One of these charities will receive a new website and
PR package valued at $15,000 to $20,000
One deserving non-profit organization will soon receive a digital life preserver as the winner of Checkerboard Strategic Web Development’s first-ever Nonprofit Web Rescue Contest. The grand prize will be a completely resuscitated website that looks and functions better, and is more discoverable by the search engines. In addition, for a little extra media attention, the winning charity will get publicity efforts as part of the awarded package. The entire package is valued at $15,000 to $20,000.
“We were overwhelmed with the caliber of the nominations, and with the number of people who desire to help these worthwhile organizations to achieve their missions. Every one of the nominated charities is doing phenomenal work,” says Checkerboard President Jason Kocina, who explains that Checkerboard is an award-winning web development agency that specializes in highly functioning business websites.
Charities were nominated by the public, whose votes then narrowed the field to these top five finalists (listed in alphabetical order):
• ArtReach: Its mission is to provide access to the arts. Those who participate in ArtReach classes include seniors, young children, abused women and children, at-risk youth and community groups. ArtReach keeps all classes affordable and offers scholarships when possible.
• Coalition of Prison Evangelists: A network of prison ministries that strives to connect and support each other through education, encouragement, and collaboration of services and resources.
• MicroGrants: Awards strategic grants to low-income people of potential. It’s a simple model that produces powerful results. Foundations, families, companies and individuals donate funds, and partner agencies nominate grantees, just at the time they are ready for their next step forward.
• Orton-Gillingham of Minnesota: Trains teachers in the Orton-Gillingham method of teaching reading, spelling and writing. This is a scientifically researched and evidence-based reading intervention methodology that helps struggling readers of any age learn to read.
• Prison Mission Association: Faithfully helping the disadvantaged men and women in prison to change their lives since 1955. The free program is helping to stop repeat offenders, saving the taxpayers money, helping families and neighborhoods be safer places.
“Now that the public has helped us to narrow that list of nominees to the top five, we are taking a close look at each one to determine which is most likely to have the greatest benefit from our web rescue,” Kocina explains. “By helping the winning charity present itself more effectively, we can improve its ability to make a difference for its cause. The PR support will be provided by our sister company, Media Relations, which has more than 25 years of giving back and helping nonprofits reach their target audiences. We’ll capitalize on the synergies between our two agencies to elevate the winning charity to a whole new level.”
The winning nonprofit organization, to be announced August 11, will receive a rescue package valued at $15,000 to $20,000 that includes:
• A professionally designed, user-friendly website, built on WordPress, with intuitive navigation and layout, and faster loading times
• A content hub that is encourages interaction
• Improved search engine optimization so it shows up higher in the search engines
• Strong, clear content that matters to its audience
• Clean and interesting imagery
• Training plus a training manual to ensure that the new site can be kept fresh and updated
• A social media makeover including one month’s worth of relevant social media content
• A $5,000 media campaign to promote the charity and its newly designed site to its target audience, provided by Media Relations Agency
“I am excited to give back to a deserving charity by donating my skills,” comments Checkerboard Graphic Designer Evan Hanson. “This Nonprofit Web Rescue contest will help to save an organization from Internet obscurity so that it can get more volunteers, donations and participation, and ultimately can have a greater impact in its community.”
