AICM Uganda Website Design
In March of 2019, AICM Uganda entrusted Rennacker Studio with a monumental challenge: to revolutionize the non-profit sector with an ambitious new website! The mission was clear—create a website that would serve as a beacon of hope for children and families in severe poverty in Uganda, Africa. From day one, our team at Rennacker Studio was driven by a singular vision—to surpass expectations and set a new standard of design excellence in the non-profit sector.
Fostering a Culture of Hope
From the outset, we knew that the website needed to be more than just a digital platform; it had to embody hope. We were provided with an incredible library of images from an extremely talented photographer, Mary Jo Tait, who has embarked on many trips to Uganda. “Jo” has an incredible talent for capturing the hope we desperately wanted to portray while still capturing the grit of the lives lived in Uganda. Instead of dwelling on the stark realities of poverty, these images, paired with the right tone-of-voice celebrate the moments of triumph and resilience these children experience daily. Every page radiates with stories of real children whose real lives have been transformed by the support of real sponsors.
A Visual Tapestry of Ugandan Culture
We understood the importance of connecting sponsors with the real people they were helping. Through meticulous design choices, we weaved a bold tapestry of Ugandan culture into the website. But it didn't stop there. The impact was tangible as sponsors could see photos of children whose lives had taken a brighter turn because of sponsorship.
Transparency that Inspires Trust
Transparency was not just a principle; it was the foundation of our design philosophy. We wanted supporters to see precisely how their contributions translated into tangible change. We celebrated the remarkable legacy of AICM Uganda through snippits dedicated to real, quantifiable figures. We proudly display the organization's achievement of raising over $10 million spanning over two decades of service to the communities of Uganda. The organization has touched the lives of over 5,000 children and families, and has been a pillar of support for over 1,000 pastors. These quantifiable milestones serve as a testament to the enduring commitment of AICM Uganda and its unwavering dedication to changing lives and fostering hope for the future of Uganda.
Empowering Generosity Through Advanced E-Commerce Solutions
Our sophisticated e-commerce solution was more than a transactional tool; it was a bridge of compassion. It allowed sponsors to support children based on their biographic information, while ensuring that the act of giving never felt like 'buying' a child. Hundreds of children have found sponsors, with numbers growing daily.
Solving the Challenge of Recurring Payments
Creating an e-commerce system for child sponsorships presented many unique challenges. In most e-commerce development platforms, products are not removed from the store once purchased. However, since each child could only be sponsored once, it was imperative that as soon as a child was sponsored, they were removed from the sponsorship list. This feature was not native to the platform the rest of the site was built with. To address this, we partnered with the wonderful folks at GivingFuel, who are also a non-profit organization. Together, we developed a seamless integration that facilitated this advanced sponsorship technique while retaining a seamless experience for sponsors surrounding monthly recurring payments for each child's sponsorship.
Supporting A Higher Cause
Our website didn't just change the lives of children; it transformed the journeys of missionaries. We used DonorBox to integrate donation modals that inform donors of exactly who their donation is going to and allow them to select a dollar amount they wish to donate, and whether they would like that donation to be a one-time payment or monthly recurring payment. Since launch, this integration has raised over $130,000 toward missionary support, with the average donation being $200 per month. This number continues to grow every month and was last updated on September 13, 2023. These donations allow the individuals who volunteer to improve the lives of Ugandans to expand their outreach and bring help to more corners of Uganda.
Faith and Belief, Lightly Woven In
Recognizing the religious aspect of AICM Uganda's work, we approached it with delicacy. Bible verses and inspirational verbs were lightly woven into the website’s content, maintaining a non-intrusive tone while still standing true to the organization’s beliefs. This thoughtful approach garnered heartfelt responses, fostering a sense of community and responsibility among sponsors and those thinking of becoming one.
A Network of Churches Answering the Call
Collaboration is at the heart of change. We created a space where churches could partner with AICM Uganda to sponsor mission trips of their own. The response of this form was overwhelming, with many churches reaching out to join forces and amplify the organization's impact. But unintentionally, this form has had a surprising impact in an unexpected direction; Churches in Uganda have also begun to reach out for help through this same form. This admittedly muddles the data a bit, but offers valuable insights on areas of expansion for AICM Uganda. While this result was unanticipated, it is not something we have any desire to fix. One single form serves the purposes for both ends of the funnel and while a little work is needed to separate the information gathered, it’s a step worth taking.
Charting a Bold Future
As we reflect on this incredible opportunity to improve the lives of others, we look forward to the future of working with the fantastic people at AICM Uganda. The website's success has laid the foundation for an even more remarkable journey for this organization and has established a meeting ground for two very different cultures. This common space is predicated on hope, selflessness, and compassion. At Rennacker Studio, we envision continued growth, deeper engagement, and an unwavering commitment to AICM Uganda. We are thankful to the team members; Sandi Balli, Aaron Cronen, and Sara Thibodeaux who helped Rennacker Studio set the bar higher than most non-profit websites. Together, we're creating a brighter future for Uganda, one story of hope at a time.
Client
Partners
Project Team
Sandi Balli
Aaron Cronen
Sara Thibodeaux
Collaborators
Mary Jo Tait
Justin Zoradi
Aaron Dolce
