Artificial Intelligence (AI) Transparency Notice

Effective Date: July 24, 2026 | Last Updated: July 24, 2026

This Notice explains how Tree House Humane Society (“Tree House,” “we,” or “us”) uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools. It is intended for our donors, adopters, volunteers, website visitors, and others who interact with us.

Tree House is committed to using AI responsibly, transparently, and with appropriate human oversight in support of our mission.

How We Use AI

Tree House may use AI tools, including agentic AI tools that can carry out defined tasks with a degree of autonomy, to support fundraising, donor engagement, administrative, communications, and internal business workflows. These tools may help prepare draft communications, summarize donor or prospect information, identify potential follow-up steps, organize records, support outreach workflows, or assist with fundraising content and engagement activities.

Tree House uses these tools within parameters established by the organization and under appropriate human oversight. AI tools are intended to support our staff and improve our ability to communicate with donors, supporters, and others who interact with us, not to give AI unrestricted authority to act on Tree House’s behalf.

Tree House does not authorize AI tools to make legally or financially binding commitments, approve gift acceptance decisions, determine donor recognition, materially change donor records, or make other final decisions requiring organizational approval without appropriate human oversight.

Information Used by AI Tools

AI tools may process information that we already collect and maintain, including general organizational data and, where necessary, limited personal information about donors, adopters, volunteers, and other individuals who interact with us, such as names and contact details. In fundraising workflows, this may include donor or prospect information used to support communications, stewardship, outreach, and fundraising administration.

We strive to limit the use of sensitive information and only use data that is appropriate for the intended purpose. We retain information processed with AI tools only as long as needed for the stated purpose and in accordance with our data retention practices.

Nothing in this Notice permits the use or disclosure of personal information beyond what is described in this Notice, our Privacy Policy, applicable consent choices, vendor agreements, or applicable law.

Third-Party AI Tools

The AI tools we use are provided by third-party vendors. We seek to work with reputable providers and, where appropriate, evaluate vendor terms, privacy practices, and available settings related to security, confidentiality, data retention, and whether Tree House information may be used to train the provider’s AI models. We share personal information with these tools only where appropriate and consistent with our Privacy Policy.

Biometric Information

We do not use AI tools to collect or process biometric identifiers or biometric information, such as facial recognition or voiceprints. If this changes, we will provide any notice and obtain any consent required under applicable law, including the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.

How We Review AI Outputs

We do not rely solely on AI to make decisions that materially affect individuals. Tree House applies human review as appropriate, particularly before AI-generated content, recommendations, or AI-assisted workflow activity is used for significant donor communications, donor relationship decisions, adoption-related decisions, employment or volunteer decisions, financial commitments, or other important Tree House activities.

Our staff remain responsible for decisions made on behalf of Tree House, even when AI tools assist with a workflow or recommendation. If you have concerns about content, communications, or a decision that may have involved AI, you may contact us to ask questions or request human review.

How We Protect Information

We take reasonable measures to safeguard information used with AI tools. This includes selecting tools that offer appropriate security practices and limiting access to authorized personnel. We aim to use AI in a way that aligns with our data privacy and security practices.

Limits of AI Use

AI tools are used for specific purposes and may not be used across all systems or services. The use of AI may change over time as we evaluate tools and practices.

AI in Employment Decisions

We do not use AI as the sole basis for employment decisions. If Tree House uses AI tools in recruitment, hiring, or other personnel decisions, we will provide notice to applicants and employees and take steps to avoid unlawful discrimination, consistent with the Illinois Human Rights Act and other applicable laws.

Contact Us

If you have questions about our use of AI or how your information may be handled, please contact us at info@treehouseanimals.org or 773-262-4001, or refer to our Privacy Policy available at www.treehouseanimals.org. We may update this Notice and our Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our use of AI, applicable law, or our organizational practices.