A community foundation site serves three audiences at once, donors, nonprofits seeking grants and residents curious about local giving, so the launch starts by deciding which next step each group gets. Fund descriptions, the current grant cycle and the latest annual report tend to take the longest to approve, since a committee often signs off. Line those up first and the pages move quickly.
How the launch unfolds
Day 1-2: You send funds, cycle dates, reports and the team list, and we map a home page with separate paths for giving, applying and learning about the foundation.
Week 1: We write the give and grants pages, keeping fund terms readable for a first-time donor, and you confirm every deadline and eligibility line.
Week 2: We build the community and about pages, link the giving and application tools, and test each path on a phone.
Launch: A staff member or board contact reviews the whole site, and we publish once they approve it.
What to gather before you start
- ✓Fund list — donor-advised, field-of-interest, scholarship and unrestricted funds, each with a plain sentence about what it supports
- ✓Grant cycle details — eligibility, focus areas, open and close dates, and what applicants should prepare before starting
- ✓Annual report and stories — the most recent report plus two or three local stories your board has cleared for sharing
- ✓Board and staff list — names, roles and short bios, with photos if you have them
- ✓Giving and application tools — the donation platform and grant application system you already use, ready to link
The first month after launch
In the first month, update the grants page as soon as a cycle opens or closes, and add one community story from a recent grant with the grantee’s permission. Before year-end giving begins, re-read the give page from a new donor’s point of view and simplify anything unclear. Confirm that board and staff listings reflect any changes after your annual meeting.
Mistakes to avoid at launch
- ✓Placing the grant deadline below long paragraphs — applicants miss the cycle and the foundation seems hard to work with
- ✓Describing funds in philanthropy jargon — a donor who cannot tell an unrestricted fund from a field-of-interest fund postpones the gift
- ✓Using one general inbox for everyone — donor, grantee and scholarship questions pile up together and replies slow down
One example of what your site could look like
This is one sample we designed. Yours is built around your business, your photos and your words, and we have more examples if you want to compare directions.
What it costs
Websites are priced one-time by size, plus Website Care at $30/month for hosting, HTTPS, backups, weekly checks and A/B testing. Every package includes a consultation, mobile-friendly design, copy we write for you, a contact form, essential search setup and 10 revision rounds. Monthly SEO is an optional add-on when you are ready for it.
Optional add-ons, billed separately
The prices above are for your website. These two are separate monthly products you can add now or later. Neither is part of the website price.
Monthly SEO, from $50/month: new pages published on your site every month. See Monthly SEO →
Business Spotlight, from $30/month: articles about your business, labeled as paid, published on The Company Chronicle. See Business Spotlight →
How it works
1. Consultation
We learn your services, customers and goals, in English or Spanish.
2. We write and design
We draft the words and build the site around your business.
3. 10 revision rounds
You review and request changes until it is right.
4. Launch and care
We launch, then Website Care keeps it hosted, backed up, checked weekly and A/B tested.
Keep reading
Websites for community foundations · What a community foundation website costs · What to send your designer · Plan your website
