The verdict in three sentences
A corporate foundation in London should budget GBP 30,000 to 60,000 for an accessible institutional website, excluding the impact report. A WCAG 2.2 AA audit (GBP 3,500 to 6,000) is not a luxury: it protects the parent company's brand and increasingly conditions public and charity partnerships. Three-level editorial governance is what keeps the site healthy over time, far more than the design.
What an accessible foundation website costs in 2026
A foundation's website speaks for the parent company on its commitments. It is reviewed by communications, legal and often the group chair's office. The budget reflects that level of scrutiny.
| Item | 2026 range | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery, workshops, sitemap | GBP 3,000 to 5,500 | 3 to 5 stakeholder workshops |
| Accessible UI design (contrast, focus, sizing) | GBP 6,000 to 11,000 | designs tested with screen readers |
| Development + headless CMS | GBP 14,000 to 28,000 | 25 to 40 page templates |
| Three-level approval workflow | GBP 2,500 to 4,500 | writer, comms lead, leadership |
| Content population (30 to 60 pages) | GBP 3,000 to 6,000 | copy, media, alt text |
| External WCAG 2.2 AA audit | GBP 3,500 to 6,000 | 55 AA success criteria, 15 to 20 page sample |
| Interactive annual impact report | around GBP 8,000 | animated figures, maps, accessible PDF |
The realistic total including the audit is therefore GBP 33,500 to 66,000, or GBP 41,500 to 74,000 with the impact report. Be wary of GBP 12,000 quotes promising accessibility with no external audit: they rarely deliver more than 60% conformance.
WCAG 2.2 AA: what the criteria change in practice
In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 requires reasonable adjustments, and public sector bodies must meet WCAG 2.2 AA and publish an accessibility statement. For a foundation, the strict legal duty depends on status, but media exposure makes accessibility unavoidable. The French equivalent, RGAA 4.1, maps to the same standard through 106 criteria.
| Area | Key criteria | Watch-out for a foundation |
|---|---|---|
| Images | text alternatives | alt text for beneficiary photos and infographics |
| Colour | contrast 4.5:1 | group brand palettes are often too pale |
| Media | captions, transcripts | subtitles on project videos |
| Tables | headers, scope | impact figure tables correctly marked up |
| Forms | labels, errors | grant application and nomination forms |
| Navigation | skip links, focus visible | site map, breadcrumbs, focus not obscured (new in 2.2) |
| Documents | accessible PDFs | annual reports readable by assistive tech |
The classic trap is the PDF: an untagged 80-page annual report drags conformance down. An interactive HTML impact report solves this while improving mobile reading.
Editorial governance: the workflow that prevents crises
A foundation site publishes grant calls, grantee profiles and figures that commit the group. The three-level workflow is configured in the CMS: the writer creates the draft, the comms lead approves substance and accessibility, leadership signs off sensitive content. Every version is logged, so a page can be restored in one click.
| Project timing | Phase |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 2 | discovery, current-state audit, sitemap |
| Weeks 3 to 5 | accessible design and brand approval |
| Weeks 6 to 10 | development, CMS, workflow |
| Weeks 10 to 12 | content, WCAG audit, fixes |
| Weeks 12 to 14 | impact report, training, launch |
Mini case study
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Charlotte, communications director of a corporate foundation in London, starts from a WordPress site at 52% WCAG conformance. Her team spends about 6 hours a month fixing posts approved by email, with no audit trail. She sets a budget of GBP 45,000 (site + audit) and GBP 8,000 for the impact report. The built-in workflow cuts coordination time to 2 hours a month, saving 48 hours a year, roughly GBP 2,900 at a loaded cost of GBP 60 per hour. The target after fixes is 90% conformance or more, enough to publish a credible accessibility statement.
FAQ
How much does a corporate foundation website cost in London in 2026?
Expect GBP 30,000 to 60,000 for the site, plus GBP 3,500 to 6,000 for a WCAG 2.2 AA audit. An interactive impact report adds around GBP 8,000.
Does a corporate foundation have to meet WCAG 2.2 AA?
Public sector bodies must; private foundations fall under the Equality Act duty to make reasonable adjustments. In practice most foundations aim for at least 75% conformance to protect their reputation.
How long does an accessibility audit take?
Allow 5 to 10 working days for a 15 to 20 page sample. The re-test after fixes takes another 2 to 3 days.
Why a three-level approval workflow?
It stops a wrong impact figure or grantee name from going live unchecked. Setup costs GBP 2,500 to 4,500 and pays off with the first error avoided.
How long until the site goes live?
Between 10 and 14 weeks depending on page count and approver availability. The impact report can ship in a second phase.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your page count, current conformance level and impact report deadline, and we will price an accessible site delivered in 10 to 14 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
