Web Design: Cornwall Community Foundation

Our Approach

We set out to build a website for the foundation that truly supports their mission and enhances the experience for everyone who interacts with them.

We began with in-depth research, including workshops with stakeholders and the grants team, and interviews with grant recipients, donors, and fundholders. These insights shaped a 41-page research report, user personas, and journey flows to design a site that simplifies funding applications and donor engagement while aligning with CCF’s strategic goals.

Wireframes and prototypes mapped intuitive user journeys, while a copywriter helped refine CCF’s tone of voice. For the visual design, we crafted a bold, confident style that positioned CCF as philanthropic leaders. Flexible content blocks, from donation forms to storytelling templates, ensured the site supported varied content and in-house editing.

The result is an accessible, user-friendly, and sustainable website that reduces admin demands, boosts engagement, and supports CCF’s mission to empower Cornish communities.

Research

The research phase was crucial in shaping the Cornwall Community Foundation’s new website. We facilitated in-depth stakeholder and management workshops to align the project’s goals with the charity’s strategic vision. A dedicated grants team workshop helped us uncover challenges in the application process and identify opportunities for streamlining. To ensure the site met the needs of all users, we conducted interviews with grant recipients, business donors, and fundholders, gathering valuable insights into their expectations and pain points. This collaborative approach ensured the final design reflected the diverse perspectives of those who rely on and support CCF’s vital work.

Strategy

Our strategy phase laid the foundation for a user-focused and impactful website. We began by developing detailed user personas for six key audience groups, capturing their unique needs, behaviours, and goals. Using these personas, we mapped user flows to design intuitive website journeys that improve usability and guide visitors seamlessly to their goals.

To inform the overall website strategy, we created a comprehensive 41-page research report. This report analysed user analytics, SEO performance, and competitors, providing actionable insights, aligning with CCF’s KPIs.

The result was a clear, data-driven roadmap to enhance the site’s usability, visibility, and engagement for all stakeholders of the charity.

Wireframes and Content

To ensure the website met the needs of both the charity and its users, we created detailed wireframes for all website pages. These wireframes allowed us to carefully plan user journeys, visually map out the site’s structure, and develop a prototype that aligned with the charity’s objectives.

Recognising the importance of clear communication in the complex topic of grants and philanthropy, we provided a content strategy to elevate the site’s content. Through workshops and interviews, we helped CCF refine their tone of voice, providing the tools and confidence needed to craft helpful website content.

Visual Design

For the visual design phase, we explored two distinct design styles, ultimately recommending a bold and confident approach that positions Cornwall Community Foundation as a leader in the philanthropic sector. This style introduced a modern font and strong visual elements, reinforcing CCF’s authority, experience, and trustworthiness.

Building on this concept, we designed visuals for all website pages, incorporating a wide range of flexible content blocks. These included donation forms, testimonial showcases, news sections, and community story templates. The layout was carefully crafted to be robust yet flexible, allowing for varied content types and seamless in-house content editing by the CCF team.

The Donor Journey

Creating a meaningful donor experience was central to the website’s design. Our research showed donors connect most deeply with real stories of impact, so we placed community stories front and centre, highlighting the tangible difference their support makes.

Donors trust Cornwall Community Foundation to identify and address the region’s most pressing needs, using funds effectively to uplift communities and secure a brighter future for Cornwall. We crafted navigation that allows donors to explore giving options suited to their interests and budgets, from membership giving and business clubs to tailored advice for fundholders and public sector bodies.

Each giving type leads users toward donation forms, sign-up, or contact options, supported by inspiring testimonials and impactful statistics about the county’s need for support. These elements build trust and motivate donors to contribute generously, knowing their support creates lasting change.

Simplifying Grant Applications

We designed a grant application process that supports both experienced applicants and those new to the system, addressing a key goal of broadening CCF’s reach. Our research showed most grants went to seasoned applicants, so we focused on making the process intuitive and inspiring for first-time users.

Through a workshop with the CCF team, we developed a dynamic filtering system to help users quickly find suitable grants. Links to Salesforce application forms streamline submissions, while a detailed application process page guides users through each step.

This approach reduces admin burdens, improves application accuracy, and increases the success rate of grants awarded.

Custom WordPress Development

We created a dynamic digital platform for Cornwall Community Foundation that streamlines their operations, inspires donors, and makes funding more accessible to those who need it most.

Using WordPress’ Gutenberg, we created a range of reusable, flexible page blocks and modules that enables the CCF team to easily manage their content in-house, saving time and resources. All whilst achieving an impressive 97/100 Google Lighthouse accessibility score, and sub 1 second loading times.

To support their fundraising goals, we developed a bespoke donation system for seven giving types, fully integrated with Stripe. Donors can now contribute effortlessly through Apple Pay, Google Pay, for recurring or one-off donations, enabling them to support campaigns and set up memberships easily, all without staff support.

The website was designed to support a vast array of content, from testimonials and business member profiles to grants, guides, and resources. It also showcases campaigns, appeals, community stories, reports, and news, ensuring every aspect of CCF’s work is accessible and engaging. This comprehensive approach allows the charity to highlight their impact while providing clear, user-friendly pathways to key information for applicants, donors, and supporters alike.

This new website isn’t just a tool for today—it’s a future-proof platform that helps CCF raise more funds, support more people, and amplify their impact across Cornwall.