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Website development

As a nonprofit organization, your website is very important to your fundraising efforts. Potential donors will look to your website to learn more about your organization and its mission and decide whether they believe in it enough to contribute their time or money. As such, you want to have a website that will help you communicate the values of your organization and encourage donations.
But there are a couple of things to consider before we jump into the work with a partner.

1. Infrastructure

  • Is this your organization’s first website? If yes, apart from someone creating the website for you, it needs hosting and a paid domain (its address) to be able to exist on the Internet. If you already have it, then great! If not, you will need to cover such costs as they are external.

2. Content

  • Do you already have some ideas about the structure of the website? (website sections/tabs, pages, links between pages, etc.) If not, you can sketch it as you can or find other inspirational websites as examples.
  • Do you already have all the content for the launch? Your website will need graphics, texts, articles, and so on. Make sure you have them ready.
  • How often will you have to update your website and add new content?
  • Will you have a news/blog section?
  • Do you require help with content creation after website development?

3.  Content Management System (CMS)

What is this for? To simplify the process of managing and delivering digital content, including text, images, videos, and other multimedia elements. It allows non-technical users of your organization to create and update content without needing advanced programming skills.

  • – Do you have a preference in CMS that you’d like to use? (e.g. WordPress, Readymag) If yes, what’s the reasoning behind your choice?
  • What are the most important factors we have to consider when choosing the right CMS for you? Is it its subscription price, ease of use, customizability, and any others?

4. Functionality

  • What are the functionalities that are essential for your website? (e.g. e-commerce, SEO tools, feedback form, etc.)
  • Do you need some specific integrations? (e.g. calendar booking). Depending on your needs, you might want a CMS that can integrate with other systems such as CRM (Customer Relationship Management), e-commerce platforms, or marketing automation tools.

5. Language

  • Will the website be carried in one language version or do you need a switch for changing languages?

6. Design

  • Do you have a design for the website ready?*
    If yes, share what you already have in place.
    If not, do you have a brand book/guidelines to follow?

Website design

A design project is focused on the appearance, layout, and, in some cases, content of a website. Most website builders work with ready templates, however they can be modified according to your needs and design requirements. Still, there are a couple of things to consider before we jump into the work with a partner.

1. General

  • Do you already have a website? If yes, what’s the domain and which platform did you use to build it? If not, will you require another request to have a new website created as well?*

2. Users of your website:

  • What is the purpose of your website? Is it simply to inform about your organization, to run e-commerce, to stimulate donations, to post on a blog, or to build communities?
  • Who will be the users of your website?
  • Briefly describe the user journey and what are the important aspects of it
  • Do you have ideas for the website’s looks and user flows, meaning, what the users will be doing on the website?

3. Structure & Content

  • Do you already have a developed structure for your website? (sections/tabs, pages, links between pages, etc.)
  • Do you have the content for your website ready for the launch? Texts, images, graphics, etc.

4. Brand elements

Do you have a brand book? If yes, please share what you have already. If not, do you have any brand elements at all? (e.g. logo, colors)

* Note: if you want to request website development (not just design), submit a separate project brief.

CRM System

Customer relationship management (CRM) System is a tool that connects all your organization’s functions across fundraising, marketing, programs, and grants. Some notable examples include: Salesforce, Hubspot, Pipedrive & Microsoft Dynamics.

Please keep in mind that since there are already plenty of solutions available on the market, the chances of building a completely new CRM system from scratch are slim. Instead, we work with tech experts who specialize in implementing one or more types of CRM systems available on the market. Please keep in mind as well that most CRM systems have discounts for NGOs, but some of the monthly subscription fees may still apply depending on the provider you choose. The implementation partner will not cover these fees for your organization.

There are a couple of things to consider before we jump into the work with a partner.

  1. What solution are you currently using for customer relationship management? (e.g. Google Sheets, Salesforce etc.)
  2. What do you want to improve in the current way your CRM works?
  3. Which features will be necessary? Some common ones are:
    1. Contact, opportunity, and account management
    2. Record linking
    3. Tasks and reminders Multi-user log in (how many users?)
  1. Do you have a data structure framework in place?
  2. Have you thought about the integrations you will require? (e.g. email automations, other tools you’re using)
  3. Who will own the CRM system internally, once it’s set up?
  4. Is there any information you would like to import to the CRM system?
  5. What kind of data are you mostly tracking?
  6. How many licenses will you require for your organization?
  7. Have you mapped out and consulted all the internal stakeholders about the new system?

Digital platform creation

The fundamental difference between a website and a digital platform lies in how you approach user engagement.
Websites provide one-way engagement, with users ingesting whatever content the website delivers. Platforms offer reciprocal engagement, with interactions between a platform and its users generating personalized experiences.

If you think that your activities require a platform rather than a website, think about the questions below:

1. Describe the platform you want to build.
– What are the goals you want to achieve?
– Who will be the end users?
– How will you measure success? (e.g. number of users, frequency of interactions etc.)

2. What functionalities do you need in the platform? Example:
– Learning platform may need to have the possibility of viewing learning materials, booking meetings with teachers etc.

3. What kind of different users will have access to the platform and what should be the main functionalities for each of the groups?
– Example: Learning platform would have a student access, teacher access, admin etc.

4. Will you require support with platform design?
– If you already have design in place, feel free to share it

5. Do you have the content for the platform ready?
– If not, do you have the platform structure?

6. What languages do you require the platform to have?

7. How often will you need to update content on the platform?

8. Do you need a web application or an app version of your platform?

Security Audit

Security Audit is an independent review and examination of system records, activities, and related documents. These audits are intended to improve the level of information security, avoid improper information security designs, and optimize the efficiency of the security safeguards and security processes. It covers your organization’s entire infrastructure, from its core software to extensions, themes, server settings, SSL connection, configurations, etc.

  1. Do you have security policies and best practices for employees/volunteers implemented?
  2. Do you have any specific concerns about your organization’s security?
  3. Have you experienced any hacker attacks?
  4. Are you using MFA (Multi factor authentication) and SSO (Single Sign-on)?
  5. Are your employees/volunteers working on their own devices or do you provide them with that?
  6. What are the most commonly used digital tools by your organization? (For daily communication, file sharing, operations, etc)
  7. Do you have website security basics in place?
    – Do you have a sitewide SSL installed?
    – What CMS are you using?
    – Is it up to date?
    – Do you have automatic backups of the website data?
    – Do you have strong unique passwords?
    – Do you have automatic malware scans performed?

8. Have you recently performed an automated audit of your website? (e.g. Sucuri Scan Check). Please share insights if you have them.

Document Management Solutions

A document management system helps organizations store and access critical business files, data, and documents. Whether your NGO handles large data files or only a few, you need a DMS that can allow you to easily search files, simplify workflows, retrieve files, archive etc.

1. How do you currently store and manage documentation?

2. Do you have an idea of which DMS you’d like to use, or do you need help choosing?

3. Do you want to use your own servers or a cloud-based solution?

4. What kind of features do you require? (e.g. mobile device access, permissioned access to certain documents etc.)

5. Document Volume and Types:
Can you provide an estimate of your document volume, and are there specific types of documents you primarily work with?
Knowing the scale and nature of documents involved helps design a scalable and efficient DMS.

6. Integration Needs:
Are there existing systems or applications that the DMS needs to integrate with?
Understanding integration requirements ensures a seamless workflow with other tools the NGO may be using.

App Development

Apps are powerful tools that can elevate your organization’s impact by engaging your audience in new and meaningful ways.

Why Your NGO Might Need an App:
Enhanced Engagement: Apps provide a personalized and interactive experience, fostering stronger connections with your audience.
Accessibility: Reach your community easily, anytime, and anywhere, even without an internet connection.
Efficient Communication: Streamline information sharing and updates directly through the app.
Targeted Impact: Tailor features to address specific needs and preferences of your users.
1. General
– Do you have the app design (wireframes) in place?
– Do you have the app structure in place? (front and back end)
– Do you have all the content for the launch in place?

2. Goals
– What are you trying to achieve by building an app?
– What will be different in the app compared to the web experience?
– What will be the KPIs?

3. Functions
– What are the most important functions that you need in the app?
– What are some nice-to-have functions that can be developed later?

4. Users
– Who will be the users of your app?
– Do you need different levels/types of access for different user groups?
– Do you have a user journey of the app built?

5. Platforms
– Do you need an iOS or Android app, or both?

6. In-app tracking
– Do you need help with installing a tracking system? (e.g. Firebase, Adjust)

Google Ads

Google Ads is a product that you can use to promote your business, help sell products or services, raise awareness, and increase traffic to your website. Note: Each qualifying nonprofit has access to up to $10,000 per month in search ads shown on Google.com. Check if you are eligible for Google Ad Grants here. In order for us to find the most appropriate partner to help you with Google Ads, think about the questions below:

1. What’s the website/app you want to promote?

2. Do you need help creating ads, optimizing existing ones, or both?

3. Do you have a dedicated specialist from Google assigned to you?

4. What are the goals you want to achieve with advertising? (awareness, donations, leads, visits, calls etc.)

5. Do you have an idea how much you can afford to pay per visit/donation/lead?

6. Do you already run Google Ads?
– If yes, how are the results so far?
– Google Ads account number

7. Do you have conversion tracking in place?
– How do you track conversions? (e.g. Google Analytics)
– What’s the current conversion rate? (visits to sales/leads)

8. What types of ads are you planning to run? (Search, Display, YouTube, App Campaigns)

9. Where else do you run or plan to run ads? (e.g., FB/Instagram)

10. Do you have a Google Ads Grant?

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a free web analytics tool that can help you analyze your website traffic and measure the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. It can help nonprofits optimize their website to turn their traffic into donations, event registrations, or volunteer applications.

Benefits:

  • Measure return on investment.
  • Identify successful strategies.
  • Understand top-performing content.
  • Inform critical staffing decisions.
  • Learn more how to use GA as a nonprofit here.

1. Which website requires Google Analytics tracking implementation?

2. Do you already have a Google Analytics account?
– If yes, share the property ID

3. What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) you use to evaluate your website?

4. Are you planning to run ads? (Google Ads, Facebook/Instagram Ads etc.)
– If yes, which events on the website do you want to optimize your ads for? (e.g. visit, contact form sent, sales, sessions etc.)

5. Can people make donations on your website?
– Are you using a donation platform?
– Do you want to track donation behavior? (e.g., user sources, donation amounts, etc.)