How to Structure a Digital Project Around Funding: A Guide Nonprofits
Launching a new digital initiative—whether it’s a website redesign or a specialized platform—is a big step for any nonprofit.. But these projects don’t start with design mockups or lines of code. They start with funding. And how you structure your digital project around that funding can make all the difference in delivering long-term impact.
For nonprofits, budget isn’t just a constraint—it’s the foundation. Whether your funding comes from a government grant or internal capital expenditure, strategic alignment is key to ensuring your investment leads to real outcomes.
So, how can you make the most of your resources and build something that lasts?
We asked Kylie Aldridge-Ogden, ImageX’s Portfolio Director for Nonprofit, to share her insights—here’s what she had to say.
1. Start With the Funding in Hand—and a Clear Problem to Solve
As Kylie explains:
“Once you have the grant in hand, we recommend you gather internal information: What problem are you trying to solve? What are the key demographics the project needs to support? What actions should users be able to take on the site? What does success look like?”
Rather than approaching a project with a generic wishlist, start by defining the why behind it. Clarify the audiences you're serving (e.g., donors, service users, policymakers, researchers), their needs, and how your digital presence can address those needs. Then outline measurable outcomes: Do you want to increase donations by 25%? Expand reach in specific regions? Decrease admin time?
A well-structured project begins by mapping goals to user actions—and those to internal metrics.
2. Understand How the Funding Works
Many nonprofits rely on grants or philanthropic donations to cover capital expenditures (CapEx). Increasingly, digital platforms—especially websites—are being classified as such which means they are seen as a long term investment in the organization.
“Websites used to be excluded from capital funding,” says Kylie. “Now they’re recognized as core organizational infrastructure. A lot of people are repurposing these grants, or applying for program-specific funding that includes digital components.”
One example is ICTC, which received federal funding to build a job skills portal during a national employment crisis. With ImageX, they launched eTalent Canada—a skills calculator and job-matching site. What started as a grant-funded platform has since evolved into a revenue-generating, self-sustaining service.
3. Prioritize What You Need—Then Phase the Rest
Not all organizations can afford their full digital wish list in one go. An approach for managing this scenario is considering breaking a project into phrases.
“We always ask: what’s the minimum viable platform that solves your immediate needs—and what can come later?” says Kylie. “Some of our clients will have simpler Phase 1 needs. Others, like CSIO, needed a robust content dashboard and member access right from the start.”
Your initial build should be fully functional, secure, and aligned with your mission—think of it like a building with plumbing, lights, and doors. From there, future phases can expand functionality, improve UX, or add microsites and integrations.
Case in point: Teach For All, a global nonprofit, needed a multi-site ecosystem. ImageX helped them redesign, migrate from Drupal 7, and structure the shared backend to support future growth—fast. The first launch focused on usability and scalability; subsequent phases layered on advanced features.
4. Choose Flexible Tech That Can Grow With You
The technology behind your site should match both your goals and your funding structure. Be careful when choosing platforms that require expensive add-ons or impose rigid workflows. One of the biggest mistakes nonprofits make is choosing a system that can’t adapt. Ask: Can it scale with me? Can non-technical users manage it? Does it meet my privacy and security needs?”
For many nonprofits and research organizations, Drupal is a natural fit—especially when paired with the right nonprofit web developer. It's open-source, flexible, and integrates easily with tools like Salesforce, Blackbaud, or event registration systems.
Want to see why Drupal works for nonprofits? 👉 Read: How Drupal Can Help Your Nonprofit Website Compete in the Digital-First Era
5. Match the Project to Funding Milestones
Phased funding calls for a phased plan. Build around realistic milestones.
Just because there’s a second round of funding doesn’t mean you start over; your strategy should be fluid. If you know your budget will expand in six months, plan for that now.
At ImageX, we've structured multi-year builds for organizations like CSEA (the California School Employees Association). Phase 1 solved urgent needs after a cyberattack. By Phase 14, we’d added member dashboards, SSO, and a library of microsites for each district—all aligned to budget timelines.
6. Build for ROI—and Make It Easy to Prove
Funders want outcomes. Your site should make it easy to track them.
“We work with clients during discovery to define what success means. Is it mobile access? More donations? Improved membership metrics? Then we build those KPIs into the platform,” says Kylie.
At CSIO, a dashboard lets authenticated users access gated content and submit feedback. Meanwhile, web admins track engagement through GA4, with content strategy aligned to measurable success.
A good platform doesn't just serve users—it helps you prove your value.
7. Work With a Partner That Knows Nonprofits
Nonprofits face unique challenges. You need a partner who understands your structure, terminology, and reporting needs.
“Choose someone who speaks your sector’s language—who understands your fundraising milestones and how federal reporting works. We’ve done it all—from public radio to policy advocacy to global education nonprofits.” — Kylie
At ImageX, we’ve partnered with countless nonprofits:
- ICTC (Workforce retraining portal)
- Teach For All (Global educational nonprofit)
- CSIO (Insurance operations association)
- Over 35 YMCAs across North America (Membership-based community sites)
- PolicyLink (U.S.-based DEI advocacy)
- Delta Police, nonprofit radio, and more
Each had different audiences, funding models, and missions—but shared one thing: they needed a partner who could help them structure, launch, and sustain digital projects with impact.
Final Thoughts: Build With Funding, Grow With Strategy
Digital projects aren’t one-and-done—they’re living platforms that evolve alongside your mission. When you structure your project around funding cycles, real-world goals, and strategic priorities, your site becomes more than a tool—it becomes a catalyst for change.
If you’re looking for a non profit website design company that gets it—from grant cycles to governance—we’d love to talk.
Let’s build something that lasts.
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