Executive summary
Foodbank.org.au, a prominent Australian charity with a federated structure, faced challenges in managing multiple independent websites across seven states. Over five years, we consolidated their digital presence into a unified, dynamic website, integrated diverse donation systems, and enhanced user engagement through innovative features. This strategic overhaul supported a significant increase in donations and established their Hunger Report website as an industry standard in Australia.
Industries
Non-Profit • Charity
Size
Large Organization with Federated Structure
location
Australia (National Presence)
Provided Services
Strategy
Web Development
Application Development
Website Analytics
key information
Foodbank.org.au is a leading food relief organisation in Australia, operating through seven independent state-based businesses that share a common brand. With a mission to alleviate hunger, Foodbank collaborates with various stakeholders to distribute food efficiently to people in need across the country.
challenges/objectives
- Federated Structure Complexity: Managing seven independent websites for each state, leading to brand inconsistency and operational inefficiencies.
- Diverse Marketing Needs: Navigating differing requirements and strategies of marketing departments across various states.
- Donation Management: Handling seven distinct donation portals, each with unique processes and requirements.
- User Experience: Ensuring donors, including those travelling interstate or internationally, can easily direct their contributions to the appropriate state.
- Content Management: Maintaining control over different sections of the website managed by individual states amidst frequent staff changes while allowing shared content common across the whole organisation to be created without unnecessary replication
Solution/strategy
TBST embarked on a comprehensive digital transformation strategy that focused on consolidating Foodbank’s fragmented online presence into a single, cohesive website. Our approach included:
- Website Consolidation: Merged seven independent state websites into one unified platform, ensuring brand consistency and streamlined operations.
- Dynamic Content Loading: Implemented a system to help address the unique needs of each marketing department, where state-specific content can be dynamically loaded and mixed into shared, organisation-wide content,
- Integrated Donation Systems: Developed a flexible donation framework that accommodates seven different donation portals, allowing seamless integration and management.
- User-Centric Donation Options: Enabled donors to redirect their contributions to their preferred state, enhancing the user experience for interstate and international donors.
- Enhanced Engagement Features: Introduced interactive elements such as Lottie animations and the FindFood tool to increase user engagement and provide valuable resources.
implementation
- Custom WordPress Theme: Built a bespoke WordPress theme tailored to handle the complexity of a federated structure, ensuring scalability and flexibility, and enabling users of different skillsets to add and update content on the site while maintaining the brand integrity
- Technology Stack: Utilised PHP, MySQL, and various APIs to integrate multiple donation systems and third-party tools.
- FindFood Integration: Implemented the FindFood feature, which connects with a third-party CRM to allow users to locate nearby food distribution centres by entering their postcode.
- Hunger Report Enhancement: Upgraded the Hunger Report to include animations and interactivity, making it a dynamic, annual publication that integrates seamlessly with the website.
- User Management: Established robust user management protocols to handle frequent staff changes and ensure consistent website updates across different states.
- Visual Enhancements: Incorporated Lottie animations to make the website more engaging, including animated icons that respond to user interactions.
results
- Donation Growth: Achieved a several hundred percent increase in donations over the past few years by streamlining the donation process and enhancing user accessibility.
- Website Traffic: Improved overall website traffic, site performance, and SEO outcomes through a unified platform that attracts a broader audience.
- User Engagement: Enhanced user interaction with interactive features like the FindFood tool and animated elements, leading to longer site visits and higher conversion rates.
- Hunger Report Impact: The revamped Hunger Report website became an industry-standard publication, garnering high viewership and coverage from major news outlets, thereby elevating Foodbank’s profile and influence.
- Operational Efficiency: Simplified website management despite the federated structure, allowing for more efficient updates and content management across states.
conClusion
Through strategic consolidation and innovative digital solutions, we successfully transformed Foodbank.org.au’s online presence. By addressing the complexities of a federated structure and enhancing user engagement, we enabled Foodbank to increase donations exponentially and establish a leading position in the non-profit sector. The evolving website continues to support Foodbank’s mission, adapting to the growing needs of the organisation and its community.
What the client said
With TBST you don’t waste time talking through concepts that won’t work. You get taken to where you need to be quickly and efficiently. The difference is they know what you need better than you know what you want. And they’ll deliver what you need to a high standard.
Angus Laing, CTO Foodbank.org.au
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