Firsthand Voices SMS Program & Consent

Program operator: K12 Assist LLC, operating Firsthand Voices. Support: help@firsthandvoices.com.

What the program does

Firsthand Voices helps someone researching an organization request a casual, no-pressure text conversation with a volunteer who has firsthand experience with it. The organization may not have signed up for Firsthand Voices, and an introduction is not guaranteed. SMS is used for a particular requested introduction, not for unrelated promotional texting.

How prospective consumers opt in

On an organization-specific Firsthand Voices request form, the consumer enters their name and mobile number, may optionally enter an email and an answer to an industry-specific free-text interest question, and actively checks a separate, initially unchecked SMS consent box before submitting. The form identifies Firsthand Voices, the selected organization, the types of texts, variable frequency, possible message/data charges and STOP/HELP instructions, and links to the Privacy Policy and Terms. A separate consent choice explains possible transcript sharing. Merely browsing the website, supplying an optional email or submitting an unrelated inquiry does not provide SMS consent.

How volunteers opt in

When an organization helps identify someone willing to answer questions, the invited volunteer is shown a separate registration form explaining the invitation, SMS verification and conversation process. The volunteer must affirmatively consent to SMS and transcript sharing before registering and confirming their availability by text. Organizations cannot opt in to texts on a volunteer's behalf.

What texts may be sent

Messages can include a one-time request and mobile-number verification (YES/NO), confirmation, volunteer invitation and verification, updates while we seek a volunteer, introductions, relayed conversation messages, inactivity notices and closure or unsuccessful-request notifications. We may ask users to reply YES to confirm or NO to decline a specific request; these replies are separate from the universal opt-out instructions. Message frequency varies according to participants' actions and the conversation. Message and data rates may apply.

Hours, privacy and records

Our standard SMS delivery window is 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time. Messages outside that window may be queued until the next eligible delivery time. We use a messaging relay so participants do not need to disclose their actual phone numbers to one another. Firsthand Voices does not share complete consumer mobile numbers or email addresses with organizations through organization-facing reports, emails, CSVs or transcripts. We use your information only for the single introduction request you authorize and necessary security, support, recordkeeping and legal purposes. We do not use your information for marketing, share your personal contact details with other organizations, or reuse your registration for future introductions. Each new request requires a new registration and consent. A consented transcript may include messages participants themselves wrote. We notify participants that they should avoid typing private or sensitive information into a conversation.

Opt out and obtain help

STOP: Reply STOP to unsubscribe from messages on that sender number. Other common opt-out keywords may also be recognized. Stopping messages can prevent an introduction from continuing. You may receive a final opt-out confirmation. HELP: Reply HELP for support information, or email help@firsthandvoices.com. SMS consent is not a condition of purchasing any goods or services from an organization.

Example of the consent language

Example only; wording on an actual organization-specific form includes the selected organization's name:

I agree to receive text messages from Firsthand Voices at the mobile number I provided for my request to speak with someone who has firsthand experience at [Organization Name], including verification, introduction coordination and any resulting conversation. Message frequency varies; message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out or HELP for help.

A separate, unchecked checkbox authorizes any applicable transcript sharing with [Organization Name], with registration contact details masked.