Winnipeg Foundation

At the start of our project, Winnipeg Foundation’s site was outdated and a challenge to manage. Relying on PDFs had made it harder to keep all content current and accessible. The structure that was in place limited the opportunity for storytelling. The Foundation wanted a full website development project that would give their team a more manageable platform and help donors, grant seekers, and community partners find their place.

The site needed to feel engaging and impactful, yet practical and clear. It also needed space for multiple giving options and stories of generosity woven throughout.

A flexible, manageable WordPress site

We built Winnipeg Foundation’s new site on WordPress, making it easy to use and maintain. WordPress’s Gutenberg visual editor gives the Foundation’s team members a simple way to make updates. Instructions for building new pages are also embedded directly into the CMS, which simplifies onboarding and general work in the site. Flexible post types and blocks means the site is ready to grow with the Foundation.

Site architecture for complex audiences

Winnipeg Foundation serves a wide range of audiences with different needs and goals. We conducted a thorough sitemap audit, reduced the overall page count, and restructured the site architecture to help each audience experience the site. To work through complex navigation decisions, we ran user journey mapping sessions with the Foundation.

Content strategy meets conversion

Our partner, Deborah Zanke, led content strategy across the site, producing a full sitemap audit, creating content outlines for key pages, and facilitating discovery sessions. A significant part of that work was thinking through the full range of giving options, from a prominent Give Now button on the homepage to the more in-depth Giving and Start a Fund sections. Buffy Davey joined the project to write those sections, giving potential donors the information and confidence they need to donate or engage further.

Brand identity and story brought to life

This project marked the first time Winnipeg Foundation’s new brand identity — developed by our partner Brandish — was expressed online. Our designers worked closely with Brandish to translate the identity and color system into a cohesive web experience.

Custom photography and video (commissioned by Brandish) is featured throughout the site. On the homepage, parallax scrolling and animation help tell the story of philanthropy in Winnipeg, alongside a custom preloader animation that the Foundation can refresh easily on their own.

Fully accessible web design

Accessibility was considered at every step. On the content side, converting the Foundation’s 200+ PDFs into accessible HTML pages makes it easier for all visitors to access information on the site. It also removed a longstanding content management barrier. Color contrast, typography, heading structure, and keyboard navigation brought the site to WCAG Level AA standards.

The new site reflects the breadth of Winnipeg Foundation’s impact, makes it easier for audiences to find their place on the site, and gives the Foundation the tools to keep it current, accessible, and true to their mission.

• Custom preloader animation: A custom-built preloader incorporates the new brand identity and enables the Foundation to keep the site fresh — the team can select a folder of images that randomly populate within the animation.
• Quick donation functionality: A prominent Give Now button on the homepage gives donors a fast, direct way to make a gift alongside the more layered giving options available through the site.
• Streamlined site architecture: A thorough sitemap audit, reduced page count, and user journey mapping help every audience find their place and take the step that’s right for them.
• WCAG Level AA accessibility: Converting 200+ PDFs into accessible HTML pages, combined with careful attention to colour contrast, typography, and heading structure, enabled our team to bring the site to WCAG Level AA standards.
• Custom analytics dashboard: In development as a Phase II item, a custom analytics dashboard will bring key metrics into one place, simplifying day-to-day monitoring of the site’s performance without needing to move between platforms.