ChatGPT answers, unedited

• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Modern DCA - 1440 W Taylor St #1009, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• ePageCity Inc. - 111 N Wabash Ave Ste 3023, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

For a nonprofit redesign where program-related Google searches are a major goal, I’d put Orbit Media Studios at the top of your interview list. They’re Chicago-based and specifically market nonprofit web design + SEO, with documented nonprofit work including Off the Street Club and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Their approach explicitly includes keyword research, search-optimized navigation/content, accessibility, and easy-to-manage CMSs. Orbit Media Studios

Shortlist

• Orbit Media Studios — Strongest fit on the evidence I found for your particular combination of nonprofit redesign + SEO + program discovery. Their nonprofit practice is extensive, and they cite a redesign for Off the Street Club that addressed low organic traffic, navigation, SEO, and conversions. Orbit Media Studios

orbitmedia.com

• Windy City Web Solutions — A more local/smaller-agency option in the South Loop. They specifically work with nonprofits and promote WordPress, SEO-ready site architecture, and projects including United Way of Lake County and Nourishing Hope Chicago. Windy City Web Solutions
• The Loop Marketing Inc — Located on N. Sangamon in the West Loop/Fulton Market area. They serve nonprofits and combine WordPress web design with UX, technology and SEO.
• Cybernautic Web Design — Specifically advertises Fulton Market web design and SEO, and says it has worked with nonprofits including Habitat for Humanity. Its offering leans toward custom development plus SEO rather than purely visual redesign. Cybernautic Website Design

What I'd ask them to demonstrate

Don't make the RFP primarily about "a modern-looking website." For your situation, ask each agency to show how they would turn searches such as:

• “food assistance Chicago”
• “after school programs West Side Chicago”
• “free [your program] Chicago”
• “mental health services for [your audience]”
• “[your organization] programs”

into specific, indexable program/service pages with clear navigation, internal linking, structured data where appropriate, and measurable conversions.

I'd also ask for a pre-redesign SEO migration plan. An aging site can have valuable existing rankings, backlinks, and indexed URLs, so changing the architecture without a redirect/content strategy can unnecessarily damage organic traffic.

If you tell me your nonprofit's website and roughly what your programs are, I can also compare 3–5 Chicago agencies against your actual needs and identify which ones have the most relevant nonprofit/program-search experience.

• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Modern DCA - 1440 W Taylor St #1009, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• ePageCity Inc. - 111 N Wabash Ave Ste 3023, Chicago, IL 60602, United States

For a nonprofit redesign where program-search SEO is a major goal, I’d put these Chicago agencies on the shortlist:

• Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop. This is probably the closest fit if you want a nonprofit-focused, WordPress-oriented shop. They specifically cite work for Nourishing Hope and United Way of Lake County, including improving visibility for food-assistance and community-program searches. Their nonprofit offering also covers accessibility, site speed, local SEO, donations, and ongoing maintenance. Windy City Web Solutions
• Design In Chicago — West Loop/Fulton Market. A good option if the redesign needs a stronger brand/visual component alongside web development and marketing. Their office is at 159 N. Sangamon.
• Operation Technology — Loop. Worth considering if you want a more performance/digital-marketing-oriented agency that can handle both redesign and SEO.
• The Loop Marketing Inc — West Loop/Fulton Market. They explicitly serve nonprofits and combine WordPress web development with UX, design, technology and SEO.
• Cybernautic Web Design — Chicago. Their Fulton Market-focused offering emphasizes custom web design plus organic SEO; they also list nonprofit and organizational clients. Cybernautic Website Design

One agency I'd add even though location is less important

Orbit Media Studios is particularly relevant to your stated problem. They specialize in nonprofit redesigns and SEO, and have published Chicago nonprofit case studies including Off the Street Club, where the project addressed low organic traffic, navigation, SEO, and conversions. They report a 15% increase in the site's donation key-event rate. Orbit Media Studios

What I'd ask them to solve

I'd make the RFP less about "modernizing the website" and more about helping people find and understand your programs through search. Specifically ask for:

• Keyword research around how prospective participants actually search for your programs—not just branded terms.
• A new information architecture organized around programs, eligibility, locations, populations served, and how to get help.
• Individual, indexable landing pages for major programs/services.
• Migration of existing SEO value: redirects, metadata, canonicals, XML sitemap, Search Console, etc.
• Technical SEO and Core Web Vitals.
• Accessibility (ideally WCAG 2.2 AA).
• Analytics that measure program-page visits, applications/referrals, calls, forms and other meaningful conversions, rather than just traffic.
• A content plan for the 6–12 months after launch.

For your particular brief, I'd interview Windy City, Orbit Media, and one of the Fulton Market agencies rather than choosing solely on portfolio aesthetics. The first two have especially direct evidence of nonprofit + search-oriented work. Windy City Web Solutions Orbit Media Studios

If you tell me your nonprofit's program area, approximate budget, and current CMS (WordPress, Drupal, etc.), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare their relevant nonprofit case studies, likely fit, and publicly available pricing.

• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• LimeRed Studio, Inc. - 4611 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Statement - 1033 South Blvd, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States

For a nonprofit redesign where program discovery/search visibility is a major goal, I’d prioritize agencies with demonstrated nonprofit work and the ability to handle information architecture + SEO + content, not just visual design.

My shortlist

1. Operation Technology — Loop

• Downtown at 211 W Wacker Dr.
• Strong fit if you want a modern redesign plus serious SEO in one engagement.
• They specifically offer redesigns and SEO, and their client feedback highlights SEO knowledge and improved traffic/leads.
• I’d ask them to show a nonprofit project where they improved rankings for specific service/program searches.
• Design In Chicago — Fulton Market/West Loop

• At 159 N Sangamon St.
• Full-service creative/digital agency covering brand, UX, web development, marketing and content.
• Good choice if the aging site also needs a substantial brand/storytelling overhaul, not merely technical modernization.
• Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop

• Particularly interesting for a nonprofit because they explicitly work with nonprofits and build/support WordPress sites.
• Their published work emphasizes clearer structure, navigation and SEO-ready foundations. Windy City Web Solutions
• Potentially a good fit if you want a capable local shop without going to a large agency.
• Cybernautic Web Design — Chicago

• They specifically market Fulton Market web design, SEO and custom WordPress work, and mention nonprofit clients including Habitat for Humanity. Cybernautic Design
• Worth considering if you want a more conversion/performance-oriented redesign.

One agency I'd put at the top of the broader Chicago list

orbitmedia.com is probably the strongest match to your actual requirements, even though its location isn't specifically Fulton Market.

They specialize in nonprofit websites and explicitly combine information architecture, SEO, content, UX and redesign. Their nonprofit work includes Off The Street Club, where the goals included improving organic traffic, navigation and conversions; Orbit reports a 15% increase in the donation key-event rate. They also cite recent work for organizations including the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Erikson Institute. Orbit Media Studios

What I'd put in the RFP

Don't simply ask agencies to "improve SEO." I'd ask for a plan to make your programs findable by the people who need them:

• Keyword/search-intent research around each program and population served
• A new information architecture based on those searches
• Dedicated, indexable pages for major programs/services
• Migration of existing URLs with a comprehensive 301 redirect map
• Technical SEO, Core Web Vitals, schema and crawl/indexation cleanup
• Internal linking between programs, eligibility, locations and resources
• SEO-focused rewriting of priority program pages
• Google Search Console/GA4 measurement
• Baseline rankings and organic traffic before launch
• 6–12 month post-launch SEO roadmap

My first three calls would be Orbit Media, Operation Technology, and Windy City Web Solutions. Orbit is the strongest nonprofit/SEO specialist; Operation Technology is the strongest downtown option; Windy City looks particularly interesting if budget and hands-on WordPress support matter.

If you tell me roughly your nonprofit's size/budget (e.g. <$25k, $25–50k, $50k+) and what kinds of programs people search for, I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies and compare their likely fit.

• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• ePageCity Inc. - 111 N Wabash Ave Ste 3023, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Modern DCA - 1440 W Taylor St #1009, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Lift Digital Marketing - 332 S Michigan Ave #9072, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• RedShark SEO - 65 W Erie St #1901, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

For a nonprofit that needs both a modern redesign and better visibility for program/service searches, I’d shortlist these:

• Top pick: Design In Chicago — 159 N. Sangamon St. in West Loop/Fulton Market. They combine web design, branding, marketing and content under one team. I’d consider them if the aging site also needs a substantial visual/brand refresh.
• Best nonprofit + SEO specialist: Orbit Media Studios — Orbit explicitly specializes in nonprofit redesigns and nonprofit SEO. They have a particularly relevant Chicago case study with Off The Street Club, where the redesign included keyword research, search-optimized navigation/copy and conversion improvements. Orbit Media Studios
• Best Fulton Market SEO/web option: Cybernautic Web Design — Their Chicago/Fulton Market offering combines custom web design with organic SEO, and they specifically cite nonprofit and Chicago organizational work. Cybernautic Website Design
• Best Loop option: Operation Technology — Located at 211 W. Wacker, they offer redesign, web development, SEO, content and analytics, so they could handle the project as a broader digital-marketing engagement.
• Best smaller/boutique option: Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop rather than Fulton Market, but specifically works with nonprofits on WordPress, accessibility, performance and search visibility. This could be attractive if you want a more hands-on relationship rather than a large agency. Windy City Web Solutions

My recommendation

I would interview Orbit, Design In Chicago, and Cybernautic first. Orbit is the strongest match if program searches/SEO are the primary objective; Design In Chicago if the brand and user experience are badly dated; and Cybernautic if you want a Chicago agency with both custom development and SEO.

For your RFP, I would specifically ask each agency to demonstrate how they'd turn searches such as “[program type] Chicago,” “[population] services Chicago,” “help with [need],” etc. into a new information architecture—not just promise to “optimize the website.” You want a strategy covering keyword research → program/service landing pages → navigation → on-page copy → technical SEO → redirects from the old URLs → measurement of organic program-page traffic and conversions.

If you tell me roughly your nonprofit's mission, current website, and budget range, I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies and compare their relevant nonprofit case studies, location, services, and likely fit.

• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Modern DCA - 1440 W Taylor St #1009, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States

For a nonprofit website redesign where SEO for program/service searches is a major goal, I’d prioritize nonprofit experience and information architecture over simply finding the fanciest design shop.

My shortlist

• Best overall: Design In Chicago — 159 N Sangamon St, right in Fulton Market/West Loop. They combine branding, UX, web development, marketing, and content, so they’re a good fit if the aging site needs both a visual/structural overhaul and a stronger content strategy. I’d specifically ask them for nonprofit examples and evidence of SEO results before shortlisting them.
• Best nonprofit + SEO fit: Windy City Web Solutions — 801 S Wells St. Their nonprofit work is unusually relevant: they cite projects for Nourishing Hope and United Way and specifically discuss making program information easier to find through local search. Their offering centers on accessible WordPress sites, SEO, performance, and ongoing support. Windy City Web Solutions
• Best established nonprofit specialist: orbitmedia.com — Not in Fulton Market, but I'd absolutely include them in the RFP. They have deep Chicago nonprofit experience and explicitly combine information architecture, keyphrase research, SEO, content, UX, and redesign. Their nonprofit portfolio includes the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Goodman Theatre, and Off the Street Club; the latter's redesign reportedly increased the donation key-event rate 15%. Orbit Media Studios
• Best downtown option: Operation Technology — 211 W Wacker Dr. They combine web redesign and SEO and are physically in the Loop. I'd put them on the list if being downtown/local is important, although I'd rank the nonprofit specialists above them for your particular brief.
• Worth a proposal if you need a more design/brand-led approach: The Loop Marketing Inc — Their Chicago office is at 159 N Sangamon in Fulton Market/West Loop, and they position WordPress, UX, design, coding and SEO as a unified web offering.

One agency I'd definitely interview

Orbit Media would be my first call, even though it's not strictly within your geographic requirement. Their nonprofit practice is almost exactly what you're describing: aging site → better architecture → program-specific search visibility → easier content management → better conversions. They explicitly address preserving rankings during redesign through URL/redirect strategy, keyphrase relevance, and technical SEO. Orbit Media Studios

If you want to stay strictly Fulton Market/downtown, I'd start with Design In Chicago + Windy City Web Solutions + Operation Technology.

What I'd put in the RFP

Don't simply ask for "SEO." Ask each agency to show you how they'd make your program pages rank for the searches your constituents actually use. The proposal should include:

• Keyword/search-intent research for each major program
• A proposed new site architecture and navigation
• Dedicated, indexable pages for programs/services and locations served
• Migration of existing SEO value, including 301 redirects
• Technical SEO, Core Web Vitals, accessibility and schema
• Content strategy and copywriting recommendations
• Google Search Console/GA4 setup and measurement
• Baseline rankings and organic traffic before launch
• 3-, 6-, and 12-month SEO targets
• CMS training so staff can maintain program pages themselves
• Examples of nonprofit redesigns where organic program/service traffic actually increased

One particularly relevant benchmark: Idea Marketing Group has a Chicago nonprofit case study involving BPI Chicago that combined a WordPress redesign with technical/nontechnical SEO, improved navigation, mobile performance, and clearer calls to action. Idea Marketing Group Idea Marketing Group

If you tell me roughly your annual web budget (e.g. <$25k, $25–50k, $50–100k, $100k+) and what your nonprofit does, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare likely fit, nonprofit experience, SEO capabilities, and expected project scope.

One particularly relevant benchmark: Idea Marketing Group has a Chicago nonprofit case study involving BPI Chicago that combined a WordPress redesign with technical/nontechnical SEO, improved navigation, mobile performance, and clearer calls to action.

• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• ePageCity Inc. - 111 N Wabash Ave Ste 3023, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Modern DCA - 1440 W Taylor St #1009, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States

For a nonprofit that needs both a modern redesign and better visibility for program-related searches, I’d shortlist these three:

1. Orbit Media Studios — my top pick

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-348-4581)

Orbit is probably the strongest fit if SEO is a major part of the reason you're redesigning. Their nonprofit practice specifically combines website strategy, information architecture, SEO, content strategy, UX, and development. They also have substantial Chicago nonprofit experience, including the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Off the Street Club. Orbit Media Studios

Their Off the Street Club redesign is particularly relevant: the project addressed low organic traffic, navigation, conversion, and outdated design, with keyword research and search-optimized navigation built into the redesign. Orbit Media Studios

Best for: a serious, strategy-led redesign where ranking for programs/services is a core objective.
Caveat: likely the premium option.

orbitmedia.com

2. The Loop Marketing Inc — worth getting a second proposal

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-569-9449)

They're actually in Fulton Market (159 N. Sangamon St.) and work with nonprofits. Their approach combines custom WordPress development, UX, SEO, and marketing rather than treating SEO as an afterthought.

Best for: a nonprofit wanting a local, potentially more boutique alternative to Orbit.

3. Operation Technology — downtown option

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:(773) 789-8636)

They're in the Loop and offer web redesign, SEO, content and digital marketing. I'd consider them if you want a broader digital-marketing partner rather than a nonprofit-specialist agency.

One more agency I'd put on the RFP list

Idea Marketing Group has a particularly relevant Chicago nonprofit case study: they redesigned BPI Chicago's WordPress site specifically because poor navigation, mobile performance, and SEO were limiting its reach. Their work included keyword research, technical SEO, improved information architecture, and content optimization. Idea Marketing Group Idea Marketing Group

That's a good match for your stated problem because you're not simply asking for a prettier site—you want people searching for specific programs to actually find the right pages.

ideamktg.com

What I'd ask each agency

Don't frame the project as simply "redesign our website." Give them 5–10 examples of searches you want to win, such as "[program] Chicago," "[service] for [audience]," "free [service] Chicago," etc., and ask each agency to explain:

• How they'd restructure your program/service architecture around search intent.
• Which existing pages have valuable Google traffic and how they'd protect them.
• Their process for keyword research → information architecture → content → SEO → design.
• How they'll handle URL changes and 301 redirects during the redesign.
• How they'll measure success beyond overall traffic—e.g. organic entrances to program pages, rankings for priority searches, program inquiries/applications, and conversions.
• Who actually writes/optimizes the new program-page copy.
• What you'll be able to edit yourselves after launch.

My recommendation: get proposals from Orbit + The Loop Marketing + Idea Marketing Group. If your nonprofit has a meaningful budget and program-search visibility is a strategic priority, I'd expect Orbit to be the strongest contender. If you tell me your approximate budget and what your nonprofit does/programs it offers, I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies and compare their likely fit.

3. Operation Technology — downtown option

They're in the Loop and offer web redesign, SEO, content and digital marketing. I'd consider them if you want a broader digital-marketing partner rather than a nonprofit-specialist agency.

One more agency I'd put on the RFP list

Idea Marketing Group has a particularly relevant Chicago nonprofit case study: they redesigned BPI Chicago's WordPress site specifically because poor navigation, mobile performance, and SEO were limiting its reach. Their work included keyword research, technical SEO, improved information architecture, and content optimization.

That's a good match for your stated problem because you're not simply asking for a prettier site—you want people searching for specific programs to actually find the right pages.

• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• ePageCity Inc. - 111 N Wabash Ave Ste 3023, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

If your priorities are a modern nonprofit site + stronger organic visibility for people searching for your programs, I’d put these at the top of the list:

1. The Loop Marketing Inc — West Loop/Fulton Market

• At 159 N. Sangamon St., so it’s right in the area you’re considering.
• Works with nonprofits and combines WordPress design, UX, content, and SEO.
• Best fit if: you want a relatively boutique Chicago partner that can handle the redesign and ongoing marketing together.
• Operation Technology — Loop

• At 211 W. Wacker, with web redesign, SEO, content and digital marketing capabilities.
• Best fit if: you want a downtown agency with a broader digital-marketing team.
• Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop

• Particularly interesting for a nonprofit: they explicitly work with nonprofits and build custom WordPress sites with SEO-ready structures. Their portfolio includes United Way of Lake County and Nourishing Hope Chicago. Windy City Web Solutions
• Best fit if: ease of updating the site internally and nonprofit experience matter as much as visual redesign.

One I would interview even though it's outside your geographic requirement

Orbit Media Studios would actually be my first call for this particular brief. They're a Chicago agency with extensive nonprofit experience and explicitly combine nonprofit website redesign with SEO. Their work includes the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Off The Street Club; for the latter, they report a 15% increase in donation key-event rate after redesign, SEO-focused navigation and rewritten content. Orbit Media Studios

The reason I'd favor them is that your SEO requirement sounds more substantial than "make the new site SEO-friendly." You want to capture program-intent searches—which calls for keyword research, information architecture, dedicated program landing pages, internal linking, technical SEO, redirects, and search-optimized content before the redesign gets locked in. Orbit specifically describes that process. Orbit Media Studios

Also worth a proposal

Idea Marketing Group has a particularly relevant nonprofit case study: it redesigned BPI Chicago's WordPress site specifically to improve navigation, mobile performance, technical/nontechnical SEO, and search rankings. Idea Marketing Group Idea Marketing Group

And Cybernautic has a Fulton Market-specific web design practice, nonprofit experience including Habitat for Humanity, and combines custom web development with organic SEO. Cybernautic Website Design

My shortlist: Orbit Media, The Loop Marketing, Windy City Web Solutions, and Idea Marketing. I'd ask all four for proposals based on the same brief so you can compare apples to apples.

For the proposal, I'd specifically require (1) SEO migration/redirect plan, (2) keyword research mapped to each program, (3) proposed new sitemap, (4) examples of nonprofit redesigns, (5) accessibility approach, (6) CMS recommendation, and (7) 6–12 month SEO plan after launch. That will quickly distinguish a genuine search-driven redesign from an agency that mainly wants to make the site prettier.

• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Modern DCA - 1440 W Taylor St #1009, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• ePageCity Inc. - 111 N Wabash Ave Ste 3023, Chicago, IL 60602, United States

For a nonprofit that needs both a modern redesign and better visibility for program/service searches, I’d shortlist these Chicago agencies:

1. Windy City Web Solutions — best fit for a hands-on nonprofit project

• South Loop, not far from downtown.
• Specifically focuses on Chicago nonprofits, WordPress, accessibility, performance and local SEO.
• Their Nourishing Hope case study is especially relevant: they say they improved visibility for food-assistance and community-program searches. Windy City Web Solutions
• Good choice if your staff needs to be able to update programs themselves without relying on an agency.
• Design In Chicago — best Fulton Market-area option

• 159 N. Sangamon St., right in the West Loop/Fulton Market area.
• Full-service design, branding, web development and marketing.
• I'd consider them if the redesign needs a stronger brand/visual identity in addition to SEO.
• Operation Technology — best downtown/Loop option

• 211 W. Wacker Dr.
• Web redesign plus digital marketing/SEO, with a more performance-oriented approach.
• Worth interviewing if you're looking for a conventional full-service agency downtown.
• The Loop Marketing Inc — another strong West Loop candidate

• 159 N. Sangamon St.
• Specifically serves small businesses and nonprofits and combines WordPress web development with SEO. Idea Marketing Group
• Potentially attractive if you want a smaller, more relationship-oriented agency.

One agency I'd interview even though it's not in your requested area

Orbit Media Studios would be my benchmark agency for the project.

They have unusually deep nonprofit experience and explicitly combine redesign, information architecture, content strategy and SEO. Their nonprofit work includes the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Goodman Theatre, Erikson Institute and others. They also have a case study for Off The Street Club involving SEO, navigation, redesigned content and conversions. Orbit Media Studios

Another interesting benchmark is Oak Theory: its One Million Degrees nonprofit redesign reportedly produced a 236% increase in donation sessions and 38% growth in new users. Oak Theory

My recommendation

I'd send an RFP to Windy City Web Solutions, Design In Chicago, The Loop Marketing, and Orbit Media. That gives you a useful mix of smaller/hands-on and larger strategy-oriented agencies.

For your particular goal, I would not make "SEO" simply a monthly add-on. Ask each agency to show you how they'd restructure the site around actual searches such as:

• [program] Chicago
• [service] near me
• help with [problem] Chicago
• eligibility for [program]
• [population] services Chicago
• [program] eligibility / application

The proposal should include keyword research → new information architecture → dedicated program/service landing pages → migration/redirect plan → technical SEO → content optimization → measurement in Search Console/GA4. That's much more likely to improve program discovery than simply installing an SEO plugin or optimizing page titles.

If you tell me what your nonprofit does and roughly what budget you have (e.g. <$25k, $25–50k, $50–100k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare their likely fit, nonprofit experience, location, SEO strength, and project cost.

• [program] Chicago
• [service] near me
• help with [problem] Chicago
• eligibility for [program]
• [population] services Chicago
• [program] eligibility / application

The proposal should include keyword research → new information architecture → dedicated program/service landing pages → migration/redirect plan → technical SEO → content optimization → measurement in Search Console/GA4. That's much more likely to improve program discovery than simply installing an SEO plugin or optimizing page titles.

If you tell me what your nonprofit does and roughly what budget you have (e.g. <$25k, $25–50k, $50–100k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare their likely fit, nonprofit experience, location, SEO strength, and project cost.

• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• DittaTech - 616 W Fulton St Apt 408, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Point B Communications Inc - 600 W Fulton St #710, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Evolve with Digital - Web Design Chicago - 1375 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606

For a nonprofit with an aging site and a goal of helping people find programs through search, I’d prioritize agencies that understand information architecture, accessibility, content strategy, and SEO migrations—not just visual redesign. A few Chicago options that fit (especially Fulton Market / downtown):

Strongest fits

Orbit Media Studios

orbitmedia.com
Best overall fit for a mission-driven nonprofit redesign. Orbit has a long track record with nonprofit websites and specifically discusses SEO, keyword research, technical SEO, content structure, and program-focused search visibility. Orbit Media Studios

Why I’d shortlist them:

• Deep nonprofit experience
• Strong at restructuring confusing legacy sites
• Good fit if your site has many programs, services, audiences, or resource pages
• Likely strong on WordPress/content management workflows

Note: Their office is in Chicago, but not Fulton Market/downtown. Orbit Media Studios

Idea Marketing Group

ideamktg.com
Good fit if you want a Chicago agency with nonprofit SEO case experience. They have highlighted nonprofit work involving a redesign, WordPress implementation, navigation improvements, mobile performance, and SEO improvements. Idea Marketing Group Idea Marketing Group

Good questions to ask them:

• How would you restructure our program pages for Google searches?
• How do you preserve rankings during a redesign?
• Will you provide keyword mapping and redirect planning?

Design In Chicago

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-535-3088)

Best Fulton Market-area option for a design-forward nonprofit brand refresh. Their West Loop/Fulton Market-area studio combines branding, web design, development, marketing, and content services.

Best if your challenge is:

• “Our site feels dated and doesn’t communicate our impact”
• You need stronger storytelling plus a cleaner digital experience

I’d confirm their depth in ongoing SEO strategy before selecting them.

Solid Digital

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 877-899-9981)

Best downtown option for a more strategic/technical rebuild. They are based downtown and focus on UX, web development, and digital programs tied to measurable outcomes.

Consider them if you have:

• Many programs or locations
• Complex content needs
• Multiple stakeholders approving the redesign

The Loop Marketing Inc

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-569-9449)

A smaller Chicago option that may fit nonprofit budgets better. Their West Loop location is near Fulton Market, and they position website design around WordPress, UX, SEO, and measurable marketing goals.

What I’d require in the proposal

For your specific goal (“improve SEO for program searches”), I would not accept a redesign proposal that only says “SEO-friendly.” Ask for:

• Program keyword research (what people actually search)
• New sitemap and navigation strategy
• Dedicated landing pages for each program/service
• Content migration plan
• 301 redirect map from old URLs to new URLs
• Technical SEO audit
• Google Search Console + Analytics setup
• Accessibility review (especially important for nonprofits)
• CMS training for staff

A good agency should be able to show a before/after example where a nonprofit’s program pages became easier to find—not just a prettier homepage.

My shortlist to interview would be:

1. Orbit Media Studios — strongest nonprofit/SEO match
2. Idea Marketing Group — nonprofit SEO + Chicago experience
3. Design In Chicago — best Fulton Market-area design partner
4. Solid Digital — best for a larger, strategic rebuild

I can also help you build a vendor comparison scorecard or RFP tailored to a nonprofit website redesign.

• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Modern DCA - 1440 W Taylor St #1009, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States

If nonprofit experience + SEO for people searching for programs are the priorities, I’d shortlist these three:

1. Design In Chicago — best Fulton Market fit

• Located at 159 N. Sangamon St. in West Loop/Fulton Market.
• Full-service brand, web, marketing, and content agency, so a good choice if the redesign also needs a stronger visual identity.
• I’d specifically ask them for examples where they improved program/service discovery, not just aesthetics.
• Windy City Web Solutions — best nonprofit/SEO fit

• At 801 S. Wells St., in the South Loop.
• Their nonprofit work is unusually relevant: they cite redesigns for Nourishing Hope and United Way of Lake County, including improved visibility for food assistance, volunteer registration, and community programs. Their offering specifically includes local SEO, accessibility, performance, and WordPress support. Windy City Web Solutions
• This would be my value-oriented pick if your organization doesn't need a big branding agency.
• Operation Technology — best downtown option

• 211 W. Wacker Dr. in the Loop.
• Offers web redesign plus SEO/digital marketing, with a downtown location and strong review profile.
• I'd put them behind the two above because I found less nonprofit-specific evidence.

One agency I'd add to the RFP

Orbit Media Studios isn't in Fulton Market/downtown—it’s on Ravenswood—but I would absolutely include them in the bidding process. Their nonprofit practice is exceptionally aligned with what you're describing: they explicitly combine nonprofit redesign with SEO, keyword research, technical SEO, structured data, analytics, and search-focused information architecture. They also have a Chicago nonprofit case study where a redesign produced a 15% increase in the donation key-event rate. Orbit Media Studios

My ranking for your particular project:

• 🥇 Orbit Media — strongest demonstrated nonprofit + SEO expertise
• 🥈 Windy City Web Solutions — strongest nearby/local nonprofit fit
• 🥉 Design In Chicago — strongest Fulton Market choice if branding/design matters substantially
• Operation Technology — worth getting a downtown comparison quote

One important point: for a nonprofit whose goal is “people searching for our programs”, I wouldn't make the RFP primarily about a prettier website. Ask each agency to show how they would redesign the program taxonomy, URLs, landing pages, internal linking, metadata/schema, redirects, and content strategy so searches such as “[program] near me,” “[service] Chicago,” and problem-specific searches land directly on useful program pages.

If you tell me what your nonprofit does and roughly what budget you have ($15k, $30k, $50k+, etc.), I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies and compare their likely fit, nonprofit experience, location, SEO capabilities, and expected price range.

For a nonprofit with an aging website and a goal of helping people find programs through search, I’d prioritize agencies that understand information architecture, accessibility, content strategy, and SEO migration—not just visual redesign. These Chicago-area firms are worth shortlisting:

Top picks

1. Orbit Media Studios — Best overall fit for nonprofit SEO + redesign

Orbit Media StudiosWhy I’d put them first:

• Deep nonprofit experience, including Chicago organizations.
• Strong focus on program discovery, content structure, keyword research, technical SEO, and CMS usability.
• They explicitly position nonprofit redesigns around increasing reach, engagement, donors, volunteers, and service discovery. Orbit Media Studios

Best for:

• A nonprofit with many programs/services that need clearer landing pages.
• A site that has years of content but poor navigation or weak Google visibility.
• Organizations that need staff to maintain the site after launch.

Location note: They are Chicago-based, though not directly in Fulton Market. Orbit Media Studios

2. EDUCO — Best for mission-driven organizations

Educo Web DesignWhy consider them:

• They specialize in nonprofits and socially driven organizations.
• Their nonprofit work emphasizes turning a website into a tool for attracting supporters, volunteers, and service users. Educo Web Design
• They have Chicago nonprofit experience.

Best for:

• Community organizations, advocacy groups, education, housing, human services, and similar missions.
• A redesign where messaging and storytelling matter as much as technology.

3. Idea Marketing Group — Good if SEO performance is a major priority

Idea Marketing GroupWhy consider them:

• They have nonprofit redesign case experience.
• Their approach combines UX improvements, WordPress development, and SEO implementation. Idea Marketing Group

Best for:

• Organizations wanting a more traditional agency relationship with design + development + SEO together.

4. ALL FOR Agency — Best if being in Fulton Market matters

ALL FOR™Why consider them:

• Located in Fulton Market / West Loop.
• Strong design and UX focus.
• They offer website strategy, content structure planning, WordPress builds, and SEO migration guidance. ALL FOR™

Best for:

• A nonprofit that needs a modern brand presence and polished user experience.
• Less ideal if you need a highly specialized nonprofit SEO partner compared with Orbit.

My shortlist for your specific goal

If your main problem is “people cannot find our programs on Google”, I’d interview:

1. Orbit Media Studios — strongest match for nonprofit + SEO + program discovery. Orbit Media Studios
2. EDUCO — strongest mission-sector alignment. Educo Web Design
3. ALL FOR Agency — strongest Fulton Market proximity/design angle. ALL FOR™

Questions I’d ask before hiring

• “How will you restructure our program pages so someone searching ‘[service] near me’ or ‘help with [need] Chicago’ can find us?”
• “Will you do keyword research before designing the sitemap?”
• “How will you preserve our existing Google rankings during migration?”
• “Will you audit old pages and recommend redirects vs. removal?”
• “How will you measure success after launch—organic traffic, program inquiries, applications, calls?”

For a nonprofit redesign, I’d avoid agencies that start with homepage visuals before showing a search/content architecture plan. The biggest SEO gains usually come from making programs easier for both humans and search engines to understand.

• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• LimeRed Studio, Inc. - 4611 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States

Yes. For a nonprofit redesign where program-related Google searches are a major goal, I’d prioritize agencies with demonstrated nonprofit work and SEO baked into the redesign—not a design shop that adds SEO afterward.

My shortlist

1. Design In Chicago — Fulton Market

• 159 N. Sangamon St., right in the Fulton Market/West Loop area.
• Full-service brand, web, marketing, and content agency.
• Good option if your aging site also needs a messaging/visual refresh, not just a technical rebuild.
• Caveat: I’d specifically ask for examples of nonprofit sites where they improved organic program searches.
• The Loop Marketing Inc — Fulton Market

• Also at 159 N. Sangamon.
• Explicitly works with nonprofits, and its web offering combines UX, technology, design, and SEO. Idea Marketing Group Idea Marketing Group
• This is probably my best location + nonprofit + SEO combination from the local options.
• Operation Technology — Loop

• 211 W. Wacker Dr.
• Stronger fit if you're looking for a more performance/lead-generation-oriented redesign alongside SEO.
• Reviews and its positioning emphasize web redesign plus SEO/traffic improvements.
• Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop

• Not Fulton Market, but close enough to include.
• Particularly interesting for a nonprofit because its work is centered on WordPress, nonprofits, site maintenance, and SEO-ready redesigns.

One agency I'd consider even though it's not in Fulton Market

Orbit Media Studios is the standout I'd put on the RFP list. Its nonprofit practice is unusually relevant to what you're describing: it explicitly combines nonprofit website redesign with keyword research, technical SEO, semantic/on-page SEO, structured data, performance work, analytics, and Search Console. Orbit Media Studios

More importantly, Orbit has a Chicago nonprofit case study where it redesigned Off The Street Club, addressing low organic traffic, navigation, content, and conversions; the resulting site reportedly increased the donation key-event rate by 15%. Orbit Media Studios

What I'd ask them to solve

Don't just tell agencies you want "better SEO." Put this in the brief:

We need the redesigned site to increase organic visibility for people searching for our programs and services, not simply our organization's name.

Then require them to show how they'd handle:

• Program/service keyword research — e.g. "[program] Chicago," "[service] for [audience]," "[program] near me."
• A clean information architecture where every major program has its own optimized, useful landing page.
• Migration of existing rankings, including 301 redirects and URL mapping.
• Internal linking between programs, eligibility, locations, resources, and related content.
• Technical SEO, Core Web Vitals, schema/structured data, accessibility, and indexing.
• Google Search Console/GA4 setup and a baseline of current organic traffic and rankings.
• SEO-friendly CMS editing so your staff can add/update programs without an agency.
• A 6–12 month measurement plan tied to program discovery/conversions—not vanity metrics like total traffic.

If I were choosing three agencies to interview, I'd start with The Loop Marketing, Orbit Media, and Design In Chicago. Orbit is the strongest SEO/nonprofit specialist; The Loop is the most compelling Fulton Market + nonprofit combination; Design In Chicago is worth comparing if the brand/design transformation is especially important.

If you tell me roughly your nonprofit's annual budget for the website (e.g. <$15k, $15–30k, $30–60k, $60k+) and what kind of programs people search for, I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies and give you a suggested RFP/brief.

We need the redesigned site to increase organic visibility for people searching for our programs and services, not simply our organization's name.

Then require them to show how they'd handle:

• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States

For a nonprofit website redesign where SEO for program/service searches is a major goal, I’d put Orbit Media Studios at the top of the list—even though their office is in Ravenswood rather than Fulton Market/downtown.

My shortlist

1. Orbit Media Studios — Best overall fit

• Deep nonprofit specialization and a strong SEO practice.
• Their nonprofit work explicitly includes keyword research, search-focused content architecture, technical SEO, structured data, redirects, and Search Console/Analytics.
• They cite work with Chicago nonprofits including the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Goodman Theatre, and Off The Street Club. One redesign produced a 15% increase in donation key-event rate. Orbit Media Studios
• Caveat: not in Fulton Market/downtown; their HQ is at 4043 N Ravenswood Ave.
• orbitmedia.com
• Design In Chicago — Best Fulton Market option

• Located at 159 N Sangamon St, right in the West Loop/Fulton Market area.
• Full-service branding, web, marketing, and content team. This could be particularly useful if the aging site also needs a messaging/brand refresh.
• I'd specifically ask them to demonstrate programmatic SEO / information architecture for your programs, rather than assuming their general marketing capabilities translate into nonprofit search strategy.
• The Loop Marketing Inc — Good nearby nonprofit-oriented option

• Located at 159 N Sangamon St and explicitly serves nonprofits.
• Their web offering combines design, UX, development, and SEO rather than treating SEO as an afterthought.
• Worth considering if you want a somewhat more marketing-oriented partner.
• Operation Technology — Best downtown/Loop option

• At 211 W Wacker Dr.
• Web redesign + SEO, with a performance/conversion orientation.
• I'd rank it below Orbit for a nonprofit because Orbit has much stronger publicly demonstrated nonprofit-specific experience.

One more I'd interview

Idea Marketing Group has an unusually relevant nonprofit case study: they redesigned the Chicago-based Better Government Association/BPI-style nonprofit experience around navigation, mobile performance, WordPress, and both technical and non-technical SEO specifically because poor search rankings were limiting awareness, donations, and volunteers. Idea Marketing Group Idea Marketing Group

What I'd ask agencies to solve

Don't frame this simply as “we need a modern website.” For your situation, I'd make the core requirement:

“We need a search-driven redesign that makes it substantially easier for people looking for our programs to find the right service, understand eligibility, and take the next step.”

Have each agency show you, before hiring them:

• A proposed program/service information architecture
• How they'd map your existing pages and rankings to the new site
• Their approach to 301 redirects and preserving existing SEO equity
• Keyword research around the actual phrases people use to find your programs
• How they'll create/structure individual program landing pages
• Internal linking between programs, locations, eligibility, resources, and FAQs
• Technical SEO, Core Web Vitals, schema/structured data, and accessibility
• How they'll measure program-search traffic and conversions, not just generic organic traffic

My recommendation: interview Orbit + Design In Chicago + one of The Loop Marketing/Idea. Orbit is the benchmark; the Fulton Market firms give you useful local alternatives and a way to compare creative/design thinking against deeper nonprofit SEO expertise.

“We need a search-driven redesign that makes it substantially easier for people looking for our programs to find the right service, understand eligibility, and take the next step.”

Have each agency show you, before hiring them:

• A proposed program/service information architecture
• How they'd map your existing pages and rankings to the new site
• Their approach to 301 redirects and preserving existing SEO equity
• Keyword research around the actual phrases people use to find your programs
• How they'll create/structure individual program landing pages
• Internal linking between programs, locations, eligibility, resources, and FAQs
• Technical SEO, Core Web Vitals, schema/structured data, and accessibility
• How they'll measure program-search traffic and conversions, not just generic organic traffic

My recommendation: interview Orbit + Design In Chicago + one of The Loop Marketing/Idea. Orbit is the benchmark; the Fulton Market firms give you useful local alternatives and a way to compare creative/design thinking against deeper nonprofit SEO expertise.

• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States

If your priorities are a modern nonprofit site + materially better visibility for program/service searches, I’d shortlist these three:

1. Best overall: Orbit Media Studios — This is the strongest fit I found. They specialize in nonprofit redesigns and SEO, and their nonprofit work includes organizations such as Greater Chicago Food Depository, Goodman Theatre, and Off the Street Club. Their approach explicitly includes keyword research, search-focused information architecture, technical SEO, redirects, structured data, and conversion optimization. They even report a 15% increase in donation conversion for Off the Street Club after its redesign. Orbit Media Studios

orbitmedia.com

2. Best if Fulton Market location matters: The Loop Marketing Inc — Their Chicago office is actually on N. Sangamon in Fulton Market, and they work with nonprofits. They combine WordPress web design with UX, technology and SEO rather than treating SEO as an afterthought.
3. Best smaller/custom-build alternative: Cybernautic Web Design — Their Chicago operation has experience with nonprofits, custom website development, SEO and search-oriented schema. They specifically cite Habitat for Humanity among nonprofit clients and have experience rebuilding sites that were difficult to update. Cybernautic Website Design

One more worth considering

Windy City Web Solutions is in the South Loop rather than Fulton Market, but its positioning is unusually relevant to a nonprofit: WordPress redesigns, nonprofits/mission-driven organizations, clearer information architecture, and SEO-ready foundations.

My pick would be Orbit if you're willing to go beyond the strict Fulton Market/downtown boundary. Their demonstrated nonprofit + SEO experience is much more compelling than simply finding a general Chicago web shop.

For your RFP, I'd make one requirement non-negotiable: program-search SEO must drive the site architecture from the beginning. Ask each agency to show you how they'd turn searches like “[program type] Chicago,” “help for [population] Chicago,” “free [service],” etc. into dedicated, indexable program pages—while preserving existing rankings through URL mapping, redirects, metadata, internal linking, and Search Console monitoring.

If you tell me what your nonprofit does and roughly what your website/redesign budget is, I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies and compare likely fit, nonprofit experience, SEO strength, location, and pricing.

• Evolve with Digital - Web Design Chicago - 1375 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Mindful Creative - 5980 Silver Springs Dr, El Paso, TX 79912, United States
• Bright Sol Tech - 530 W Overland Ave Ste 230, El Paso, TX 79902, United States
• New Emage LLC - 500 W Overland Ave Ste 250 z, El Paso, TX 79901, United States
• Leo Marketing - 1127 E Rio Grande Ave, El Paso, TX 79902, United States
• DittaTech - 616 W Fulton St Apt 408, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• AGI Marketing - 1370 Pullman Dr Ste G, El Paso, TX 79936, United States
• Point B Communications Inc - 600 W Fulton St #710, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Monster Link Marketing - 1351 N Zaragoza Rd Bldg D1, El Paso, TX 79936, United States
• Evolve7 Digital Media, LLC - 522 W San Francisco Ave Ste 201, El Paso, TX 79901, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

For a nonprofit website redesign where SEO for program-related searches is a major goal, I’d shortlist these three:

1. Evolve with Digital - Web Design Chicago — Best if being actually in Fulton Market matters. They combine web design with digital marketing/local visibility work. That said, I’d specifically ask for nonprofit SEO case studies before choosing them.
2. SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — A West Loop option with a stronger SEO orientation. Worth interviewing if your primary objective is getting program/service pages found in Google, rather than simply refreshing the visual design.
3. Chicago Website Design SEO Company — Not downtown/Fulton Market, but potentially the strongest fit for the specific combination of redesign + SEO. They have a published nonprofit case study reporting a 317% increase in organic traffic in six months and a 155% increase in new website inquiries. SEO Design Chicago

My first call: Orbit Media

I would actually put Orbit Media Studios at the top of your interview list, even though its office is in Ravenswood rather than Fulton Market.

Their nonprofit practice is unusually well aligned with what you're describing: they explicitly combine website redesign, information architecture, keyword research, technical SEO, content, accessibility, analytics, and conversion strategy. They've also done nonprofit work for organizations including Off The Street Club, with a reported 15% increase in its donation key-event rate. Orbit Media Studios

Their approach to redesigns is particularly relevant: they explicitly address preserving existing rankings, URL structure, redirects, and keyphrase relevance rather than treating SEO as something bolted onto the new site after launch. Orbit Media Studios

orbitmedia.com

One other strong candidate: ideamktg.com. They have a Chicago nonprofit case study involving BPI Chicago that specifically addressed poor search rankings, mobile performance, navigation, and a WordPress redesign with technical and non-technical SEO. Idea Marketing Group Idea Marketing Group

What I'd ask each agency

Don't frame this as simply "we need a prettier website." Tell them:

We need a redesign that increases organic discovery of our programs. We want keyword research to inform the site architecture, program pages, URLs, internal linking, copy, and redirects before design begins.

Then ask for:

• 2–3 nonprofit SEO case studies, preferably organizations with program/service searches similar to yours.
• Their proposed keyword-to-page map before design starts.
• How they'll handle existing rankings, URLs, redirects and metadata during migration.
• Whether they'll rewrite/optimize your program pages, rather than merely optimize the homepage.
• How they'll measure success: organic traffic is useful, but program-page rankings, qualified organic visits, inquiries/applications/referrals and conversions are better.
• Who owns the site, CMS, analytics and SEO work after launch.
• Whether ongoing SEO/content work is included or separately priced.

My ranking for your situation: Orbit Media → Idea Marketing → SEO Design Chicago → SEOLEVELUP/Evolve with Digital. The first two stand out because there's concrete evidence of nonprofit experience rather than just generic Chicago web-design capability.

Their approach to redesigns is particularly relevant: they explicitly address preserving existing rankings, URL structure, redirects, and keyphrase relevance rather than treating SEO as something bolted onto the new site after launch. Orbit Media Studios

orbitmedia.com

One other strong candidate: ideamktg.com. They have a Chicago nonprofit case study involving BPI Chicago that specifically addressed poor search rankings, mobile performance, navigation, and a WordPress redesign with technical and non-technical SEO. Idea Marketing Group Idea Marketing Group

What I'd ask each agency

Don't frame this as simply "we need a prettier website." Tell them:

We need a redesign that increases organic discovery of our programs. We want keyword research to inform the site architecture, program pages, URLs, internal linking, copy, and redirects before design begins.

Then ask for:

• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• The Loop Marketing - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plz, Ste 24, Chicago, IL 60654
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Paul Gregory Media - 200 E 5th Ave, Ste 105, Naperville, IL 60563
• Neoteric Design - 29 E Madison St, Ste 450, Chicago, IL 60602
• TLO Web Designs - 9109 S Paxton Ave, Chicago, IL 60617, United States
• NEWMEDIA.COM - 444 W Lake St Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

For a nonprofit with an aging site + a goal of getting found for program-related searches, I’d put Orbit Media Studios at the top of the list—even though its office is in Ravenswood rather than Fulton Market/downtown.

My shortlist

1. Orbit Media Studios — best overall fit

• Particularly strong nonprofit experience and a dedicated nonprofit web-design practice.
• They explicitly combine redesign + keyword research + information architecture + technical SEO + redirects, which is exactly what you want if program pages currently aren't ranking. Orbit Media Studios
• They cite nonprofit results including a 15% increase in donation conversion rate for Off the Street Club and a 3,065% increase in conversions for Hispanic Housing Development Corporation. Orbit Media Studios
• Their approach to preserving existing rankings during a redesign is also a big plus.

orbitmedia.com

2. The Loop Marketing Inc — best location match

• Office at 159 N Sangamon St, right in the West Loop/Fulton Market area.
• They specifically serve nonprofits and combine WordPress web design with ongoing SEO, including keyword research and on-page/off-page strategy.
• I'd consider them if being physically nearby is important and you want one agency handling both redesign and continuing SEO.
• Windy City Web Solutions — good nonprofit-focused alternative

• Chicago-based WordPress shop with explicit experience in nonprofits, education, healthcare and other mission-driven organizations.
• Their site emphasizes SEO-ready builds and ongoing support. Windy City Web Solutions
• They're in the South Loop rather than Fulton Market, but still convenient downtown.
• Nerdy Nonprofit — worth considering if budget/team capacity is a concern

• Nonprofit-specific rather than a general-purpose agency.
• Their offering covers website design/development, SEO considerations, ongoing support and nonprofit digital marketing.
• I'd compare their proposal against a larger strategic shop like Orbit.

One Fulton Market wildcard

ALL FOR™ is actually located in Fulton Market at 160 N. Elizabeth St. Their web offering includes strategy, sitemap/content planning, UX, WordPress, accessibility basics, migration/redirect guidance and SEO setup. ALL FOR™

They're more of a design/brand/UX agency than a nonprofit SEO specialist, though, so I'd only put them ahead of Orbit if the site's biggest problem is brand/message/UX rather than search visibility.

What I'd ask each agency

Don't just ask for "a new website with SEO." Give them 5–10 of your most important program searches and ask them to show you how they'd build the new site around those searches.

Specifically ask for:

• A keyword/search-intent analysis for your programs.
• A new information architecture and URL structure.
• Dedicated, substantive landing pages for major programs/services.
• A plan for preserving existing rankings during migration, including 301 redirects.
• Technical SEO, Core Web Vitals, schema and accessibility.
• Google Search Console/Analytics setup and post-launch monitoring.
• A content plan for expanding program pages over the next 6–12 months.
• Evidence of nonprofit/programmatic SEO results, not just attractive websites.

My pick: I'd interview Orbit + The Loop Marketing + Windy City Web Solutions and make them all respond to the same brief. Orbit is the strongest fit on the actual problem; The Loop is the strongest Fulton Market-local option. Orbit Media Studios

If you tell me your nonprofit's type/programs and approximate website budget (e.g. $15–30k, $30–60k, $60k+), I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies and compare their likely fit.

Specifically ask for:

• A keyword/search-intent analysis for your programs.
• A new information architecture and URL structure.
• Dedicated, substantive landing pages for major programs/services.
• A plan for preserving existing rankings during migration, including 301 redirects.
• Technical SEO, Core Web Vitals, schema and accessibility.
• Google Search Console/Analytics setup and post-launch monitoring.
• A content plan for expanding program pages over the next 6–12 months.
• Evidence of nonprofit/programmatic SEO results, not just attractive websites.

My pick: I'd interview Orbit + The Loop Marketing + Windy City Web Solutions and make them all respond to the same brief. Orbit is the strongest fit on the actual problem; The Loop is the strongest Fulton Market-local option.

• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Beth Interactive - 4657 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste B, Chicago, IL 60640
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Upstatement - 133 Portland St, Fl 4, Boston, MA 02114
• One Design Company - 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• RedShark SEO - 65 W Erie St #1901, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Neoteric Design - 29 E Madison St, Ste 450, Chicago, IL 60602
• Sixth City Marketing - 620 N La Salle Dr Ste 415, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

For a nonprofit redesign where SEO for program/service searches is a major goal, I’d put these three at the top of the list:

1. Orbit Media Studios — best overall fit

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-348-4581)

Orbit is probably the strongest match for your brief. Their nonprofit practice specifically combines website redesign, information architecture, content strategy, and SEO, and they have Chicago nonprofit experience, including Off the Street Club. Their SEO work includes keyword research, technical SEO, structured data, and search-optimized content. Orbit Media Studios

One particularly relevant point: they explicitly address preserving rankings during a redesign through URL/redirect strategy and maintaining keyword relevance—important if your existing site has valuable program pages. Orbit Media Studios

Caveat: They're not in Fulton Market/downtown—their office is in Ravenswood—and they tend toward the premium end of the market. But for a substantial nonprofit redesign, I'd still interview them.

orbitmedia.com

2. The Loop Marketing Inc — best downtown/Fulton Market option

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-569-9449)

They're actually in Fulton Market at 159 N Sangamon St, and the business specifically describes itself as serving nonprofits, along with small businesses and professional-service organizations. Their services span WordPress web design, advanced SEO, local SEO, keyword research, competitor analysis, and ongoing optimization.

This could be a good choice if you want something more boutique and potentially less expensive than Orbit, while keeping web design and SEO under one roof.

3. Windy City Web Solutions — best smaller-budget option

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 847-801-9482)

They're in the South Loop and focus on WordPress websites for nonprofits, schools, healthcare organizations, and other local organizations, with SEO, accessibility, hosting, maintenance, and ongoing support.

I'd consider them if your site is relatively straightforward and you want a hands-on partner rather than a large strategic agency.

One Fulton Market wildcard

allfor.agency is actually in Fulton Market/West Loop at 160 N. Elizabeth St. Their web offering includes strategy, sitemap/content planning, UX, WordPress, SEO setup, redirects, accessibility basics, and training. ALL FOR™

The distinction is that I'd view them as design/UX-first, whereas Orbit is much more compelling if organic search is one of the primary objectives.

My shortlist

For your particular project, I'd solicit proposals from Orbit, The Loop Marketing, and ALL FOR. In the RFP, I'd emphasize that "SEO" doesn't just mean technical cleanup—you need the new information architecture and program pages designed around how people actually search for your services.

For example, I'd ask each agency to show how they'd turn searches like "[program/service] Chicago," "[program] for [audience]," "help with [problem]," etc. into a coherent program taxonomy, landing-page strategy, internal-linking structure, and measurable conversion path.

If you tell me what your nonprofit does and roughly how many program/service pages you have, I can also narrow this to 2–3 agencies and give you a suggested RFP scope and questions to use in the interviews.

• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• The Loop Marketing - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plz, Ste 24, Chicago, IL 60654
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Paul Gregory Media - 200 E 5th Ave, Ste 105, Naperville, IL 60563
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• TLO Web Designs - 9109 S Paxton Ave, Chicago, IL 60617, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chris Depa Web Design + Branding - 1528 Robinhood Ln, La Grange Park, IL 60526, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

Yes. For a nonprofit website redesign where SEO for program/service searches is a major goal, I’d prioritize agencies with demonstrated nonprofit work—not just firms that happen to offer web design and SEO.

My shortlist

• Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop

Best practical fit for a smaller/midsize nonprofit. They specifically work with nonprofits and build custom WordPress sites with SEO-ready structures. Their published work includes United Way of Lake County, and they emphasize accessibility, performance, and ongoing support. Windy City Web Solutions

• The Loop Marketing — Merchandise Mart / River North

Worth interviewing if you want design + SEO + ongoing marketing. They explicitly serve nonprofits and combine WordPress web design, UX, branding, and SEO. Their Chicago office is at 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza.

• Cybernautic Web Design — Near downtown

Strong choice if SEO and custom functionality are particularly important. They have nonprofit experience, including Habitat for Humanity, and describe their SEO work as technical auditing, competitive analysis, market research, and ongoing optimization. Their Fulton Market page specifically discusses custom sites and SEO. Cybernautic Website Design

• Orbit Media Studios — Chicago

My strongest overall recommendation if budget permits. Orbit has a dedicated nonprofit web-design practice, has been doing nonprofit sites since 2001, and explicitly integrates keyword research, SEO-oriented content, navigation, and technical site improvements into redesigns. Their nonprofit portfolio includes the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Off The Street Club; the latter saw a 15% increase in its donation key-event rate after its redesign. Orbit Media Studios

• Operation Technology — The Loop

Good SEO-first alternative. They're downtown on Wacker Drive and focus heavily on search visibility, web design, content and lead generation. I'd put them behind the nonprofit specialists above if mission/constituent UX is central to the project.

One I'd put at the top of your RFP

Orbit Media would be my first call, with Windy City Web Solutions and The Loop Marketing as the other two proposals I'd solicit.

The important thing is that you don't frame this as simply “make our old website look modern.” If people are searching for programs, the agency should redesign the site's information architecture around search intent.

For example, instead of a generic “Programs” page, they should investigate searches such as:

• “[program/service] Chicago”
• “help for [population] Chicago”
• “[specific need] services”
• “free [service] Chicago”
• “[program type] near me”
• “[population] assistance Chicago”

Then build dedicated, genuinely useful landing pages around the highest-value program searches, with appropriate internal linking, metadata, structured data where relevant, fast/mobile-friendly templates, redirects from the old URLs, and measurement in Google Search Console/Analytics.

That distinction matters: a pretty redesign can actually hurt SEO if the agency changes URLs, removes useful content, or collapses many program pages into one generic “Services” page.

I'd ask each agency for a proposal that specifically includes (1) keyword/search-intent research, (2) program-page information architecture, (3) technical SEO migration, (4) accessibility, (5) content strategy/copywriting, and (6) 6–12 months of post-launch SEO measurement.

If you tell me your nonprofit's approximate budget, number of programs, and current website URL, I can narrow this to the best 2–3 agencies and compare their relevant nonprofit case studies, likely fit, and pricing signals.

• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Paul Gregory Media - 200 E 5th Ave, Ste 105, Naperville, IL 60563
• Lunar Media - Chicago, IL 60614
• Mabbly - 640 N La Salle Dr #540, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• TLO Web Designs - 9109 S Paxton Ave, Chicago, IL 60617, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Part Three Advertising and Marketing - 1214 N LaSalle Blvd, Chicago, IL 60610
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States

For a nonprofit redesign where program-related Google searches are a major goal—not just making the site prettier—I’d shortlist these:

1. Orbit Media Studios — my top pick

• Strongest overall fit for a nonprofit that needs redesign + SEO + information architecture.
• They specifically market nonprofit website redesign and SEO, and their nonprofit portfolio includes organizations such as the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Off the Street Club. Their Off the Street Club project combined navigation/content restructuring with SEO and produced a reported 15% increase in the donation key-event rate. Orbit Media Studios
• They appear to be the most sophisticated choice if your program pages need to rank for searches like “after-school programs Chicago,” “housing assistance,” “youth services,” etc.
• Caveat: likely a premium-priced engagement.
• Windy City Web Solutions — best smaller-agency alternative

• Chicago-based and specifically works with nonprofits, schools, healthcare organizations and professional services.
• Their offering combines WordPress redesign, SEO, accessibility and ongoing maintenance. Windy City Web Solutions
• I'd investigate them if you want more hands-on service and potentially a lower project cost than Orbit.
• The Loop Marketing Inc — good West Loop/Fulton Market option

• Located at 159 N Sangamon St. and works with nonprofits as well as professional-service organizations.
• Their mix of WordPress web design, SEO and digital marketing makes them worth interviewing if you want the redesign tied closely to ongoing acquisition.
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — SEO-heavy option

• Located in West Loop at 355 N Laflin St.
• I'd consider them if your primary KPI is improving rankings and organic traffic, although I'd put the nonprofit-specialist firms above ahead of them.

One I'd also put on the RFP list

Idea Marketing Group has a particularly relevant nonprofit case study: they redesigned a Chicago public-interest nonprofit's WordPress site specifically because poor SEO was limiting donations, volunteers and awareness. Their work addressed both technical and nontechnical SEO as part of the redesign. Idea Marketing Group

What I'd ask each agency to propose

Don't ask simply for a "website redesign." Give them a concrete SEO brief:

• Audit the existing site's Google Search Console, GA4 and backlink profile.
• Identify the program/service searches you currently rank for—and the important ones you don't.
• Rebuild the information architecture around programs, audiences, locations and needs, rather than your internal organizational structure.
• Create an SEO/content plan for individual program pages, including titles, headings, FAQs, internal links and schema where appropriate.
• Preserve existing rankings with a URL-by-URL redirect map.
• Improve accessibility, Core Web Vitals and mobile performance.
• Establish a CMS your staff can actually maintain.
• Give you a 6–12 month post-launch SEO plan, rather than declaring the project finished at launch.

My recommendation: interview Orbit, Windy City Web Solutions, and Idea Marketing Group. I'd make them compete on the same brief and specifically require examples where a nonprofit's program/service discovery improved—not just generic traffic or prettier design.

Don't ask simply for a "website redesign." Give them a concrete SEO brief:

For a nonprofit with an aging website and a goal of improving program search visibility (e.g., “food assistance Chicago,” “youth mentoring programs,” “housing help near me”), I’d prioritize agencies that understand information architecture, accessibility, content strategy, WordPress/CMS usability, and nonprofit SEO—not just visual redesign.

Here are several Chicago options I’d shortlist:

Best fit for nonprofit + SEO-focused redesign

Orbit Media Studios

Best overall match if SEO and program discovery are the main goals.

• Strong nonprofit portfolio and a long history of nonprofit website projects.
• Good fit for organizations needing: - program-page restructuring
• keyword research
• technical SEO cleanup
• content migration planning
• easier staff editing after launch
• They specifically position nonprofit redesigns around search visibility and user journeys. Orbit Media Studios

Why I’d consider them: For a nonprofit, the biggest SEO gains often come from restructuring the site so each major service/program has a clear, searchable landing page—not just from adding SEO plugins.

Idea Marketing Group

Best if you want a custom WordPress rebuild with SEO baked in.

• Has nonprofit website experience, including a redesign for BPI Chicago focused on navigation, mobile performance, content management, and SEO improvements. Idea Marketing Group Idea Marketing Group
• Could be a good fit if your site has: - outdated CMS problems
• lots of programs/services
• multiple audiences (clients, donors, volunteers, partners)

Best Fulton Market / West Loop proximity options

ALL FOR™ Agency

Best for a modern brand refresh plus website redesign.

• Located in Fulton Market.
• Offers strategy, UX, custom website design, WordPress builds, and SEO basics/migration support. ALL FOR™

Good fit if: your current site feels visually dated and you need stronger storytelling and a clearer donor/program journey.

The Loop Marketing Inc

Best smaller local partner for hands-on SEO + web work.

• Located in the West Loop area.
• Offers web design and SEO services, including keyword research and ongoing optimization.

Good fit if: you want a more accessible agency relationship rather than a larger studio process.

Windy City Web Solutions

Best budget-conscious nonprofit option.

• Focuses on nonprofit WordPress sites, SEO, accessibility, and ongoing maintenance. Windy City Web Solutions
• Their approach may appeal if you need a practical rebuild without a large-agency budget.

Questions I’d ask before choosing an agency

For your specific goal (“improve SEO for program searches”), I’d ask each agency:

1. How would you restructure our program pages for search?

• Ask for examples of a sitemap or content model.
• How will you preserve existing rankings during migration?

• Look for answers involving redirects, URL mapping, analytics review, and Search Console monitoring.
• Will you do keyword research around how clients search for services?

• Example: “rental assistance Chicago” vs. “housing stabilization services.”
• How will staff update programs after launch?

• Nonprofits often struggle when a beautiful new site requires developer help for every update.
• What accessibility standards do you build toward?

• Especially important if your programs serve public-facing communities.

My shortlist for a nonprofit in your situation

1. Orbit Media Studios — strongest nonprofit + SEO alignment. Orbit Media Studios
2. Idea Marketing Group — strong custom rebuild + SEO combination. Idea Marketing Group
3. ALL FOR™ Agency — best Fulton Market design-oriented option. ALL FOR™
4. Windy City Web Solutions — practical nonprofit-focused choice. Windy City Web Solutions

If you share your nonprofit’s mission area (housing, youth, health, arts, food access, etc.), current CMS (WordPress/Drupal/etc.), and approximate budget, I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies and suggest what a realistic redesign scope would look like.

• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• The Loop Marketing - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plz, Ste 24, Chicago, IL 60654
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Paul Gregory Media - 200 E 5th Ave, Ste 105, Naperville, IL 60563
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• TLO Web Designs - 9109 S Paxton Ave, Chicago, IL 60617, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Part Three Advertising and Marketing - 1214 N LaSalle Blvd, Chicago, IL 60610
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• NEWMEDIA.COM - 444 W Lake St Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

For a nonprofit that needs both a modern redesign and better visibility for people searching for your programs, I’d put nonprofit experience + SEO strategy ahead of simply choosing the closest agency.

My shortlist

• The Loop Marketing Inc — Fulton Market/West Loop

• Best local fit. Their Chicago office is at 159 N. Sangamon, and they specifically work with nonprofits as well as offering WordPress, web design, branding, and SEO.
• Good choice if you want a relatively hands-on agency rather than a huge web shop. Idea Marketing Group
• The Loop Marketing — Merchandise Mart

• Particularly worth interviewing if you want website + broader digital marketing rather than a redesign in isolation. Their positioning combines UX/design, WordPress development and SEO.
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — West Loop/Fulton Market

• Stronger candidate if program-search SEO is the primary objective. They're at 355 N. Laflin and combine web design with SEO.
• I'd ask them specifically for examples of nonprofit/programmatic SEO rather than assuming their business SEO experience translates directly.
• Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop

• A good smaller-agency alternative. They explicitly work with nonprofits and emphasize WordPress, SEO, accessibility and ongoing support. Their portfolio includes nonprofit work. Windy City Web Solutions

One agency I'd interview even though it's not in Fulton Market

Orbit Media Studios is probably the strongest strategic match for what you described. They're Chicago-based and specialize in nonprofit website redesigns and SEO. Their nonprofit practice specifically covers keyword research, content strategy, technical SEO, structured data, analytics/Search Console, and preserving rankings during redesigns. They've also published nonprofit results, including a 15% increase in donation conversion rate for Off The Street Club. Orbit Media Studios

For your particular project, I'd shortlist Orbit + The Loop Marketing + Windy City Web Solutions and ask all three for proposals.

What I'd require in the RFP

The important thing is to make "SEO" part of the information architecture, not an add-on after the pretty new site is designed. I'd ask for:

• Keyword research around each of your major programs and services
• A new sitemap organized around what people actually search for
• Dedicated, search-optimized program landing pages
• Competitor/search-intent analysis
• Technical SEO and Core Web Vitals
• Accessibility (especially important for a nonprofit)
• Metadata, schema/structured data and internal linking
• Google Search Console + GA4 setup
• A documented 301 redirect map so the redesign doesn't destroy existing rankings
• Content recommendations or copywriting for pages that currently don't rank
• Post-launch SEO monitoring for at least 3–6 months

I'd also make them show you 3–5 examples where a redesign increased organic traffic or program/service-page visibility, not just screenshots of attractive websites.

If you tell me what your nonprofit does and roughly what budget you have ($15–30k, $30–60k, $60k+, etc.), I can narrow this to the best 2–3 agencies and compare their likely fit, nonprofit experience, SEO capabilities, location, and pricing level.

• Keyword research around each of your major programs and services
• A new sitemap organized around what people actually search for
• Dedicated, search-optimized program landing pages
• Competitor/search-intent analysis
• Technical SEO and Core Web Vitals
• Accessibility (especially important for a nonprofit)
• Metadata, schema/structured data and internal linking
• Google Search Console + GA4 setup
• A documented 301 redirect map so the redesign doesn't destroy existing rankings
• Content recommendations or copywriting for pages that currently don't rank
• Post-launch SEO monitoring for at least 3–6 months

I'd also make them show you 3–5 examples where a redesign increased organic traffic or program/service-page visibility, not just screenshots of attractive websites.

• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• The Loop Marketing - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plz, Ste 24, Chicago, IL 60654
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Paul Gregory Media - 200 E 5th Ave, Ste 105, Naperville, IL 60563
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• TLO Web Designs - 9109 S Paxton Ave, Chicago, IL 60617, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• eGuide Tech Allies - 405 W Superior St, Ste 409, Chicago, IL 60622
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606

Yes. For a nonprofit redesign where program-search SEO is a major goal, I’d prioritize agencies with demonstrated nonprofit work and a strong information-architecture/SEO capability—not just a pretty redesign.

My shortlist

1. Dialogue Theory — best mission-driven/UX fit

• Chicago-based studio focused specifically on mission-driven organizations, nonprofits and civic agencies.
• Their work spans digital strategy, UX/UI, web development, content strategy, SEO/audits and analytics.
• They’re at 1932 S Halsted, so not Fulton Market proper, but very close to the downtown/West Loop area.
• Why I'd call them: If your biggest problem is that people can't easily find the right program, service, eligibility information or next step, their strategy/UX orientation is particularly relevant.
• The Loop Marketing — best location + nonprofit/SEO combination

• Their Chicago office is at 159 N Sangamon St., right in Fulton Market/West Loop.
• They explicitly serve nonprofits, and their offering combines WordPress web design, UX, branding and SEO. Idea Marketing Group Idea Marketing Group
• Their nonprofit work includes a Chicago public-interest-law organization whose redesign specifically addressed navigation, mobile performance and poor search rankings. Idea Marketing Group
• Why I'd call them: Probably the closest match to your exact brief if being physically in Fulton Market matters.
• Advocate Creative — best nonprofit communications/brand option

• Chicago agency focused on nonprofits and foundations, with experience including United Way and The Nature Conservancy.
• Stronger emphasis on brand, messaging and communications than pure SEO, so I'd bring them in if the aging site also suffers from an outdated organizational story.
• Located at 320 N Damen Ave, near Fulton Market.
• Windy City Web Solutions — best smaller, practical option

• South Loop, rather than Fulton Market, but specifically works with nonprofits, schools and small organizations.
• Focuses on WordPress, accessibility, SEO and ongoing maintenance.
• I'd consider them if you want a hands-on partner rather than a larger strategic agency.

One non-local agency I'd also interview

Orbit Media Studios is worth including even though your geographic requirement is Fulton Market/downtown. Their nonprofit practice is unusually well aligned with your goal: keyword research, semantic/on-page SEO, structured data, technical audits, performance and Search Console/Analytics. They also have a Chicago nonprofit redesign case study where the redesigned site produced a 15% increase in the donation key-event rate. Orbit Media Studios

orbitmedia.com

What I'd put in the RFP

Don't simply ask agencies to "improve SEO." Tell them the core problem is program discoverability. I'd require the proposals to address:

• Keyword research around the actual ways people search for your programs, including "[program] Chicago," "[service] near me," eligibility and problem-based searches.
• A new information architecture where each major program/service has a dedicated, indexable landing page.
• Clear navigation based on what users are trying to accomplish, rather than your internal organizational structure.
• Search-optimized program copy that still sounds human and mission-appropriate.
• Technical SEO, redirects and preservation of existing rankings during migration.
• Google Search Console baseline + post-launch measurement.
• Accessibility, mobile performance and Core Web Vitals.
• A CMS your staff can actually maintain.
• Measurement of program inquiries/applications/referrals, not merely traffic or keyword rankings.

If it were my shortlist, I'd start with The Loop Marketing, Dialogue Theory and Orbit Media. The first gives you the strongest Fulton Market + nonprofit + SEO combination; Dialogue Theory looks strongest for solving the underlying user-experience problem; Orbit is the benchmark I'd use for what a truly SEO-led nonprofit redesign proposal should contain.

Don't simply ask agencies to "improve SEO." Tell them the core problem is program discoverability. I'd require the proposals to address:

• Keyword research around the actual ways people search for your programs, including "[program] Chicago," "[service] near me," eligibility and problem-based searches.
• A new information architecture where each major program/service has a dedicated, indexable landing page.
• Clear navigation based on what users are trying to accomplish, rather than your internal organizational structure.
• Search-optimized program copy that still sounds human and mission-appropriate.
• Technical SEO, redirects and preservation of existing rankings during migration.
• Google Search Console baseline + post-launch measurement.
• Accessibility, mobile performance and Core Web Vitals.
• A CMS your staff can actually maintain.
• Measurement of program inquiries/applications/referrals, not merely traffic or keyword rankings.

If it were my shortlist, I'd start with The Loop Marketing, Dialogue Theory and Orbit Media. The first gives you the strongest Fulton Market + nonprofit + SEO combination; Dialogue Theory looks strongest for solving the underlying user-experience problem; Orbit is the benchmark I'd use for what a truly SEO-led nonprofit redesign proposal should contain.

• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• SEO Design Chicago - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• NEWMEDIA.COM - 444 W Lake St Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

For a nonprofit with an aging site + a need to rank for program-related searches, I’d prioritize agencies that understand information architecture and SEO—not just visual redesign.

My shortlist

1. The Loop Marketing Inc — best Fulton Market fit

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-569-9449)

They’re at 159 N. Sangamon St., right in Fulton Market/West Loop, and specifically serve nonprofits as well as businesses. Their mix of WordPress, web design, SEO and digital marketing makes them a good practical fit for a redesign where search visibility is a major goal.

Why I'd interview them: convenient location, nonprofit experience, and a fairly broad digital-marketing capability.

2. Windy City Web Solutions — best nonprofit/SEO fit

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 847-801-9482)

They're at 801 S. Wells St. in the South Loop. Their nonprofit work is particularly relevant: they cite a redesign for Nourishing Hope Chicago focused on technical site health and Chicago-specific SEO, including improving visibility for food-assistance and community-program searches. Windy City Web Solutions

This is probably my first call if your main objective is: “People searching for our programs should actually find the right program page.”

3. Design In Chicago — good West Loop design option

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-535-3088)

They're at 159 N. Sangamon St. and combine branding, UX/UI, WordPress development and digital marketing. This could be a good choice if the existing site has both a dated visual identity and confusing navigation/content structure.

4. Operation Technology — SEO/performance-oriented downtown option

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:(773) 789-8636)

They're at 211 W. Wacker Dr. and emphasize web design, SEO and lead-generation/performance. I'd consider them if you want a more marketing/measurement-oriented engagement rather than a purely design-led redesign.

5. Idea Marketing Group — worth putting on the RFP list

They're another Chicago agency with unusually relevant nonprofit evidence. Their work for BPI Chicago involved a WordPress redesign specifically addressing navigation, mobile performance, technical SEO, keyword research and search-optimized content. The resulting site reportedly achieved a 100 SEO score in Google PageSpeed Insights. Idea Marketing Group Idea Marketing Group

They also have a case study for Mikva Challenge, a Chicago nonprofit whose redesign needed to make program information and resources substantially easier to find. Featured Customers

One more agency I'd seriously consider

SEO Design Chicago isn't in Fulton Market/downtown, but their nonprofit portfolio is highly relevant. They have documented nonprofit redesigns involving new program pages, improved navigation, WordPress, keyword targeting and SEO, including one nonprofit case where organic traffic reportedly increased 317% in six months. SEO Design Chicago

They also have a nonprofit redesign case involving 45 new pages, improved site speed, program forms and better content management. SEO Design Chicago

My recommendation

I'd get proposals from Windy City Web Solutions, The Loop Marketing, and Idea Marketing Group.

For your particular objective, I'd score them on:

• Program-search strategy: Can they map searches like “after-school programs,” “housing assistance,” “youth services,” etc. to dedicated, useful landing pages?
• Information architecture: Can someone arriving from Google immediately understand eligibility, location, schedule, cost and how to apply?
• SEO migration: 301 redirects, preservation of existing rankings, metadata, schema, XML sitemap, Search Console and analytics.
• Content strategy: Not just “SEO keywords,” but rewriting thin/outdated program pages around actual search intent.
• Accessibility: Especially important for a nonprofit serving the public.
• CMS: Your staff should be able to add/edit programs without calling the agency.
• Measurement: They should define success in terms of qualified program-search traffic and program inquiries/applications, not just “more traffic.”

One useful benchmark: orbitmedia.com explicitly combines nonprofit UX, SEO/keyphrase research, technical SEO and content strategy; their Chicago nonprofit case for Off the Street Club is very close to the problem you're describing. Orbit Media Studios

If you tell me your nonprofit's name (or give me the current website URL), I can do a much more useful comparison: audit the current site/search visibility, identify the biggest SEO and UX problems, and recommend 2–3 Chicago agencies based on what your site actually needs, rather than just their general portfolios.

They're another Chicago agency with unusually relevant nonprofit evidence. Their work for BPI Chicago involved a WordPress redesign specifically addressing navigation, mobile performance, technical SEO, keyword research and search-optimized content. The resulting site reportedly achieved a 100 SEO score in Google PageSpeed Insights. Idea Marketing Group Idea Marketing Group

They also have a case study for Mikva Challenge, a Chicago nonprofit whose redesign needed to make program information and resources substantially easier to find. Featured Customers

One more agency I'd seriously consider

SEO Design Chicago isn't in Fulton Market/downtown, but their nonprofit portfolio is highly relevant. They have documented nonprofit redesigns involving new program pages, improved navigation, WordPress, keyword targeting and SEO, including one nonprofit case where organic traffic reportedly increased 317% in six months. SEO Design Chicago

They also have a nonprofit redesign case involving 45 new pages, improved site speed, program forms and better content management. SEO Design Chicago

My recommendation

I'd get proposals from Windy City Web Solutions, The Loop Marketing, and Idea Marketing Group.

For your particular objective, I'd score them on:

• The Loop Marketing - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plz, Ste 24, Chicago, IL 60654
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Paul Gregory Media - 200 E 5th Ave, Ste 105, Naperville, IL 60563
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• TLO Web Designs - 9109 S Paxton Ave, Chicago, IL 60617, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Part Three Advertising and Marketing - 1214 N LaSalle Blvd, Chicago, IL 60610
• Sixth City Marketing - 620 N La Salle Dr Ste 415, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Chris Depa Web Design + Branding - 1528 Robinhood Ln, La Grange Park, IL 60526, United States

For your specific brief—nonprofit redesign + SEO focused on people finding your programs—I’d shortlist these:

1. The Loop Marketing — Fulton Market / Merchandise Mart

• Strong geographic fit: their Chicago office is at the Merchandise Mart, and they explicitly work with nonprofits.
• Offers WordPress web design, UX, branding, and SEO as an integrated package.
• I’d put them near the top if you want a relatively hands-on agency rather than a huge shop. Idea Marketing Group
• Orbit Media Studios — Chicago

• My strongest recommendation overall. They specialize in nonprofit websites and nonprofit SEO, and have substantial nonprofit case-study experience.
• Particularly relevant: they redesigned Off the Street Club's site around SEO, navigation, conversions, and content, reporting a 15% increase in the donation key-event rate. They also explicitly address preserving rankings during redesigns through redirects, URL strategy, and technical SEO. Orbit Media Studios
• One caveat: they're in Ravenswood rather than Fulton Market/downtown.
• The Loop Marketing Inc — Fulton Market

• Their office is at 159 N Sangamon St, right in Fulton Market.
• They specifically describe serving nonprofits and combining WordPress design with SEO and broader digital marketing.
• Worth interviewing if being physically close to your team matters.
• Operation Technology — Downtown / Wacker

• Good downtown option if SEO and measurable search performance are more important than nonprofit specialization.
• Their team covers web design/WordPress, SEO, content, and digital strategy.
• Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop

• Smaller, potentially more personal alternative.
• Specifically mentions nonprofits among its target organizations and focuses on WordPress, accessibility, SEO, maintenance, and ongoing support.

What I'd prioritize in the RFP

For your situation, I wouldn't simply ask agencies to "improve SEO." I'd ask for a search-driven redesign built around your program discovery funnel:

• Keyword research around each program/service and the language prospective participants actually use.
• A redesigned information architecture where every major program has a strong, indexable landing page.
• SEO-friendly URLs, titles, headings, internal linking and structured data.
• Migration planning with 301 redirects and preservation of existing rankings.
• Google Search Console/GA4 setup and conversion tracking.
• Accessibility (WCAG), mobile performance and page speed.
• A CMS your staff can update without developers.
• A post-launch SEO/content plan for expanding program-related searches.
• Baseline and 6-/12-month targets for non-branded organic traffic, program-page rankings, inquiries/applications and conversions.

I'd interview Orbit Media, The Loop Marketing, and Operation Technology first. Orbit is the standout on demonstrated nonprofit + SEO experience; The Loop wins on the Fulton Market location and nonprofit fit; Operation Technology gives you a useful downtown, SEO-heavy comparison.

If you tell me your nonprofit's mission/programs and approximate redesign budget (e.g. <$25k, $25–50k, $50k+), I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies and compare their relevant case studies, pricing signals, and fit.

• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• DittaTech - 616 W Fulton St Apt 408, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Point B Communications Inc - 600 W Fulton St #710, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Evolve with Digital - Web Design Chicago - 1375 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Paul Gregory Media - 200 E 5th Ave, Ste 105, Naperville, IL 60563
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• C Change - 1052 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
• TLO Web Designs - 9109 S Paxton Ave, Chicago, IL 60617, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States

For a nonprofit with an aging website that needs better program discoverability through search, I’d prioritize agencies that understand information architecture, SEO migrations, accessibility, and mission-driven content—not just visual redesign. These Chicago-area firms are worth shortlisting:

Strong nonprofit + SEO fits

Orbit Media Studios

Orbit Media StudiosBest overall fit if SEO and content structure are major goals.

Why consider them:

• Deep nonprofit website experience
• Strong focus on SEO during redesigns (keyword research, content structure, redirects, technical SEO)
• Experience helping organizations make programs easier to find and navigate
• Chicago-based, though not in Fulton Market/downtown

A good fit if your challenge is: “People need our services, but they can’t find the right program pages through Google or our navigation.”

Idea Marketing Group

Idea Marketing Group Idea Marketing GroupBest if you need a nonprofit-focused WordPress redesign with SEO baked in.

Why consider them:

• Published nonprofit redesign work
• Experience restructuring sites around user journeys, mobile usability, and SEO
• Good match for organizations that need staff to easily update programs after launch

Flamingo Agency

Flamingo AgencyBest for a smaller nonprofit that wants a practical WordPress partner.

Why consider them:

• Focuses specifically on nonprofit websites
• Emphasizes donation, volunteer, event, and program content structures
• Likely a good fit if your team needs a manageable CMS rather than a complex custom platform

Fulton Market / downtown-area agencies to consider

The Loop Marketing Inc

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-569-9449)

Located near Fulton Market/West Loop.
Why consider:

• Offers web design plus SEO services
• Works with nonprofits and mission-driven organizations
• Could be a good local, hands-on option

DittaTech

DirectionsWebsite

Located on W Fulton St.
Why consider:

• Boutique agency feel
• Offers web revamps, SEO, and digital marketing
• May suit a nonprofit looking for a more personal relationship

Point B Communications Inc

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-867-7750)

Located in Fulton Market/West Loop.
Why consider:

• More brand/communications oriented
• Could be a fit if your redesign also involves messaging, storytelling, and donor communications

What I’d ask agencies during interviews

For your specific goal (“improve SEO for program searches”), I’d ask:

1. “How will you restructure our program pages so Google understands each service?”

• Look for answers involving keyword research, page templates, internal linking, schema, and content strategy.
• “How will you prevent losing rankings during the redesign?”

• They should discuss redirects, URL mapping, preserving valuable pages, and SEO QA before launch.
• “Can you show examples where a nonprofit’s program/service traffic improved after launch?”
• “Who owns the SEO strategy—the designer, developer, or a dedicated SEO person?”
• “Will our staff be able to update program pages without a developer?”

My shortlist for a nonprofit program-search problem would be:

1. Orbit Media — strongest SEO/nonprofit alignment
2. Idea Marketing Group — strong nonprofit redesign fit
3. The Loop Marketing — local Fulton Market option
4. Flamingo Agency — practical nonprofit WordPress partner

If you share your nonprofit’s size (local vs. national), CMS (WordPress/Drupal/etc.), approximate budget, and whether “program searches” means Google searches or internal site search, I can narrow this further.

For a nonprofit with an aging site, I’d prioritize an agency that understands information architecture, accessibility, program-page SEO, and mission-driven user journeys (finding services, applying, donating, volunteering). In Fulton Market/downtown Chicago, these are the ones I’d put on a shortlist:

Best fits for a nonprofit website redesign + program search SEO

Orbit Media Studios

Best overall fit for many nonprofits

• Strong nonprofit portfolio and specifically discusses SEO-driven redesigns, including keyword research, technical SEO, content structure, and preserving/improving rankings during redesigns. Orbit Media Studios
• Good choice if your biggest issue is: “People can’t find our programs/services through Google.”
• They tend to be strategy-heavy: sitemap planning, content organization, CMS training, analytics, and conversion paths. Orbit Media Studios

Dialogue Theory

Best for complex nonprofit/civic organizations

• Chicago studio focused on mission-driven organizations, including nonprofits and civic agencies. Their work emphasizes UX strategy, digital experiences, CMS builds, and usability.
• Consider them if you have many programs, audiences, locations, eligibility rules, or resource libraries that need a better structure.

Idea Marketing Group

Best if you need WordPress + SEO improvements

• Has nonprofit-specific case work, including a redesign for BPI Chicago focused on clearer navigation, easier content management, mobile performance, and SEO improvements. Idea Marketing Group Idea Marketing Group
• A good fit if your current site is a WordPress site that has become difficult to maintain.

The Loop Marketing Inc

Best downtown option for smaller nonprofits needing ongoing SEO support

• Located in the West Loop area and offers web design plus SEO services, including keyword research, competitor analysis, and ongoing optimization.
• Worth considering if you need a partner after launch rather than just a redesign.

Pilot Digital Marketing

Best if SEO growth is the primary goal

• Offers SEO, paid search, WordPress development, and analytics, and highlights a nonprofit support initiative. Pilot Digital
• Better fit if you already have decent branding but need more program pages ranking and more measurable traffic growth.

What I’d ask agencies during interviews

For your specific goal (“improve SEO for program searches”), I’d ask:

1. “How will you map our existing pages before redesigning?”

You want redirects, preservation of ranking pages, and a content migration plan.

2. “How will you structure program pages for search?”

Look for answers involving:

• individual program landing pages
• audience/location/topic keywords
• FAQ content
• internal linking
• schema markup where appropriate
• “Can you show nonprofit sites where organic traffic or program inquiries improved after launch?”
• “Who owns the SEO work after launch?”

Some agencies build a beautiful site but leave ongoing search growth entirely to the nonprofit.

If I were narrowing this to three initial conversations, I’d start with Orbit Media Studios, Dialogue Theory, and Idea Marketing Group based on the nonprofit fit and likely alignment with a program-search SEO challenge. Orbit Media Studios Idea Marketing Group

• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• The Loop Marketing - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plz, Ste 24, Chicago, IL 60654
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Paul Gregory Media - 200 E 5th Ave, Ste 105, Naperville, IL 60563
• Paul Gregory Media - 50 S Main St Suit 200, Naperville, IL 60540, United States
• TLO Web Designs - 9109 S Paxton Ave, Chicago, IL 60617, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606

Yes. For a nonprofit whose main goal is a modern redesign plus better discovery of programs in Google, I’d shortlist these three:

1. Windy City Web Solutions — best practical fit

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 847-801-9482)

They’re at 801 S Wells St in the South Loop, so not Fulton Market proper, but very close to downtown. They specifically work with nonprofits, build/support WordPress sites, and offer SEO. A recent verified nonprofit project involved redesigning navigation, creating pages, and implementing redirects, with the client praising their flexibility and on-time delivery. Clutch

Why I'd call them: If you want a hands-on, reasonably sized Chicago shop rather than a big agency, this looks like a strong fit.

2. The Loop Marketing — best location + marketing combination

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+13125699449)

Their Chicago office is at 159 N Sangamon St, right in Fulton Market/West Loop. They combine WordPress web design with SEO, content, UX, and broader digital marketing rather than treating SEO as an afterthought. Clutch

Why I'd call them: Particularly attractive if your redesign needs to reorganize the site's content around the searches people actually use to find your programs.

3. Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — best downtown option

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-741-0303)

They're at 30 N Michigan Ave and combine web design, branding, and SEO. Their positioning is particularly oriented toward making sites easy to navigate and conversion-focused, with reviewers specifically mentioning their combination of web design and SEO.

Why I'd call them: Good option if the aging site has both a visual/brand problem and an organic-search problem.

One agency I'd add even though it's not in Fulton Market

Orbit Media Studios is worth putting on the RFP list. They're unusually well aligned with your specific objective: their nonprofit practice explicitly combines keyword research, content strategy, on-page/semantic SEO, structured data, technical SEO, performance, and Search Console/Analytics. They also have a Chicago nonprofit redesign case study where the redesigned site increased conversions by 15%. Orbit Media Studios

For your particular brief, Orbit would probably be my first call, followed by Windy City and The Loop Marketing.

One other interesting data point: Arch Web Design recently completed a nonprofit redesign/SEO project for the Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation, including SEO/AI-search optimization and donation-system improvements; the reported results were substantial. Clutch

What I'd put in your RFP

Don't simply ask agencies for "a new website with SEO." I'd ask them to demonstrate how they'd handle:

• Program-search architecture: What pages should exist for each program/service, audience, geography, eligibility, etc.?
• Keyword research: Which searches currently drive people to competitors or other nonprofits?
• Migration: A complete URL/redirect strategy so the redesign doesn't wipe out existing rankings.
• Technical SEO: Core Web Vitals, crawlability, indexing, schema/structured data, accessibility and mobile performance.
• Content: Whether they will actually rewrite/restructure program pages rather than merely redesign them.
• Measurement: Baselines and targets for organic program-page traffic, rankings, conversions and inquiries.
• CMS: Whether your staff can easily add/update programs without an agency.

The program-page architecture is especially important. If someone searches something like "Chicago [program type] for [population]" or "free [service] near me," you want Google to find a highly relevant, authoritative program page—not your generic homepage.

If you tell me your nonprofit's name/site and roughly what your programs are, I can do a quick SEO-oriented assessment of the current site and narrow this to 2–3 agencies I'd actually invite to bid.

Orbit Media Studios is worth putting on the RFP list. They're unusually well aligned with your specific objective: their nonprofit practice explicitly combines keyword research, content strategy, on-page/semantic SEO, structured data, technical SEO, performance, and Search Console/Analytics. They also have a Chicago nonprofit redesign case study where the redesigned site increased conversions by 15%. Orbit Media Studios

For your particular brief, Orbit would probably be my first call, followed by Windy City and The Loop Marketing.

One other interesting data point: Arch Web Design recently completed a nonprofit redesign/SEO project for the Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation, including SEO/AI-search optimization and donation-system improvements; the reported results were substantial. Clutch

What I'd put in your RFP

Don't simply ask agencies for "a new website with SEO." I'd ask them to demonstrate how they'd handle:

• Program-search architecture: What pages should exist for each program/service, audience, geography, eligibility, etc.?
• Keyword research: Which searches currently drive people to competitors or other nonprofits?
• Migration: A complete URL/redirect strategy so the redesign doesn't wipe out existing rankings.
• Technical SEO: Core Web Vitals, crawlability, indexing, schema/structured data, accessibility and mobile performance.
• Content: Whether they will actually rewrite/restructure program pages rather than merely redesign them.
• Measurement: Baselines and targets for organic program-page traffic, rankings, conversions and inquiries.
• CMS: Whether your staff can easily add/update programs without an agency.

The program-page architecture is especially important. If someone searches something like "Chicago [program type] for [population]" or "free [service] near me," you want Google to find a highly relevant, authoritative program page—not your generic homepage.

• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Paul Gregory Media - 200 E 5th Ave, Ste 105, Naperville, IL 60563
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• TLO Web Designs - 9109 S Paxton Ave, Chicago, IL 60617, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Paul Gregory Media - 50 S Main St Suit 200, Naperville, IL 60540, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States

For your specific brief—nonprofit website redesign + better SEO for people searching for programs—I’d put Orbit Media Studios at the top of the list, even though it’s not specifically in Fulton Market.

My shortlist

1. Orbit Media Studios — best overall fit - Strong nonprofit specialization and a substantial Chicago nonprofit portfolio.
2. Explicitly combines redesign, information architecture, keyword research, technical SEO, structured data, Search Console/Analytics, and search-optimized content.
3. Particularly relevant: they cite a redesign for Off The Street Club that increased the donation key-event rate 15%, and they have nonprofit work with organizations including the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Goodman Theatre. Orbit Media Studios
4. My pick if program discovery/search traffic is a major goal.
5. orbitmedia.com

1. Windy City Web Solutions — best smaller/local option - Based in the South Loop and specifically works with nonprofits, along with schools, healthcare organizations and professional services.
2. Focuses on WordPress, accessibility, SEO, maintenance and hands-on support. This could be a good fit if you want a less-agency-heavy relationship and an easier-to-maintain site.

1. The Loop Marketing Inc — best Fulton Market/West Loop-area option - Chicago office at 159 N Sangamon St, right in the Fulton Market/West Loop area.
2. Offers WordPress web design plus SEO, content, conversion strategy and ongoing marketing; its positioning explicitly includes nonprofits.
3. I’d interview them alongside Orbit if being physically close to Fulton Market matters.

1. Cybernautic Web Design — good if custom functionality is important - Has Chicago/Fulton Market-specific web-design work and explicitly serves nonprofits.
2. Their work combines custom web development, SEO, schema markup and ongoing optimization. Cybernautic Website Design
3. More compelling if your nonprofit needs things like program finders, directories, custom forms or integrations rather than primarily a content/marketing site.

One I would not overlook

Idea Marketing Group has a particularly relevant nonprofit case study involving BPI Chicago/Impact for Equity. They rebuilt the site in WordPress specifically to improve usability, mobile performance and search rankings, addressing both technical and non-technical SEO. Idea Marketing Group Idea Marketing Group

What I'd ask each agency

Don't just ask, “Can you improve our SEO?” Ask them to show you how they'd make program searches work. Specifically:

• How would you restructure our navigation and URLs around individual programs?
• How would you research the actual phrases people use when looking for our services?
• Would every major program get its own indexable landing page?
• How will you preserve/improve rankings during the redesign and URL migration?
• How will you handle redirects, schema, internal linking and Core Web Vitals?
• Can you show before/after organic-search results for another nonprofit?
• Who actually writes/optimizes the program-page copy?
• How will we measure program-search traffic and conversions, rather than just overall traffic?

If it were my RFP, I'd invite Orbit, The Loop Marketing, and Windy City Web Solutions to pitch. Orbit looks strongest on nonprofit + SEO strategy; The Loop wins on Fulton Market proximity; Windy City looks attractive if you want a smaller, hands-on partner.

If you tell me your nonprofit's mission/program area and approximate budget (e.g. <$25k, $25–50k, $50–100k), I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies and compare their likely fit.

If you tell me your nonprofit's mission/program area and approximate budget (e.g. <$25k, $25–50k, $50–100k), I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies and compare their likely fit.

For a nonprofit with two goals—modernize an aging site and get more people finding specific programs through Google—I’d shortlist these Chicago agencies:

1. The Loop Marketing Inc — best location + practical fit

The Loop Marketing Inc
Web
Address: 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Phone: +1 312-569-9449
159 N Sangamon St., right in Fulton Market. They explicitly serve nonprofits and combine WordPress web design with ongoing SEO, including keyword research, competitor analysis, on-page and off-page optimization.

Why I'd talk to them: They look like a good fit if you want a relatively hands-on Chicago agency rather than a huge national shop.

2. Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — best downtown option

Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding
Web
Address: 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
Phone: +1 312-741-0303
30 N Michigan Ave in the Loop. Their focus includes UX-oriented web design, information architecture, CMS builds and SEO.

Why I'd consider them: Stronger choice if the redesign also needs a significant brand/visual refresh.

3. Windy City Web Solutions — good smaller-shop alternative

Windy City Web Solutions
Web
Address: 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Phone: +1 847-801-9482
801 S Wells St. They specifically work with nonprofits and build/support WordPress sites, with an emphasis on accessibility, performance and SEO.

Why I'd consider them: Potentially a better fit if your nonprofit wants a close relationship with the people actually building and maintaining the site.

4. Chicago Website Design SEO Company — SEO-heavy option

Chicago Website Design SEO Company
Web
Address: 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
Phone: +1 312-448-8310
10 S Riverside Plaza downtown. Their offering combines web development with SEO, search visibility, analytics and ongoing optimization.

Why I'd consider them: If Google visibility is the primary reason you're redesigning rather than aesthetics alone.

One agency I'd put on the RFP anyway: Orbit Media

Orbit Media's nonprofit web design work is especially relevant even though it isn't in Fulton Market. They have substantial nonprofit experience and explicitly integrate keyword research, technical SEO, information architecture, structured data and Search Console/Analytics into redesigns. Their Chicago nonprofit work includes Off the Street Club, where they report a 15% increase in the donation key-event rate, plus projects for organizations including the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Goodman Theatre. www.orbitmedia.com

For your particular objective, Orbit would probably be my first call, with The Loop Marketing and Windy City Web Solutions as the two local alternatives.

One other interesting possibility is Idea Marketing Group. They have a particularly relevant Chicago nonprofit case study: they redesigned BPI Chicago's WordPress site specifically because poor navigation and SEO were limiting awareness, then combined information architecture, content/keyword work and technical SEO. www.ideamktg.com

What I'd require in the RFP

Don't just ask agencies for "SEO." Ask them to show exactly how they'll make your programs discoverable:

• Keyword research around each program/service and the audiences searching for it
• A new information architecture where each major program has a dedicated, indexable landing page
• Search-optimized page titles, headings, copy and internal linking
• Migration plan that preserves existing rankings and redirects old URLs
• Technical SEO, Core Web Vitals and accessibility
• Google Search Console + GA4 setup
• Schema/structured data where appropriate
• Content strategy for questions people search before they know your organization
• Baseline rankings/organic traffic and 6–12 month SEO KPIs
• Training so your staff can create new program pages without breaking the SEO structure

I'd also ask each agency for 2–3 nonprofit references where the project involved both a website redesign and measurable organic-search growth, not just a pretty new site.

For a nonprofit redesign where program-search SEO is a major goal, I’d shortlist these three:

1. The Loop Marketing Inc — Fulton Market
   • 159 N Sangamon St., Suite 200.
   • Especially relevant because they explicitly serve nonprofits, offer WordPress/web design, and combine it with advanced/local SEO, keyword research, competitor analysis, and content strategy.
   • My pick if you want a local, mid-sized partner rather than a large agency.

2. Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop
   • 801 S Wells St.
   • Very strong nonprofit fit: they specifically build WordPress sites for nonprofits and have a Chicago nonprofit case study involving improving visibility for food assistance, volunteer registration, and community programs. Their approach also emphasizes accessibility and performance. windycitywebsolutions.com
   • My pick if program discovery/accessibility and budget are priorities.

3. Marcel Digital — downtown/West Loop
   • Chicago office at 20 N Wacker Dr.; their local listing also shows 445 W Erie St.
   • More SEO/analytics-heavy, with technical SEO, content, web development, site migrations, redirects, Search Console and performance work.
   • My pick if organic search growth is the #1 objective and you have a somewhat larger budget.

One agency I'd definitely add to the RFP

Orbit Media Studios — nonprofit web design isn't in Fulton Market, but I'd make an exception for them. They're unusually well matched to your brief: they specialize in nonprofit redesigns and SEO, and their published work includes a Chicago nonprofit whose redesign produced a 15% increase in a key donation conversion rate. They explicitly address keyword research, search-optimized navigation, technical SEO, structured data, analytics, and—crucially—preserving rankings during a redesign. www.orbitmedia.com

What I'd ask them to solve

Don't frame the project simply as "modernize our website." For a nonprofit, I'd make the core requirement:

Make it dramatically easier for someone searching for a specific program or service to find the right page, understand eligibility, and take the next step.

I'd ask each agency for a proposed program-search architecture, including:

• keyword research around your actual programs/services and the language constituents use
• dedicated, indexable pages for major programs rather than burying them in PDFs or generic "Services" pages
• SEO-friendly URLs, titles, headings, internal linking and schema
• migration/redirect strategy so the redesign doesn't destroy existing rankings
• Google Search Console + analytics baseline and post-launch measurement
• accessibility and mobile performance
• a plan for ongoing content updates, not just launch-day SEO

If I were choosing three to interview: Orbit Media, The Loop Marketing, and Windy City Web Solutions. I'd use the proposals to compare SEO methodology and information architecture, not just visual portfolios.

The Loop Marketing Inc
Windy City Web Solutions
Orbit Media Studios

If you tell me roughly how many program pages you have and your redesign budget (e.g. <$15k, $15–30k, $30k+), I can narrow this to the best 2–3 and compare likely fit.

For a nonprofit website redesign where SEO for program/service searches is a major goal, I’d put Orbit Media Studios at the top of the list, even though they’re in Ravenswood rather than Fulton Market. They have unusually strong nonprofit-specific experience and explicitly combine redesign, information architecture, keyword research, technical SEO, content, and conversion strategy. Their nonprofit portfolio includes Off the Street Club, where they report a 15% increase in the donation key-event rate, and they specifically discuss preserving rankings during redesigns. www.orbitmedia.com

My shortlist

1. Orbit Media Studios — Best overall fit
   • Strongest evidence of nonprofit + SEO + redesign expertise.
   • Their process includes keyword research, search-optimized navigation/content, technical SEO, redirects, structured data, Search Console, and analytics. www.orbitmedia.com
   • Particularly good if people search for things like “housing assistance Chicago,” “youth programs near me,” “food assistance,” “domestic violence services,” etc., and you want the site architecture built around those searches.
   • Likely the premium option, so I'd ask for a phased proposal if budget is constrained.

2. The Loop Marketing Inc — Best Fulton Market option
   • At 159 N Sangamon St, right in Fulton Market.
   • Works with nonprofits and combines WordPress web design with ongoing SEO, including keyword research and competitor analysis.
   • I'd consider them if you want a somewhat smaller/local partner and regular in-person collaboration.

3. ePageCity Inc. — Best downtown/value-oriented option
   • Located at 111 N Wabash Ave in the Loop.
   • Their work spans website redesign, digital marketing, SEO, and legacy-site cleanup, including nonprofit clients.
   • Worth getting a proposal if Orbit's scope comes back too expensive.

4. Idea Marketing Group — Worth interviewing specifically because of their nonprofit case study
   • They redesigned the website for BPI Chicago (now Impact for Equity) and tackled essentially the same combination you're describing: aging nonprofit site, better UX, WordPress, mobile performance, technical SEO, keyword research, and improved search visibility. www.ideamktg.comwww.ideamktg.com
   • Their published case study reports a 60% increase in average time on page and a 100 SEO score in Google PageSpeed Insights. www.ideamktg.comwww.ideamktg.com
   • They aren't in Fulton Market/downtown, but I'd absolutely include them in the RFP.

What I'd emphasize in the RFP

Don't simply ask agencies for “a new website with SEO.” For a program-focused nonprofit, I'd ask them to demonstrate how they'd handle:

• Program/service keyword research based on what people actually search for.
• A new information architecture organized around users' needs rather than your internal departments.
• Dedicated, indexable pages for each major program/service.
• Google Search Console + GA4 baseline analysis before the redesign.
• URL mapping and 301 redirects so existing rankings aren't lost.
• Technical SEO: Core Web Vitals, schema, accessibility, crawlability, canonicals, XML sitemap, etc.
• Content strategy for high-intent searches—not just blog posts.
• Internal linking between programs, eligibility, locations, FAQs and resources.
• Search analytics after launch, with a plan for improving pages that aren't ranking.
• A CMS your staff can actually maintain without a developer.

If I were choosing three to interview: Orbit Media, Idea Marketing Group, and The Loop Marketing. That gives you a particularly useful comparison between a highly specialized nonprofit/SEO shop, a Chicago agency with a directly comparable nonprofit case study, and a Fulton Market local option.

Orbit Media's nonprofit web design work Idea Marketing's nonprofit web design work

If you tell me your nonprofit's type of programs, approximate budget, and current website URL, I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies and assess which one is most likely to improve the specific program searches you care about.

For a nonprofit redesign where SEO for program searches is a major goal, I’d shortlist these three:

1. The Loop Marketing Inc — best location/fit combination
   • 159 N Sangamon St, Suite 200, right in Fulton Market.
   • Works with nonprofits and combines WordPress/web design with SEO, including keyword research, competitor analysis, on-page optimization, and ongoing SEO.
   • I’d put them on the RFP list if you want a relatively local, full-service partner rather than a pure design studio.

2. Cybernautic Web Design — worth considering for SEO + custom build
   • Their Chicago presence is close to downtown, and they explicitly work with nonprofits, including Habitat for Humanity.
   • Their nonprofit work emphasizes navigation, mobile performance, technical/nontechnical SEO, and custom WordPress development. www.cybernauticdesign.com
   • Good candidate if your site has a lot of programs/content that need a better information architecture.

3. Windy City Web Solutions — practical/possibly smaller-agency option
   • 801 S Wells St, South Loop.
   • Specifically markets WordPress redesign, maintenance, accessibility, and SEO to Chicago nonprofits. Their SEO approach includes keyword research, on-page optimization, and local visibility. windycitywebsolutions.com
   • I’d investigate this one if budget and hands-on support matter more than having a large creative agency.

One agency I'd add despite the location

Orbit Media Studios is actually my strongest recommendation for your particular brief, even though its office is in Ravenswood rather than Fulton Market/downtown.

They have unusually relevant nonprofit experience: their nonprofit practice includes SEO-driven information architecture, keyword research, technical SEO, structured data, redirects, Search Console/Analytics, and conversion strategy. They also have a Chicago nonprofit case study for Off The Street Club where the redesign included search-optimized copy/navigation and produced a 15% increase in the donation key-event rate. www.orbitmedia.com

For “people searching for our programs need to find the right page,” I'd prioritize Orbit over simply choosing the agency with the closest office.

What I'd ask all three to address

Don't frame the project as just a visual redesign. In the RFP, specifically ask for:

• Program-search keyword research — e.g. “food assistance Chicago,” “youth mentoring near me,” etc.
• A new information architecture based on how participants actually search for services.
• Dedicated, indexable pages for each major program/service and audience.
• Migration of existing SEO equity: URL mapping, 301 redirects, metadata, canonicalization, etc.
• Google Search Console baseline + post-launch monitoring.
• Technical SEO, Core Web Vitals, accessibility, schema/structured data.
• Internal linking between programs, locations, eligibility, resources and calls to action.
• A 6–12 month SEO plan after launch, rather than treating SEO as something completed when the new site goes live.
• Measurement of program discovery/conversion, not just rankings or traffic.

If I were choosing who to interview, I'd do Orbit + The Loop Marketing + Cybernautic and make them respond to the same 5–10 program-search examples. That will reveal very quickly who actually understands nonprofit SEO versus who is mainly selling a prettier website.

For a nonprofit website redesign where program-search SEO is a major goal, I’d put Orbit Media Studios at the top of the list—even though its office is in Ravenswood rather than Fulton Market/Loop. Its nonprofit specialization is unusually strong, and it has directly relevant Chicago case studies. www.orbitmedia.com

My shortlist

1. The Loop Marketing Inc — Fulton Market/West Loop
   • 159 N Sangamon St, right in the area you specified.
   • Offers web design plus advanced/local SEO, including keyword research, competitor analysis and ongoing optimization.
   • Specifically says it serves nonprofits as well as businesses.
   • Best if: you want a local, relatively hands-on agency rather than a large web shop.

2. Orbit Media Studios — Chicago
   • This would be my overall first choice.
   • Their nonprofit practice explicitly combines UX, content strategy and SEO. Their work for Off The Street Club involved rebuilding the site around search-optimized content/navigation and produced a 15% increase in the donation key-event rate. www.orbitmedia.com
   • They also have nonprofit work for organizations such as Awakenings, where the site needed to make programs and resources easier to discover. www.orbitmedia.com
   • Best if: program discovery/search is as important as visual redesign.

3. SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — West Loop
   • 355 N Laflin St, so geographically very close to Fulton Market.
   • Strong focus on combining web design with SEO and measurable search/traffic results.
   • Best if: SEO performance is the dominant concern and you want a smaller local shop.

4. Chicago Website Design SEO Company — Downtown/Loop
   • 10 S Riverside Plaza.
   • Combines web development, SEO, analytics and ongoing optimization.
   • Best if: you specifically want a downtown agency and a performance/SEO-oriented engagement.

5. Dialogue Theory — Chicago
   • More of a strategy/UX/digital-experience studio, with experience serving mission-driven organizations and nonprofits.
   • Best if: your site has complicated audiences/programs and the real problem is information architecture, not just outdated visual design.

One other agency I'd seriously interview

SEO Design Chicago has a particularly relevant nonprofit case study: a WordPress redesign that reportedly produced a 365% increase in organic search results and a 158% increase in online donations. seodesignchicago.com It's in Logan Square rather than downtown, but the work is close to what you're describing.

What I'd ask for in the RFP

Don't let agencies treat "SEO" as simply adding metadata after the redesign. For a nonprofit with program searches, I'd specifically require:

• Search-intent/keyword research around each program and audience
• A new information architecture and program taxonomy
• Dedicated, indexable program landing pages
• Migration of existing rankings, including 301 redirect mapping
• Technical SEO, Core Web Vitals and accessibility
• Search Console/GA4 setup and conversion tracking
• Content recommendations or copywriting—not just design
• Internal linking between programs, locations, eligibility, resources and related content
• A baseline ranking/organic-traffic report and 6–12 month SEO targets
• CMS training so your staff can maintain program pages without a developer

I'd interview Orbit + The Loop Marketing + SEOLEVELUP first. That gives you three quite different options: nonprofit/SEO depth, a local Fulton Market generalist, and an SEO-heavy West Loop shop.

If you tell me your approximate budget (e.g. $25k, $50k, $100k+) and what your nonprofit does, I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies and compare their likely fit, relevant nonprofit work, location, and pricing level.

For a nonprofit redesign where program-related search visibility is a major goal, I’d shortlist these three:

1. Idea Marketing Group — best fit if being downtown is important.

They’re at 332 S. Michigan Ave. and have unusually relevant nonprofit experience: they redesigned BPI Chicago’s site specifically to improve navigation, mobile performance, and search rankings. Their work included keyword research, SEO-focused page structure and technical SEO. www.ideamktg.com
Idea Marketing Group

2. Orbit Media Studios — my overall pick for your project.

They aren't in Fulton Market/downtown—they're on Ravenswood—but I'd make the exception for them. Their nonprofit practice is substantial, and they explicitly combine keyword research, content architecture, technical SEO, structured data, UX and redesign. Their Off the Street Club redesign produced a reported 15% increase in donation conversion rate, and they have worked with organizations including the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Goodman Theatre. www.orbitmedia.com
Orbit Media Studios

3. SEO Design Chicago — worth getting a competitive bid from.

They're Chicago-based and combine WordPress redesigns with SEO and content. Their nonprofit case studies report substantial organic-traffic improvements, including a 317% increase in organic traffic in one nonprofit engagement. seodesignchicago.com
SEO Design Chicago

What I'd ask them to solve

Don't frame this simply as "redesign our website." For a nonprofit, I'd make the core brief:

• Program search strategy: identify the actual searches people use to find each program, service, eligibility requirement and location.
• Program landing pages: one strong, indexable page for each major program rather than burying programs in PDFs or generic "Services" pages.
• Information architecture: organize the site around how constituents search—not how the organization is internally structured.
• Migration SEO: preserve existing rankings, map old URLs to new ones, implement redirects and check indexing after launch.
• Local/programmatic SEO: location-specific pages where you genuinely serve different communities.
• Accessible, fast WordPress/CMS: staff should be able to update programs without a developer.
• Measurement: Search Console + GA4, with reporting on program-page impressions, rankings, organic entrances and completed inquiries/applications, not just overall traffic.

If I were choosing: I'd invite Idea, Orbit and SEO Design Chicago to pitch against the same one-page brief. I'd give Orbit a slight edge on strategic SEO/nonprofit depth, while Idea gets the edge if a downtown Chicago location and in-person relationship are important.

One important caveat: I wouldn't choose an agency merely because it's physically in Fulton Market. For this particular project, demonstrated nonprofit information architecture + SEO experience is much more valuable than neighborhood proximity.

For a nonprofit redesign where program-related search visibility is a major goal, I’d prioritize agencies that understand information architecture, SEO, content strategy, and nonprofit user journeys—not just visual redesign.

My shortlist

1. The Loop Marketing — West Loop/Fulton Market
   • Best fit if you want a local, full-service partner.
   • Their Chicago office is at 159 N Sangamon, and they specifically serve nonprofits with WordPress, web design, and SEO. Their SEO offering includes keyword research, competitor analysis, on-page/off-page strategy, and ongoing optimization.
   • I'd ask them specifically for examples of program/service pages that gained organic traffic after a redesign.

2. SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — West Loop
   • Best if SEO is the primary objective.
   • They're at 355 N Laflin and combine website redesign with SEO. Their reviews and positioning emphasize ranking/traffic improvements, though their nonprofit specialization appears less pronounced than Orbit or Idea.
   • Worth interviewing if you already know which program searches you need to win.

3. ePageCity Inc. — Downtown
   • Best downtown option.
   • Located at 111 N Wabash, they work with nonprofits and offer custom web development plus SEO/legacy-site cleanup. They also provide training so nontechnical staff can maintain the site.
   • Their published starting point for custom websites is around $10K, so this could be useful if you're looking for a more established agency rather than a boutique.

4. Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop
   • Best smaller-agency alternative.
   • They specifically market WordPress design and SEO for Chicago nonprofits, including keyword research, on-page optimization, and local/community search visibility. Their office is at 801 S Wells. windycitywebsolutions.com

One I'd interview even though it's not in Fulton Market/downtown

Orbit Media's nonprofit web design practice is probably the strongest specialist fit for your particular brief. They're Chicago-based and have substantial nonprofit experience, including the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Goodman Theatre, and Off The Street Club. Their nonprofit work explicitly combines redesign, information architecture, keyword research, technical SEO, structured data, Search Console/Analytics, and search-optimized content. www.orbitmedia.com

They also have a particularly relevant case study: Off The Street Club came to them with low organic traffic and conversion problems, and the resulting redesign incorporated search-focused copy, navigation, and conversion improvements. www.orbitmedia.com

Another strong specialist is Idea Marketing Group. Their BPI Chicago nonprofit case study is unusually close to what you're describing: an aging site with poor navigation and search rankings was rebuilt in WordPress, with technical SEO, keyword research, optimized page structure, mobile performance, and easier internal content management. www.ideamktg.com

What I'd put in the RFP

Don't simply ask agencies to "improve SEO." Ask them to demonstrate how they would:

• Map your programs/services → actual search queries → dedicated landing pages
• Redesign navigation around how constituents search for programs
• Preserve existing rankings through URL mapping and 301 redirects
• Identify pages that currently rank and protect their equity
• Research competitors and search demand before designing the sitemap
• Build fast, accessible, mobile-first program pages
• Create reusable program-page templates your staff can update
• Handle title tags, headings, schema/structured data, internal linking and technical SEO
• Establish GA4 + Google Search Console measurement
• Report on program-search impressions, rankings, organic visits and conversions, rather than generic "SEO traffic"

If I were choosing three introductory calls, I'd do Orbit Media + The Loop Marketing + Idea Marketing Group. That gives you a strong nonprofit/SEO specialist, a conveniently located West Loop agency, and a Chicago agency with a particularly relevant nonprofit redesign case study.

For your specific combination—nonprofit website redesign + better visibility for people searching for programs—I’d put these Chicago agencies at the top of the list:

1. The Loop Marketing Inc — best location match

The Loop Marketing Inc
Web
Address: 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Phone: +1 312-569-9449
159 N Sangamon St, West Loop/Fulton Market area

They explicitly serve nonprofits, do WordPress web design, and offer SEO including keyword research, competitor analysis, on-page/off-page optimization, and ongoing work. That makes them a particularly practical fit if you want one local partner rather than coordinating a designer and SEO firm.

Why I'd interview them: They're right in the neighborhood you're targeting and appear oriented toward smaller/midsize organizations rather than only large enterprise projects.

2. Orbit Media Studios — best overall fit if SEO is critical

Orbit Media Studios
Web
Address: 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
Phone: +1 773-348-4581
Orbit is not in Fulton Market—it’s in Ravenswood—but I'd absolutely include them in your RFP.

They have a dedicated nonprofit website practice, and their approach specifically combines redesign with keyword research, information architecture, technical SEO, structured data, Search Console/Analytics, and search-optimized content. They also have a Chicago nonprofit case study where their redesign produced a 15% increase in the donation key-event rate. www.orbitmedia.com

This is the one I'd favor if your goal is more than "make the old site look modern." You want the new site's architecture to rank for searches such as "[program] Chicago," "free [service] Chicago," "[service] for families," etc.

Caveat: Orbit is likely the more expensive option, so I'd ask for a phased proposal if your nonprofit has a constrained budget.

3. Solid Digital — best downtown/Loop option

Solid Digital
Web
Address: 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
Phone: +1 877-899-9981
100 N LaSalle St

Solid Digital does full website strategy, UX, WordPress development, content strategy, SEO, and ongoing optimization. Their process explicitly incorporates sitemap/information architecture and SEO before development rather than bolting SEO on afterward.

I'd consider them if your organization has a fairly complex site with lots of programs, audiences, resources, or integrations and wants a sophisticated long-term web partner.

A particularly relevant specialist: Idea Marketing Group

Not Fulton Market, but worth getting a proposal from. Their BPI Chicago nonprofit project is remarkably close to what you're describing: an outdated nonprofit site, poor search rankings, navigation problems, need for an easily managed WordPress site, mobile/performance improvements, and SEO. They handled the redesign and SEO together, including keyword research, technical SEO, page titles/descriptions, headers and alt text. www.ideamktg.com

That's a much stronger relevant case study than an agency simply saying "we do SEO."

Idea Marketing Group — nonprofit web design

My shortlist

One thing I'd emphasize in the RFP: don't ask merely for "SEO improvements." Ask the agencies to show how they would restructure your program content around actual search intent—keyword research, program landing pages, URL architecture, internal linking, redirects, schema, metadata, and a plan for creating/refreshing content after launch. Orbit's nonprofit methodology is a good benchmark for what that should look like. www.orbitmedia.com

If you tell me roughly what your nonprofit does, how many program pages you have, and your approximate redesign budget (e.g. <$25k, $25–50k, $50k+), I can narrow this to the 2–3 agencies I'd actually contact and explain why.

For a nonprofit with an aging site and a goal of helping people find programs through search, I’d prioritize agencies that understand information architecture, accessibility, content strategy, and SEO—not just visual redesign. A few Chicago options that look like good fits:

Best matches for a nonprofit program-search redesign

1. Orbit Media Studios — strong nonprofit + SEO fit
Orbit Media Studios

• Probably the first agency I’d talk to for this project.
• Deep nonprofit experience and specifically positions itself around nonprofit website redesigns, SEO, content strategy, and improving how people find services/programs. www.orbitmedia.com
• Good fit if your challenge is: “People don’t know what programs we offer,” “our navigation is confusing,” or “our pages don’t rank for service searches.”
• Note: their office is in Chicago but not Fulton Market/downtown. www.orbitmedia.com

2. Idea Marketing Group — good nonprofit case-study match
Idea Marketing Group

• Has nonprofit website redesign experience, including work focused on clearer navigation, mobile performance, and SEO improvements. www.ideamktg.com
• Worth considering if you want a more traditional agency partner handling design, development, and marketing together.

3. Point B Communications Inc — closest to Fulton Market/West Loop

• Located in the Fulton Market/West Loop area. www.orbitmedia.com
• Offers branding, web design/development, content, and SEO services. www.orbitmedia.com
• A strong option if the redesign also involves messaging, campaigns, or donor-facing storytelling.

4. The Loop Marketing Inc — downtown/Fulton Market-adjacent option

• Chicago office near Fulton Market. www.orbitmedia.com
• Works with nonprofits and offers WordPress web design plus SEO/local search services. www.orbitmedia.com
• Could be a fit for a mid-sized nonprofit needing a manageable CMS and ongoing support.

5. Windy City Web Solutions — practical WordPress + SEO partner

• Located downtown in the South Loop area. windycitywebsolutions.com
• Focuses on WordPress builds, maintenance, and SEO for nonprofits and organizations. windycitywebsolutions.com
• More of a hands-on implementation partner than a large strategy agency.

What I’d ask them in the first call

For your specific goal (“program searches”), I’d ask:

1. “How would you restructure our site so someone searching for a service can find the right program in 30 seconds?”
2. “Will you do keyword research around our programs before redesigning pages?”
3. “How will you preserve our current SEO rankings during migration?”
4. “Can you create program landing pages designed for Google searches?”
5. “Will staff be able to update programs, eligibility, locations, and resources without a developer?”

A good nonprofit redesign should usually include:

• program taxonomy (services → audiences → locations → eligibility)
• improved internal search/filtering
• SEO-focused program pages
• redirect strategy from the old site
• accessibility improvements (WCAG)
• analytics tied to program discovery and conversions

If I were making a short list to interview, I’d start with Orbit Media, Point B, and Idea Marketing Group. www.orbitmedia.com

Yes. Based on your criteria—nonprofit experience + full redesign capability + SEO for program/service searches + Fulton Market/downtown proximity—I’d put these on the shortlist:

1. The Loop Marketing Inc — best overall fit

The Loop Marketing Inc
Web
Address: 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Phone: +1 312-569-9449
159 N. Sangamon St., West Loop/Fulton Market

This is probably where I’d start. They explicitly work with nonprofits, offer WordPress redesign, advanced SEO, content strategy, and ongoing optimization. Their content program specifically uses ranking data and keyword research to improve existing pages and create new SEO-driven content. theloopmarketing.com

The Loop Marketing

Why I'd shortlist them: Your goal isn't simply a prettier site—you need people searching for programs/services to actually find the right pages. Their combination of web + SEO + content is aligned with that.

2. Point B Communications — strong Fulton Market option

Point B Communications Inc
Web
Address: 600 W Fulton St #710, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
Phone: +1 312-867-7750
600 W. Fulton St.

Point B is a full-service agency with website design/development and ongoing SEO programs. They do the site structure, UX, content development and development work in-house, which could be useful for a substantial redesign. www.pointbcommunications.com

Point B Communications

Caveat: They look more like a broad branding/advertising agency than a nonprofit-specialist web shop, so I'd specifically ask for 2–3 nonprofit redesign examples where organic program/service traffic increased.

3. Windy City Web Solutions — potentially better for a smaller nonprofit

Windy City Web Solutions
Web
Address: 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Phone: +1 847-801-9482
801 S. Wells St., South Loop

They specialize in WordPress websites for nonprofits and explicitly combine redesign, accessibility, maintenance and SEO. Their nonprofit SEO offering includes keyword research, on-page optimization and local visibility. windycitywebsolutions.com

Windy City Web Solutions

I'd consider them if you want a hands-on, less-agency-heavy relationship and don't need a huge branding campaign.

One I'd interview even though it's outside your requested area

Orbit Media Studios is not in Fulton Market/downtown, but they're unusually well matched to your actual problem. They have a dedicated nonprofit practice and specifically describe search-driven redesigns, keyword research, information architecture, technical SEO, redirects and preservation of existing rankings. Their nonprofit portfolio includes Chicago organizations, and they report a 15% increase in donation conversion rate for Off the Street Club after its redesign. www.orbitmedia.com

Orbit Media's nonprofit web design practice

My ranking for your project

One important thing I'd put in the RFP: don't ask agencies merely to "improve SEO." Ask them to demonstrate how they'll turn your programs into search-intent landing pages—e.g., identifying what prospective participants actually search for, mapping those queries to pages, restructuring navigation/URLs, rewriting content, handling redirects, and measuring organic entrances and conversions after launch.

If you tell me what your nonprofit does/programs you want people to find, I can also identify the 2–3 agencies I'd actually invite to bid and give you a suggested RFP scope.

For a nonprofit with an aging website that needs both a redesign and better SEO for program/service searches, I’d prioritize agencies that understand information architecture, accessibility, content strategy, and mission-driven search behavior—not just visual design.

Here are the Chicago-area agencies I’d shortlist:

My first calls would be:

1. Orbit Media — if your biggest problem is “people can’t find our programs on Google” or your site structure is outdated. www.orbitmedia.com
2. Idea Marketing Group — if you want a Chicago agency with nonprofit redesign examples and WordPress/SEO experience. www.ideamktg.com
3. The Loop Marketing or Point B — if being close to Fulton Market and having a local relationship matters.

When interviewing agencies, I’d ask specifically:

• “How will you redesign our program pages so they rank for searches like ‘[service] near me’ or ‘help for [population] in Chicago’?”
• “Will you do keyword research before designing the navigation?”
• “How will you preserve or improve existing Google rankings during migration?”
• “Will you train staff to update program pages without a developer?”
• “What accessibility standard will the new site meet (ideally WCAG 2.1 AA)?”

If you share your nonprofit’s mission area (housing, youth, health, food access, arts, etc.) and approximate budget range, I can narrow this to the 2–3 agencies most likely to be a fit.