Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 15, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Gatherhoods LLC (“Gatherhoods,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, shares, and protects information when you visit gatherhoods.com or use the Gatherhoods app and related services (together, the “Service”).

Gatherhoods is currently in an early pilot phase in a limited number of neighborhoods. Some features described below (like phone verification, profiles, and hosting dinners) apply once you create an account, not just from browsing this website.

1. Information We Collect

Just browsing the website: if analytics are enabled, we may collect standard usage data (pages viewed, browser/device type, referring site) via Google Analytics.

If you create an account:

Phone number — if you choose to add text-message verification as an optional second sign-in method, used to send a one-time verification code. Phone verification is not required to create or use a Gatherhoods account.
Profile information — name, photo, bio, and the interests you choose to add.
Location — your general neighborhood/area, used to show you relevant dinners and hosts nearby.
Event & RSVP data — dinners you host or request to join, including the exact address of a dinner (visible only to you and the host once you’re approved to attend).
Connections — the people you invite, connect with, or are connected to on Gatherhoods.
Messages — messages sent within an event’s group thread with the host and other approved guests.
Ratings & reports — post-dinner feedback you give or receive, and any reports or blocks you submit, used to keep the community safe.

2. How We Use Your Information

To verify your identity and secure your account.
To operate core features: discovering dinners, hosting, RSVPs, connections, and messaging.
To send you email notifications about invitations, requests, and approvals, and — if you’ve opted into text-message verification — SMS verification codes when you sign in that way (see Section 5).
To review reports, enforce blocks, and otherwise keep the community trustworthy and safe.
To improve the Service and understand how it’s used.

We do not use algorithmic ranking or automated matching to decide who you connect with. Gatherhoods never makes the actual trust decision of who is invited or approved to a dinner — that’s always a person, not a model.

3. How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only:

With other users, as the Service is designed to work — e.g. a host sees a requester’s profile and mutual connections before approving them; an approved guest sees the dinner’s exact address.
With service providers who process data on our behalf under contract, currently including:
- Supabase (database, authentication, and file storage)
- Twilio (SMS delivery for optional phone-based verification)
- Vercel (website and application hosting)
- Google Analytics (website usage analytics, if enabled)
If required by law, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of Gatherhoods, our users, or the public.

4. Location Data

We collect your general neighborhood/area to power discovery and distance sorting. A dinner’s exact address is only ever shown to you after a host has approved your request to attend.

5. SMS & Phone Number Use

Gatherhoods currently uses SMS for one purpose only: if you choose to add text-message verification as an optional sign-in method, we send a one-time verification code each time you sign in using it. This is separate from Gatherhoods’ other notifications (sent by email), and is never required — you can use Gatherhoods fully without ever providing a phone number. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies based on how often you use this sign-in method. We do not sell or share your phone number, or your consent to receive these messages, with third parties for marketing purposes or with lead generators. Reply STOP to a verification text at any time to stop, or START to resume.

6. Cookies & Analytics

The website may use cookies or similar technologies for basic functionality and, where enabled, Google Analytics to understand aggregate site usage. You can control cookies through your browser settings.

7. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. If you delete your account, we delete or anonymize your personal information within a reasonable period, except where we’re required to retain it (for example, for legal or safety reasons, such as an active report investigation).

8. Your Rights & Choices

You can access, correct, or update most of your profile information directly in the Service. You can request a copy of your data, or request that we delete your account and associated data, by contacting us at support@gatherhoods.com. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under local privacy law; contact us and we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.

9. Children’s Privacy

Gatherhoods is intended for adults 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has created an account, please contact us so we can remove it.

10. Data Security

Gatherhoods never stores a password for your account. Signing in uses a one-time code sent to your email; you can optionally add a second sign-in step (an authenticator app or a text message code) for extra protection, or use a passkey as an alternative to the emailed code entirely.

We use industry-standard safeguards (including access controls and encryption in transit) to protect your information, provided by our infrastructure partners above. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we can’t guarantee absolute security.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we’ll update the “Last updated” date above and, where appropriate, notify you directly.

12. Contact Us

Questions about this Privacy Policy? Email us at support@gatherhoods.com.