The verdict in three sentences
A corporate foundation website in Amsterdam should be budgeted at EUR 35,000 to 70,000 excl. VAT in 2026, excluding the launch campaign. Three requirements weigh most on the price: a headless CMS with a 3-level approval workflow, WCAG 2.1 AA compliance (audit around EUR 4,500) and an interactive impact report. A precise specification and a published scoring grid (price 30%, methodology 40%, references 30%) cut the spread between bids by half.
What the specification must lock down
The foundation of a listed group does not have the same constraints as a small charity. Every piece of content commits the parent brand, the legal team reviews press releases and the sustainability team demands traceable impact figures. The specification must therefore describe editorial governance precisely, not just the site map.
| Requirement | Expected specification | Budget impact excl. VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Headless CMS (Sanity, Strapi, Contentful) | Editor workflow, communications approval, legal approval | EUR 8,000 to 15,000 |
| WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility | Initial audit, fixes, accessibility statement | EUR 4,500 audit + EUR 3,000 to 6,000 fixes |
| Interactive impact report | Data visualisations, filters by programme and country | EUR 6,000 to 14,000 |
| Bilingual NL/EN | Translation management in the CMS, hreflang | EUR 2,500 to 5,000 |
| Sovereign EU hosting (e.g. Scaleway) | EU region, backups, CDN | EUR 150 to 400 per month |
| Online grant applications | Application form, grantee portal | EUR 5,000 to 12,000 |
| Security | CSP headers, penetration test, internal SSO | EUR 3,000 to 7,000 |
Add a reversibility clause: content must be exportable as JSON and the code delivered to the foundation's own Git repository.
Typical budget by scope
| Item (excl. VAT) | Essential scope | Full scope |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping, workshops, UX | EUR 5,000 | EUR 9,000 |
| UI design and design system | EUR 6,000 | EUR 11,000 |
| Front-end and headless CMS development | EUR 12,000 | EUR 24,000 |
| Interactive impact report | EUR 6,000 | EUR 14,000 |
| Accessibility audit and fixes | EUR 4,500 | EUR 7,500 |
| Content migration and testing | EUR 1,500 | EUR 4,500 |
| Total build | EUR 35,000 | EUR 70,000 |
| Annual maintenance and hosting | EUR 6,000 | EUR 12,000 |
Scoring agencies without subjectivity
A grid published in the RFP rules avoids internal debates and attracts better-structured bids.
| Criterion | Weight | What is assessed | Score out of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 30% | Total amount, breakdown by lot, annual running cost | 30 |
| Methodology | 40% | Schedule, governance, accessibility approach, test plan | 40 |
| References | 30% | 3 comparable institutional sites, proven accessibility | 30 |
| Elimination threshold | Not weighted | Methodology score below 20 | Excluded |
| Pitch | Part of methodology | 45 minutes, the actual project team | Bonus 0 to 5 |
Allow 3 weeks for the RFP, 1 week of analysis and 1 week of pitches before notification.
The 16-week schedule
Weeks 1 to 3: workshops with communications, sustainability and legal, then site map. Weeks 4 to 7: design and a prototype tested by 5 users, including 1 screen reader user. Weeks 8 to 13: development, CMS and impact report integration. Weeks 14 and 15: accessibility audit, fixes and penetration test. Week 16: training for 6 contributors and go-live.
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Mini case study
Sophie, head of communications at the foundation of a listed industrial group in Amsterdam, receives 5 bids ranging from EUR 28,000 to 95,000 for a full-scope site. Using the grid, the EUR 58,000 bid scores 22/30 on price, 36/40 on methodology and 26/30 on references, for 84/100, ahead of the cheapest bid at 68/100 for lack of an accessibility approach. Over 3 years, the total cost is EUR 58,000 + 3 × EUR 9,000 = EUR 85,000, about EUR 2,360 a month for a site carrying the reputation of both the foundation and the group.
FAQ
What budget should a corporate foundation plan for its website?
Between EUR 35,000 and 70,000 for the build, then EUR 6,000 to 12,000 a year for maintenance and hosting. Bids under EUR 25,000 almost always leave out accessibility or the approval workflow.
Is accessibility compliance mandatory for a foundation?
The European Accessibility Act has applied to many private services since June 2025, and public funders increasingly require WCAG 2.1 AA. For a foundation backed by a listed group, building it in from day one costs 3 to 4 times less than retrofitting it later.
Why a headless CMS rather than WordPress?
It separates content from presentation, makes the 3-level workflow easier and reduces the attack surface. The initial premium of 15 to 20% is offset by lighter maintenance and better performance.
How long does the full project take?
Allow 5 weeks for the RFP and 16 weeks for delivery, about 5 months in total. A launch tied to an event (annual meeting, annual report) should be planned at least 6 months ahead.
Why sovereign hosting?
An EU-based host such as Scaleway simplifies GDPR compliance for grant applications. Cost stays moderate, at EUR 150 to 400 a month with CDN and backups.
Let's scope your project. Send us your specification or first ideas: we price an institutional website at EUR 35,000 to 70,000, accessibility and editorial workflow included, delivered in 16 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.
