Ann Arbor Community Foundation

OVERVIEW Ann Arbor Community Foundation (AAACF) is a pillar of the Washtenaw County community and a partner of ours for over seven years. To prepare for their next chapter of growth, they needed to migrate from a legacy platform to a modern, high-performance digital home. The mission was clear: transcend their traditional image to attract a younger, more diverse audience, bring their core values to the forefront of the user experience, and showcase the immense geographical reach of their impact. 

As a long-term innovation partner, we are committed to the continuous evolution of AAACF’s digital presence. We regularly implement cutting-edge site enhancements and creative campaign strategies, ensuring the Foundation remains at the forefront of philanthropic technology and community engagement. 

SOLUTION We led a comprehensive digital transformation for AAACF. Our approach focused on a "heritage-forward" modernization—honoring the Foundation's storied history while pivoting the brand toward a more contemporary, accessible aesthetic. We engineered a sophisticated UI/UX that prioritizes storytelling and mission-alignment, ensuring the Foundation remains the primary hub for philanthropy in Ann Arbor for decades to come.  

KEY HIGHLIGHTS 

• Modernized Brand Identity: Refreshed the visual presence using a sophisticated, softer color palette. We creatively reimagined their historic "leaf" motif, utilizing it in unique, modern ways to bridge the gap between their heritage and their future.
• Value-Driven UI/UX Design: Architected an intuitive user journey that places the Foundation’s values and high-priority Calls to Action (CTAs) at the center of the experience, driving deeper engagement with donors and nonprofits.
• Interactive Impact Map: Developed a custom visual map to illustrate the Foundation’s expansive reach across the region, providing a tangible, data-driven view of their community investment.
• Accessibility & ADA Excellence: Committed to total inclusivity through a rigorous ADA-compliant build, supported by recurring annual audits to ensure the platform remains accessible to every member of the community.
• Scalable Enterprise Architecture: Successfully migrated the site from a deprecated platform to a secure, modern CMS designed for ease of management and long-term technical stability. 

PARTNERSHIP 

• Holistic Business Consulting: Moving beyond the browser, we provide strategic guidance on how digital innovation can streamline internal operations, improve donor retention, and expand the Foundation’s influence.
• Annual Strategic Performance Reviews: We perform a robust annual audit and custom reporting of site analytics and user behavior, translating complex data into actionable insights that inform the Foundation’s long-term roadmap.