The Collective Privacy Policy
Effective date: September 28, 2026

The Collective is operated by Black Helmet Collective LLC (“Black Helmet Collective,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). This Privacy Policy explains how information is collected, used, stored, and shared when you use The Collective mobile application and related services.

Information We Collect

We may collect information you provide directly, including your name, email address, account credentials, profile information, firefighter career or journey information, saved resources and progress, mentorship requests and related program information, scholarship applications, community posts and replies, notification preferences, and other information you choose to submit through The Collective.

If you enable push notifications, we may process device notification identifiers or subscription information necessary to deliver those notifications.

How We Use Information

We use information to create and operate your account; personalize your experience and firefighter-development journey; save your progress and resources; operate mentorship and scholarship programs; provide community features; send requested notifications and service communications; administer Collective Pro access; maintain platform security; troubleshoot problems; and improve The Collective.

Community Content

Information you intentionally post in community areas of The Collective may be visible to other members. Please do not post personal or sensitive information that you do not want other community members to see.

Mentorship and Scholarship Information

Information submitted through mentorship or scholarship features may be reviewed by authorized Black Helmet Collective administrators for program administration, matching, application review, communication, and related operational purposes. Administrative notes are not displayed as public community content.

Collective Pro and Purchases

The Collective may offer paid membership features through Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Purchases and subscription billing are processed through the applicable app store and our subscription-management provider. Black Helmet Collective does not directly collect or store your full payment-card information through The Collective.

Service Providers

We may use service providers that help us operate The Collective, including providers supporting app infrastructure, authentication, notifications, subscription management, email or communications, and other technical functions. These providers may process information only as necessary to provide their services to us and subject to their applicable privacy and security obligations.

We do not sell personal information or use personal information collected through The Collective for third-party behavioral advertising.

Notifications

If you opt in to push notifications, The Collective stores information necessary to send those notifications. You may change available notification preferences within the app and may also disable notifications through your device settings.

Analytics

We may use privacy-conscious usage measurement to understand how The Collective is used and improve the service. Our current built-in analytics configuration does not store its session identifier on your device.

Data Security

We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards designed to protect information processed through The Collective. No electronic system can guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to provide The Collective, administer our programs, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, maintain security, and fulfill the purposes described in this policy. Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and why it was collected.

Your Choices and Account Deletion

You can manage certain profile and notification setting within The Collective. Members can permanently delete their account through Profile → Account & Security. Account deletion removes member data associated with the account, subject to information we may be required or permitted to retain for legitimate legal, security, fraud-prevention, financial-recordkeeping, or compliance purposes.

Deleting your Collective account does not automatically cancel an active Apple App Store or Google Play subscription. Store subscriptions must be managed through the applicable app-store account.

Children’s Privacy

The Collective is intended for individuals pursuing, preparing for, or participating in careers in the fire service and is not designed or directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through The Collective.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as The Collective evolves or as legal or operational requirements change. When we make changes, we will update the effective date displayed on this page.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, your personal information, or an account-deletion request, contact:

Black Helmet Collective LLC
The Collective
founder@blackhelmetcollective.com