Challenge

The Foundation tasked LMD with designing and develping a website to accomplish the following objectives:

• Inspire audiences to learn more about the Foundation.
• Position the Foundation as an expert and raise awareness on a national level, while positioning the works of the grantees first.
• Distinguish the Foundation from others in the region and increase brand awareness.
• Heighten the Foundation’s work as a thought leader.
• Build and maintain ongoing relationships with current and new grantees.
• Clarify and highlight funding opportunities and processes.
• Provide information for grantees and potential grantees on deadlines, available funding, and training opportunities.

Solution

LMD developed a dynamic, modular website that:

• Highlights the spirit of the Foundation’s impact on regional non-profits.
• Illuminates grantees and their work through emotional photography and organized information delivery.
• Graphically complements the Foundation’s brand and print material.

Outcome

• Website won a silver medal at the 2007 Council on Foundations’ Wilmer Shields Rich Awards for Excellence in Communications.
• Instant growth of online community as audience looks for constant contact from Greater Washington non-profit leader.

Technology

• Uses a custom, PHP-based CMS system incorporating live, inline page editing functionality, content versioning, and custom databases for grants, resources, and news.
• Uses an application-based framework that allows for additional database, xml, or file-based resources to be deployed as needed.
• Expertly marries form and function via organized architecture and navigation.
• Resonates with the audience and engages potential donors and non-profits.