processed your Personal Information with your consent, then you can withdraw your consent at any time. Withdrawing your consent will not affect the lawfulness of any processing we conducted prior to your withdrawal, nor will it affect processing of your Personal Information conducted in reliance on lawful processing grounds other than consent.

• FORWARD does not engage in any automated decision making with User Personal Information.

If your Personal Information has been submitted to us by or on behalf of our Customer and you wish to exercise any rights you may have under applicable data protection laws, please inquire with the applicable Customer directly. For more information on how our Customer uses your Personal Information, please see the Customer’s privacy policy.

Compliance

FORWARD meets SOC 1 and SOC 2 compliance standards based on the AICPA 2020 Trust Services Criteria, ensuring security, availability, confidentiality, processing integrity, and privacy. A recent compliance report is available upon request.

FORWARD operates on the Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services cloud platforms, which undergoes regular audits and holds certifications in security and control measures, including SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3, ISO 27001, FERPA, HIPAA, CSA STAR, and FedRAMP.

Security practices

The security of your personal information is important to us. We employ a number of organizational, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect the personal information we collect. However, security risk is inherent in all internet and information technologies and we cannot guarantee the security of your personal information.

International data transfers

We are headquartered in the United States and have service providers in other countries, and your personal information may be transferred to the United States or other locations outside of your state, province, or country where privacy laws may not be as protective as those in your state, province, or country.

Children

As a general rule, children are not allowed to use the Service, and we do not collect personal information from them. We define “children” as anyone under 13 years old. If we learn that we have collected the personal information of a child without the consent of the child’s parent or guardian, we will delete it. We encourage parents with concerns to contact us.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time. If we make material changes to this Privacy Policy, we will notify you by updating the date of this Privacy Policy and posting it on the Service. We may, and if required by law, will also provide notification of changes in another way that we believe is reasonably likely to reach you, such as via e-mail (if you have an account where we have your contact information) or another manner through the Service.

Any modifications to this Privacy Policy will be effective upon our posting the new terms and/or upon implementation of the new changes on the Service (or as otherwise indicated at the time of posting). In all cases, your continued use of the Service after the posting of any modified Privacy Policy indicates your acceptance of the terms of the modified Privacy Policy.

How to Contact Us

Please direct any questions or comments about this Policy or privacy practices to forward-privacy@forwardplatform.com. You may also write to us via postal mail at:

FORWARD
Attn: Legal – Privacy
P.O. Box 12242
Seattle, WA 98102