The verdict in three sentences
A foundation's website exists first to report to donors: it must prove impact, publish reports and reassure on governance. A serious brief covers 14 sections, sets a budget of 20,000 to 60,000 USD in New York (or 2,500,000 to 5,000,000 FCFA, about 3,800 to 7,600 EUR, in Dakar) and an 8-week timeline. Without a written scoring grid, you will compare quotes that do not describe the same thing.
The 14 sections of the requirements template
A foundation's executive director must answer three donor questions in two clicks: what do we fund, where, and with what results. The brief turns these questions into sections and measurable features.
| Section | Expected content | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Home and mission | Key impact figures updated quarterly | Required |
| Programs (health, education, environment) | Program pages with goals, budgets, indicators | Required |
| Project map | Interactive map by region or country | Required |
| Annual and financial reports | PDF library filterable by year, Form 990 links | Required |
| Governance | Board, bylaws, ethics policy | Required |
| Partners and donors | Logos, grant agreements, amounts if public | Recommended |
| Online giving | Card, ACH, Apple Pay (Wave and Orange Money in Dakar), automatic receipt | Recommended |
| News and media library | Articles, photos, field videos | Recommended |
The six remaining sections complete the template: open calls for proposals with application upload, press room, careers and volunteering, beneficiary stories, contact, and legal pages. In New York, add ADA and WCAG 2.1 AA compliance, as accessibility lawsuits against nonprofit websites remain frequent. In Dakar, comply with Senegal's data protection law 2008-12.
2026 budget by ambition level
| Level | Scope | New York (USD) | Dakar (FCFA) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | 14 sections, PDF library, one language | 20,000 to 28,000 | 2,500,000 to 3,200,000 | 6 weeks |
| Standard | + project map + two languages | 28,000 to 40,000 | 3,200,000 to 4,200,000 | 8 weeks |
| Advanced | + online giving + proposals portal | 40,000 to 60,000 | 4,200,000 to 5,000,000 | 8 to 10 weeks |
| Salesforce Nonprofit integration | Donor and grant sync | 8,000 to 20,000 | Rarely needed | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Hosting and maintenance | Backups, updates, support | 300 to 1,200 per month | 50,000 to 120,000 per month | Ongoing |
| Payment fees | Card 2.2 to 2.9% (nonprofit rates), Wave about 1% | Per transaction | Per transaction | Ongoing |
Vendor scoring grid
Institutional donors often ask how you selected the vendor. A written grid attached to the RFP protects the foundation.
| Criterion | Weight | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding of the need | 20% | Restatement of accountability goals |
| Institutional references | 20% | 2 to 3 live foundation or NGO sites |
| Method and schedule | 15% | Weekly milestones over 8 weeks |
| Price and transparency | 20% | Quote broken down by section |
| Post-launch autonomy | 15% | Simple CMS, training, documentation |
| Accessibility and performance | 10% | WCAG audit, fast mobile load |
Request at least three proposals with 10 business days to respond. Require that the domain, hosting and payment accounts are registered in the foundation's name.
Mini case study
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Ms Ndiaye, executive director of a corporate foundation in Dakar, runs 6 programs in 4 regions and answers report requests from 5 donors each year. Her team spends about 40 hours a year compiling documents on request, 40 x 15,000 FCFA = 600,000 FCFA of internal time. She picks the Standard level at 3,800,000 FCFA. With an online library, that time drops to 10 hours: 450,000 FCFA saved yearly. If the giving module added later collects 300 gifts of 10,000 FCFA, or 3,000,000 FCFA, the investment is covered in just over a year. A New York foundation with the same scope would budget about 35,000 USD.
FAQ
What does a foundation website cost in 2026?
In New York, 20,000 to 60,000 USD depending on the map, languages and giving module. In Dakar, 2,500,000 to 5,000,000 FCFA, plus 50,000 to 120,000 FCFA per month for hosting.
Is Salesforce Nonprofit integration worth it?
It costs 8,000 to 20,000 USD and pays off above roughly 1,000 active donors. Below that, a CSV export to your CRM is usually enough.
How long should we plan for?
About 8 weeks for the Standard level, plus 2 weeks of vendor consultation. Content availability is the main driver of delay.
Is ADA compliance mandatory?
US courts increasingly treat websites as public accommodations, so a WCAG 2.1 AA audit, typically 2,000 to 5,000 USD, is a sensible safeguard.
How many proposals should we request?
At least three, scored on a weighted 100-point grid, which is what most institutional donors expect.
Let's scope your project. Share your programs, donors and giving needs, and we will price each section and propose an 8-week plan. 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.
