Cookie Policy
Last Updated: August 30, 2026
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners. Cookies can be "persistent" or "session" cookies. Persistent cookies remain on your device after you close your browser, while session cookies are deleted when you close your browser.
How We Use Cookies
When you visit our website, we use cookies to:
- Remember your cookie consent preferences
- Understand how you use our website (under the regional consent model described in section 3.3)
- Analyze website traffic and user behavior (under the regional consent model described in section 3.3)
- Improve our website and user experience
Types of Cookies We Use
3.1 Necessary Cookies (Always Active)
These cookies are essential for the website to function properly. They enable basic features like storing your cookie consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information and cannot be disabled.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| cookie-consent | Stores your cookie preferences | 12 months |
3.2 Functional Cookies (Always Active)
These cookies enable essential functionality such as donation processing and application forms. They are necessary for these services to work and cannot be disabled if you wish to use these features.
Microsoft Forms
Used for our charity application form. Microsoft Forms may load additional third-party services (including HubSpot) for form analytics and feedback collection. These services are controlled by Microsoft.
| Service | Purpose | Load Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Forms | Charity application form processing | When application modal opened |
| HubSpot (via Microsoft Forms) | Form analytics and feedback | Loaded by Microsoft Forms |
Privacy Policy: https://privacy.microsoft.com/
HubSpot Privacy: https://legal.hubspot.com/privacy-policy
Zeffy Donation Platform
Zero-fee donation processing platform embedded on our website to accept donations.
| Service | Purpose | Load Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Zeffy | Donation form and payment processing | Embedded on donation section |
Privacy Policy: https://www.zeffy.com/privacy
3.3 Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. We use this information to improve our website and user experience.
When we ask permission first
If you are in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, Google Analytics sets no cookies and collects no identifiers until you accept. It still counts your visit in an aggregate, cookie-free way so we know how many people used the site — that measurement cannot be tied back to you or to your next visit.
Everywhere else, Google Analytics cookies are set from your first visit. You can turn them off at any time using the Cookie Preferences link in our footer, and we will delete the cookies listed below when you do. Which of these defaults applies to you is determined by Google from your IP address at the time of your visit; IP geolocation is approximate.
Microsoft Clarity is different. It records how visitors move through pages, so it runs only if you explicitly accept analytics cookies — everywhere in the world, not just in Europe. Declining, or simply not answering the banner, keeps it off.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. We use Google Analytics to understand how users interact with our website.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Distinguishes unique users | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Maintains session state | 2 years |
| _gid | Distinguishes users | 24 hours |
Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
Microsoft Clarity
Microsoft Clarity is a user behavior analytics tool that helps us understand how users interact with our website through session recordings and heatmaps.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _clck | Persists Clarity User ID | 1 year |
| _clsk | Session cookie | 1 day |
Privacy Policy: https://privacy.microsoft.com/privacystatement
3.4 Marketing Cookies (Requires Consent)
These cookies are used to track visitors across websites. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for users and thereby more valuable for publishers and advertisers.
Meta Pixel (Facebook Pixel)
The Meta Pixel is an analytics tool that helps us measure the effectiveness of advertising by understanding the actions people take on our website.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _fbp | Tracks user behavior for advertising | 3 months |
| fr | Enables ad delivery and targeting | 3 months |
Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/
How to Manage Cookies
You have several options for managing cookies:
4.1 Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit our website, you'll see a cookie consent banner. You can:
- Accept All: Allow all cookies including analytics and marketing
- Decline All: Only essential cookies will be used
- Customize: Choose which types of cookies you want to allow
4.2 Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically:
- View what cookies are stored and delete them individually
- Block third-party cookies
- Block all cookies from specific websites
- Block all cookies from being set
- Delete all cookies when you close your browser
Please note that if you block all cookies, you may not be able to use all features of our website.
4.3 Opt-Out Links
You can opt out of specific third-party cookies:
- Google Analytics: Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
- Meta (Facebook): Facebook Ad Settings
Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control
We do not sell or share personal information as defined by the CCPA/CPRA, so there is nothing for a Global Privacy Control or Do Not Track signal to opt out of, and this site does not read those browser signals. In the EEA, the UK, and Switzerland, analytics and marketing cookies are off until you opt in through the consent banner. Everywhere else, analytics cookies are set from your first visit under Google Consent Mode; you can turn them off at any time via the Cookie Preferences link in the footer, and we delete the cookies this site set when you do. Session recording (Microsoft Clarity) and marketing tags (Meta Pixel) load only after your explicit opt-in, everywhere in the world.
Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Please review this policy periodically for changes.
Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:
- Organization: Neurospike FRO
- Email: robert at codex.stanford.edu
- Main Address: 18516 Garnet Ln, Morgan Hill, CA 95037, United States
- Website: https://neurospike.org/
More Information
For more information about how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.