ChatGPT answers, unedited

• Heller Consulting - 53 W Jackson Blvd, Ste 622, Chicago, IL 60604
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• GoodFolk - 125 S Clark St 17th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• Maven Digital - 23 N Racine Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• CauseHouse - 1054 Bushwick Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221
• Beth Interactive - 4657 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste B, Chicago, IL 60640
• Beth Interactive Inc. - 4541 N Ravenswood Ave #303, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Doing Good Digital - 312 Arizona Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States
• Meyer Partners - 8745 W Higgins Rd Suite 110, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• Third Coast Creative | 3CC - 235 W Van Buren St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Hero Digital - 1 N Dearborn St Ste 725, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• eGuide Tech Allies - 405 W Superior St, Ste 409, Chicago, IL 60622
• Neoteric Design - 29 E Madison St, Ste 450, Chicago, IL 60602

For a mid-sized nonprofit that needs both donor-database integration and a substantially better website UX, I’d put Heller Consulting at the top of the list—but there’s an important distinction.

My shortlist

1. Heller Consulting — best for the donor/CRM side

• Downtown Loop office at 53 W Jackson Blvd.
• Particularly strong if your donor database is Salesforce/NPSP or you need a serious CRM migration/integration.
• Their documented Chicago Community Trust work included Salesforce, donor portals, data migration, Boomi integrations, and improved donor-portal UX. Clarity Partners
• My pick if the database integration is the hardest part of the project.
• Clique Studios — best overall agency fit

• Downtown at 20 N Wacker Dr.
• Combines UX research, information architecture, design, engineering, integrations, and accessibility rather than treating the website as simply a marketing redesign.
• This is probably the agency I'd interview first if you want one partner accountable for the whole digital experience.
• GoodFolk — best boutique UX option

• Downtown at 125 S Clark St.
• Particularly appealing if the priority is a thoughtful, content-heavy nonprofit site and excellent user experience.
• I'd want them to demonstrate specific experience integrating your particular donor CRM before hiring them.
• Maven Digital — strong nonprofit specialist

• Chicago-based, with clients including Chicago Community Trust, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Oxfam, National Audubon Society, and others.
• Their positioning is explicitly digital/product work for mission-driven organizations, which makes them worth an interview for a mid-sized nonprofit.

Who I'd hire

I'd start with Clique Studios and Heller Consulting as the two finalists.

The reason is that your project actually contains two different disciplines:

Donor database architecture/integration + public-facing UX/web experience

A beautiful agency can easily underestimate the CRM/data portion. Conversely, a CRM consultancy can deliver a technically sound integration while giving you a mediocre donor experience.

Clique looks like the stronger single-agency choice because it combines UX, strategy, engineering, integrations and accessibility. Heller is the safer choice if the donor database/CRM is the mission-critical component—particularly Salesforce. Heller's documented work on the Chicago Community Trust is unusually close to what you're describing. Clarity Partners

I'd also get a proposal from Sandstorm Design if UX research is especially important; its Chicago practice emphasizes usability testing, journey mapping, UX strategy and inclusive design.

One other Chicago firm worth knowing is Orbit Media Studios. Its nonprofit practice has documented UX/integration work and a case study with Off The Street Club that produced a 15% increase in the donation key-event rate. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios

What I'd put in the RFP

Don't ask agencies simply for a "website redesign." I'd require them to show how they would handle:

• Current-state audit of your donor CRM and website
• Donor journey/user research
• Information architecture and UX testing
• CRM ↔ website ↔ donation platform data flows
• Deduplication and data governance
• Donation, event, newsletter and form integrations
• Accessibility/WCAG compliance
• Analytics and conversion tracking
• Staff/admin usability of the CMS
• Data migration and testing plan
• Post-launch optimization and support

If you tell me which donor database/CRM you're using (Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, Bloomerang, Blackbaud, Neon, etc.) and roughly what your budget is, I can narrow this to the 2–3 agencies I'd actually invite to the RFP.

Donor database architecture/integration + public-facing UX/web experience

A beautiful agency can easily underestimate the CRM/data portion. Conversely, a CRM consultancy can deliver a technically sound integration while giving you a mediocre donor experience.

Clique looks like the stronger single-agency choice because it combines UX, strategy, engineering, integrations and accessibility. Heller is the safer choice if the donor database/CRM is the mission-critical component—particularly Salesforce. Heller's documented work on the Chicago Community Trust is unusually close to what you're describing. Clarity Partners

I'd also get a proposal from Sandstorm Design if UX research is especially important; its Chicago practice emphasizes usability testing, journey mapping, UX strategy and inclusive design.

One other Chicago firm worth knowing is Orbit Media Studios. Its nonprofit practice has documented UX/integration work and a case study with Off The Street Club that produced a 15% increase in the donation key-event rate. orbitmedia.com orbitmedia.com

What I'd put in the RFP

Don't ask agencies simply for a "website redesign." I'd require them to show how they would handle:

• Heller Consulting - 53 W Jackson Blvd, Ste 622, Chicago, IL 60604
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Mightybytes - 4001 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste 404, Chicago, IL 60613
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• CauseHouse - 1054 Bushwick Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221
• Beth Interactive - 4657 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste B, Chicago, IL 60640
• Beth Interactive Inc. - 4541 N Ravenswood Ave #303, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Neoteric Design - 29 E Madison St, Ste 450, Chicago, IL 60602
• Progressive Data Services - 2161 W Leland Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
• Doing Good Digital - 312 Arizona Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States
• eGuide Tech Allies - 405 W Superior St, Ste 409, Chicago, IL 60622
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States

For a mid-sized nonprofit in Chicago that needs both donor database integration and website UX, I would not hire a pure web design shop. You want an agency that understands CRM architecture, fundraising workflows, data migration, accessibility, and donor journeys.

My shortlist:

1. Best overall fit: Heller Consulting

Heller Consulting

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+12242417489)

Why I’d put them first: They are one of the stronger matches if your project involves connecting a website experience with a real donor ecosystem (Salesforce, CRM migration, data governance, integrations). Their Chicago presence is in the Loop, and they specialize in nonprofit technology strategy rather than just design.

Best for:

• Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) environments
• CRM cleanup/migration
• donor data architecture
• integrations between fundraising platforms, websites, email, and reporting
• organizations with complex stakeholder needs

Potential downside:

• They may be more “technology transformation” than “beautiful website redesign.” You may still want a UX/design partner involved.

My recommendation: Hire Heller if your donor database is messy, aging, fragmented, or strategically important.

2. Best UX + nonprofit website partner: Sandstorm Design

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-348-4200)

Sandstorm is a Chicago digital agency with a strong UX orientation and experience with mission-driven organizations. Their work emphasizes research, usability, journey mapping, accessibility, and larger website modernization projects.

Best for:

• website redesigns
• donor conversion optimization
• UX research
• content architecture
• accessibility improvements
• CMS strategy

Potential downside:

• I would confirm their depth on your exact donor CRM integration before making them the sole vendor.

My recommendation: Great choice if your biggest pain is “our website does not help donors engage or give.”

3. Best downtown Chicago “single agency” option: Clique Studios

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+13123799329)

Clique Studios is in the Loop and combines strategy, UX, engineering, and digital product work. Their profile suggests they can handle more technically complex builds, including integrations.

Best for:

• custom website builds
• integrations/API work
• modern UX
• organizations that need a technology partner, not just a marketing vendor

Potential downside:

• Make sure nonprofit fundraising experience is part of the team assigned to you.

4. Strong mission-driven digital specialist: Mightybytes

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+17735617529)

Mightybytes is a Chicago digital agency focused on purpose-driven organizations, with strengths in accessibility, sustainable web practices, UX, and digital strategy.

Best for:

• nonprofits prioritizing accessibility
• mission storytelling
• UX improvement
• long-term digital strategy

Who I would hire depending on your situation

If I were running a mid-sized Chicago nonprofit ($5M–$50M budget) and needed a serious donor database + website overhaul, I would likely run a short RFP with:

1. Heller Consulting — CRM/integration lead
2. Sandstorm Design — UX/web lead
3. Clique Studios — integrated digital build option

I would ask each finalist the same questions:

• “Show us a nonprofit where you integrated a website with a donor CRM.”
• “Who owns the data migration?”
• “How do you handle duplicate donor records and householding?”
• “How do you measure donor conversion improvements after launch?”
• “Who on your team understands fundraising operations?”

A lot of agencies can make a nicer website; fewer can make the website, CRM, and fundraising operations work as one system.

For a mid-sized nonprofit in Chicago that needs both donor database integration and website UX, I would not hire a pure web design shop. You want a partner that understands fundraising workflows, CRM architecture, data migration, and donor journeys—because a beautiful site that does not sync cleanly with your CRM will create ongoing operational problems. www.philanthropy.com

My shortlist:

1. Heller Consulting — best if your donor database is complex (Salesforce, Blackbaud, legacy CRM)

Heller Consulting
Web
Address: 53 W Jackson Blvd, Ste 622, Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: +12242417489
My top pick for a mid-sized nonprofit with serious integration needs.

Why:

• Deep nonprofit technology specialization
• Strong fit for CRM strategy, migrations, integrations, and organizational adoption
• Chicago Loop presence
• Better suited than a traditional creative agency if your biggest pain is “our systems don’t talk to each other”

Hire them if:

• You use Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud/NPSP, Blackbaud, Raiser’s Edge, or a messy legacy database
• You need governance, data cleanup, and integration planning before redesigning the site

2. Sandstorm Design — best balance of UX + nonprofit digital experience

Sandstorm Design
Web
Address: 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
Phone: +1 773-348-4200
A strong choice if the website experience is the centerpiece.

Why:

• Chicago-based UX-focused digital agency
• Strong emphasis on research, usability, accessibility, and mission-driven organizations
• Better fit if you need donor journeys, content strategy, IA, and a modern website experience

Hire them if:

• Your website is outdated
• Your donation funnel is weak
• Your staff needs a manageable CMS after launch

3. Clique Studios — best if you need a sophisticated digital product, not just a website

Clique Studios
Web
Address: 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: +13123799329
Why:

• Downtown Chicago location
• Combines UX strategy, design, engineering, and integrations
• Good fit for organizations with more complex platforms, portals, or custom functionality

Hire them if:

• You need custom integrations, constituent portals, or a more ambitious digital transformation

4. LimeRed Studio, Inc. — best mission-driven boutique option

LimeRed Studio, Inc.
Web
Address: 4611 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
Phone: +1 312-238-9070
Why:

• Chicago-based purpose-driven digital agency
• Experience with nonprofit websites, UX, accessibility, CRM/forms/payment integrations

Hire them if:

• You want a collaborative boutique partner rather than a larger consulting firm

Who I would hire in your situation

For a mid-sized nonprofit, I would run a short RFP with:

1. Heller Consulting — CRM/integration lead
2. Sandstorm Design — UX/site redesign lead
3. Clique Studios — if you have complex technical requirements

If you want one agency to own the whole thing, I’d lean Sandstorm Design for a donor-focused website transformation, or Heller Consulting if the database problems are the root issue.

Before selecting, ask every finalist:

• “Show us a nonprofit project where website behavior fed back into the donor CRM.”
• “Who owns the data model and integration architecture?”
• “How will you handle migration, deduplication, and historical gifts?”
• “What donor conversion metrics will you improve?”

Those questions will separate true nonprofit digital partners from general web agencies. www.philanthropy.com

For a mid-sized nonprofit in Chicago that needs both donor database integration and website UX, I would not hire a pure branding/web shop. You want a partner that can connect the fundraising ecosystem (CRM, donation forms, email, analytics, CMS) and also redesign the donor journey.

My shortlist:

1. Best overall fit: Clarity Partners

Clarity Partners, LLC
Web
Address: 20 N Clark St #3600, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 920-0550
Why I’d put them first: They have strong enterprise integration experience and nonprofit/philanthropy experience, including work modernizing donor portals and integrating Salesforce-based donor systems. www.claritypartners.com

Best for:

• Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud / NPSP environments
• Complex donor data migration
• Integrations between CRM, website, finance, and marketing systems
• Larger mid-sized nonprofits with internal IT stakeholders

Ask them:

“Can you own the donor experience from website UX through CRM data architecture?”

2. Best UX + mission-driven digital experience: Sandstorm Design

Sandstorm Design
Web
Address: 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
Phone: +1 773-348-4200
Why: Strong match if your biggest problem is that the website does not convert visitors into donors, volunteers, or advocates. They focus on UX-driven strategy, inclusive design, and mission-oriented organizations.

Best for:

• Website redesign
• UX research
• Accessibility
• Content strategy
• Connecting a new site to existing donor systems

3. Best nonprofit-specialist choice: Beth Interactive

Beth Interactive
Web
Address: 4657 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste B, Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: +17733324022
Why: They are specifically focused on philanthropy, donor engagement, and digital fundraising strategy rather than just websites.

Best for:

• Improving online giving
• Donor journeys
• Campaign optimization
• Analytics and stewardship strategy

4. Best if you need a full digital transformation: Clique Studios

Clique Studios
Web
Address: 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: +13123799329
They are a downtown Chicago digital studio with UX research, information architecture, design, engineering, and digital product capabilities.

Best for:

• A major website rebuild
• Custom integrations
• More complex digital platforms

5. Best nonprofit web + communications partner: Advocate Creative

Advocate Creative
Web
Address: 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
They focus on nonprofits and foundations and are a good fit when storytelling, brand, and website experience are equally important.

My recommendation by scenario

For a typical mid-sized nonprofit (roughly $2M–$50M budget, existing CRM, fundraising team, and a website due for overhaul), I would invite Clarity Partners, Sandstorm Design, and Beth Interactive into an RFP and ask each to propose the same discovery phase.

The key RFP requirement should be: “Show us three examples where you integrated a nonprofit website with a donor CRM and improved measurable donor actions (online giving, recurring gifts, email engagement, or stewardship workflows).” That will separate true digital partners from agencies that only build attractive websites.

For a mid-sized nonprofit in downtown Chicago needing both donor database integration and website UX, I would not hire a pure web design shop. You need a partner that understands fundraising workflows, CRM/data architecture, accessibility, and donor conversion UX.

My shortlist:

1. The Office of Experience, LLC — best overall for UX + complex digital transformation

The Office of Experience, LLC
Web
Address: 980 N Michigan Ave Ste 1090, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: +13122701242
Why I’d put them first: They are a strong fit if your biggest issue is that your website, donor journey, and internal systems feel disconnected. They specialize more in experience strategy than basic website production.

Best for:

• Donor journey mapping
• UX research and redesign
• Complex constituent experiences
• Organizations that need strategy before implementation

Ask them:

• “Who would own Salesforce/CRM integration?”
• “Can you provide nonprofit references with donation funnels?”

2. Orbit Media Studios — best nonprofit website partner

Orbit Media Studios
Web
Address: 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613
Phone: +17733484581
Why consider them: They are a well-known Chicago web agency with strong UX/content strategy capabilities. They may be the strongest choice if your CRM is already selected (Salesforce NPSP, Blackbaud, Bloomerang, Virtuous, HubSpot, etc.) and you mainly need a high-performing donor-facing site.

Best for:

• Website redesign
• Information architecture
• Accessibility
• Content strategy
• Integrations with existing systems

3. UX 4Sight — best if UX research is the priority

UX 4Sight
Web
Address: 111 W Jackson Blvd Unit 1700, Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: +13122240095
They are located downtown and focus specifically on user experience work. I’d consider them if you already have developers or a CRM implementation partner but need donor/user research and a better digital experience.

Best for:

• Donor usability testing
• UX audits
• Journey mapping
• Interface redesign

4. Proceed Innovative — best if you need marketing + web + ongoing support

Proceed Innovative
Web
Address: 1501 Woodfield Rd Ste 112E, Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: +18478791168
A broader digital agency option. Worth interviewing if you need campaigns, analytics, SEO, and site maintenance along with the rebuild.

My recommendation

For a mid-sized nonprofit, I would run a short RFP with these three:

1. The Office of Experience — if this is a strategic transformation
2. Orbit Media Studios — if the website/donor experience is the main pain point
3. UX 4Sight — if you already have technical resources and need UX excellence

I would also ask each agency to show:

• A nonprofit donor portal or donation flow they improved
• A CRM integration diagram (Salesforce, Blackbaud, Raiser's Edge, Bloomerang, etc.)
• Their approach to migrating donor data safely
• How they measure success (conversion rate, recurring gifts, email signups, engagement)

A key warning: many agencies can build a beautiful nonprofit website, but fewer can handle the donor database → website → email marketing → analytics ecosystem. Make CRM integration a gating requirement, not a nice-to-have. For example, Chicago-based Clarity Partners has documented work involving Salesforce donor portals, integrations, migrations, and UX improvements for a major philanthropic organization, which illustrates the kind of systems experience to look for. www.claritypartners.com

If you tell me your current CRM (Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, Blackbaud, Bloomerang, Neon, etc.) and approximate budget ($25k, $75k, $150k+), I can narrow this to the best 1–2 hires.

If downtown Chicago is a hard requirement, I’d put Clique Studios at the top of the list.

My recommendation: Clique Studios

Clique is in the Loop at 20 N. Wacker Dr. and is unusually well aligned with the combination you described: nonprofit website UX + technical integration work. Their capabilities span UX research, information architecture, content strategy, web development, custom integrations, accessibility, and QA.

For a mid-sized nonprofit, I would favor them if your project is something like:

• Redesigning the website around donor/user journeys
• Connecting the website to an existing donor CRM/database
• Improving donation forms and constituent data flow
• Integrating CRM, email marketing, events, and website systems
• Cleaning up a fragmented digital ecosystem rather than simply making the site prettier

Why I'd choose them: you need one partner who can bridge UX/design and engineering, rather than hiring a traditional web-design agency and a separate CRM consultant.

Two others I'd interview

Caxy — best if the database integration is the harder problem. They're downtown at 212 W. Van Buren and have substantial custom-integration and engineering depth. They explicitly work with CRM integrations and existing databases, and they cite a Chicago Public Media donation platform that increased digital contributions 250%. www.caxy.com

Orbit Media Studios — best if UX, fundraising conversion, and nonprofit website performance are the bigger priorities. They're not downtown (Ravenswood), but their nonprofit portfolio is excellent. They have worked with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Goodman Theatre, and Off the Street Club, and specifically highlight donor journeys, UX, integrations, accessibility, and donation conversion. One Off the Street Club redesign reported a 15% increase in the donation key-event rate. www.orbitmedia.com

My ranking for your situation

If I were hiring: I'd invite Clique, Caxy, and Orbit to a paid discovery/RFP process, but I'd start with Clique.

One important caveat: before signing, give each agency your actual donor database/CRM name (e.g. Salesforce, Blackbaud/Raiser’s Edge, Neon One, Bloomerang, etc.). Integration expertise is very platform-specific. I'd make them demonstrate exactly how they would handle donor → website form → CRM → email/acknowledgment → reporting, including deduplication and failed-sync handling.

If you tell me which donor database/CRM you use and your approximate website/project budget, I can narrow this to the one I think you should actually hire and give you the questions to ask them.

If you want one downtown Chicago firm to interview first, I’d hire One North, A TEKsystems Company—with one caveat: I’d make donor-CRM integration a specific requirement in the RFP and ask them to bring a nonprofit CRM/data specialist onto the project.

My recommendation: One North

They’re in the Loop at 227 W. Monroe St. and have the combination you’re looking for: UX/experience strategy, website design and implementation, data/technology work, and ongoing optimization. Their UX practice explicitly covers research, journey mapping, testing, and website/product design, while their broader team handles implementation and technology infrastructure. www.onenorth.com

One North

Why I'd shortlist them:

• Strongest UX fit: They approach the website as a digital experience rather than simply a visual redesign.
• Can handle complex integrations: They have strategists, designers and technologists under one roof, so you aren't necessarily coordinating separate UX and development vendors. www.onenorth.com
• Actually downtown: 227 W. Monroe, right in the Loop. www.onenorth.com
• Appropriate for a mid-sized organization: They have the resources for a complicated integration but aren't limited to a giant enterprise implementation.
• Good if the website is supposed to improve fundraising: I'd specifically have them redesign the donor journey—from landing page → campaign/appeal → donation → confirmation → ongoing stewardship—not just the site's navigation.

The one firm I'd bring in as the CRM/data benchmark

Heller Consulting is actually the more compelling choice if donor database integration is the harder problem than UX. Their Chicago office is at 53 W. Jackson Blvd., and they're exclusively focused on nonprofits, education and healthcare. Their work includes CRM implementation, data migration, data governance, platform integration and Salesforce/Blackbaud/Microsoft/HubSpot. teamheller.com

Heller Consulting

So I'd think about it this way:

Who I'd actually put on the RFP

I'd invite One North, Heller Consulting, and one smaller nonprofit-focused agency to pitch. The important thing isn't just asking, "Can you integrate our CRM?" Make each bidder demonstrate:

1. How donor data flows website → donation system → CRM → email/marketing automation.
2. How they prevent duplicate donor records.
3. How they would handle your existing data migration/cleanup.
4. A proposed donor UX, including recurring giving and mobile donation.
5. Accessibility and analytics.
6. Who owns the integration after launch.
7. Two comparable nonprofit references.

Bottom line: If you're asking me to pick one based on the combination of downtown Chicago + strong UX + ability to tackle the technical side, I'd start with One North. If your donor database is currently a mess and the integration is mission-critical, I'd put Heller ahead of them.

For a mid-sized Chicago nonprofit that needs both donor-data integration and a better website UX, I’d shortlist three firms—but I’d hire Heller Consulting if the donor database/integration work is the harder problem, and Thirdwave if the website/UX is equally important.

My ranking

1. Heller Consulting — best overall for complex donor systems

They’re my first call if your project involves Salesforce/NPSP, donor-data migration, integrations, or cleaning up a messy fundraising tech stack. Heller works exclusively with nonprofits and has substantial Salesforce implementation and migration experience; their Chicago team is in the Loop. Their work with Loyola, for example, included Salesforce implementation, data migration, integrations, portals, and staff training. teamheller.com

Caveat: I wouldn't choose Heller alone if the centerpiece of the project is a highly polished public-facing website redesign. They're stronger on the technology/CRM side.

2. Thirdwave — best fit if website + integration are equally important

This is probably the most interesting match for your exact brief. They're at 15 W Hubbard in River North and have a concrete nonprofit example: Chicago Foundation for Women. Thirdwave handled information architecture and UX validation, rebuilt the site in WordPress, and integrated it with Blackbaud's donor platform. www.thirdwavellc.com

That combination—UX + CMS + actual donor-platform integration—is unusually relevant to what you're describing.

3. LimeRed Studio, Inc. — best UX/design-oriented alternative

LimeRed is a Chicago purpose-driven design agency with nonprofit experience. Their capabilities include information architecture, UX/UI, accessibility, WordPress, analytics, CRM/form/payment integrations, and related digital strategy.

I'd put them ahead of Thirdwave if your primary problem is "our website is confusing and isn't converting donors", with the database integration being more straightforward.

Who I'd actually interview

I'd issue a small RFP to Heller, Thirdwave, and LimeRed and make them respond to the same scenario:

"We are a mid-sized nonprofit with an existing donor CRM, website, online donation system, and email platform. We need a new UX/site architecture and reliable two-way data integration, with minimal disruption to fundraising."

Ask each agency to show:

1. Two nonprofit projects involving donor/CRM integration
2. Exactly which CRM/donation platforms they integrated
3. Their approach to data mapping, deduplication, migration and ongoing sync
4. How they conduct UX research and usability testing with donors
5. Accessibility approach (WCAG/ADA)
6. Who actually does the integration work—not just who sells the project
7. A proposed architecture showing website → donation platform → CRM → email/analytics
8. Three-year total cost, including post-launch support

My pick: Thirdwave if you want one partner to own both sides of the problem. Their Chicago Foundation for Women work is unusually close to your requirements: nonprofit + UX/information architecture + WordPress + Blackbaud donor integration. www.thirdwavellc.com

If your existing donor database is Salesforce/NPSP and the integration is complicated, I'd flip the recommendation to Heller and potentially pair them with a UX/web specialist. Heller's nonprofit CRM specialization is considerably deeper. teamheller.com

If you tell me which donor database/CRM you use (Salesforce, Blackbaud/Raiser’s Edge, Bloomerang, Neon, etc.) and roughly what you want to spend, I can narrow this to the best 2–3 agencies and compare their likely fit, location, nonprofit experience, and pricing level.

For a mid-sized nonprofit that needs both donor-data integration and a better website UX, I’d put Heller Consulting at the top of the list—especially if your donor database is Salesforce or another complex nonprofit CRM.

My shortlist

1. Heller Consulting — best for the systems/integration side
   • Downtown Chicago, at 53 W Jackson Blvd.
   • Deep nonprofit specialization and particularly strong Salesforce/CRM implementation, migration, data architecture, and change management.
   • They recently worked with Loyola University Chicago on a complex Salesforce/Kindsight implementation involving data migration, configuration, integrations, and donor/event portals. teamheller.com
   • My pick if database integration is the hardest part of the project.

2. LimeRed Studio, Inc. — best balance of UX + nonprofit digital
   • Chicago-based and purpose-driven.
   • Their capabilities include information architecture, UX/UI, accessibility, WordPress, analytics, and integrations with CRMs, forms, payments, and email systems.
   • My pick if the website experience is equally important to the CRM work.

3. Sandstorm Design — best for sophisticated UX
   • Chicago-based, with a strong UX research/strategy practice.
   • They emphasize user research, usability testing, journey mapping, inclusive design, and larger web modernization projects.
   • My pick if you have a complicated audience structure and need serious UX discovery rather than just a redesign.

4. Dialogue Theory — best smaller, high-touch option
   • Chicago studio focused on mission-driven organizations.
   • Strong fit for UX/UI, digital strategy, and web development, with a smaller-team/extended-team model.
   • Worth considering if you want senior attention rather than a large-agency process.

Who I'd hire

I'd interview Heller and LimeRed first. They're complementary:

• Heller: “Make our donor data and systems actually work.”
• LimeRed: “Make the website and donor experience actually work.”
• Sandstorm: “Understand our users deeply and redesign the experience around them.”

If you want one agency to own the whole thing, I'd lean LimeRed, provided they can demonstrate experience with your specific donor CRM and integration requirements. If the integration involves a major Salesforce migration or complicated data architecture, I'd instead hire Heller as the technical lead and potentially bring in a UX/web specialist alongside them.

One particularly relevant benchmark: Chicago's own Community Trust engaged Heller for Salesforce/data integration work while also modernizing its donor portals' UI/UX; the project involved 350K+ grants and gifts and near-real-time Salesforce/finance/portal data transfers. www.claritypartners.com

If you tell me which donor database/CRM you use (Salesforce, Blackbaud, Raiser's Edge, Bloomerang, Neon One, etc.), your approximate website budget, and whether you're looking for a full redesign, I can narrow this to one agency and give you a recommended shortlist/RFP strategy.

If I were hiring for a mid-sized Chicago nonprofit that needs both donor-data integration and a genuinely strong website UX, my first call would be Orbit Media Studios.

One caveat: Orbit is Chicago-based but not downtown—its office is at 4043 N. Ravenswood Ave. www.orbitmedia.com If “downtown” is a hard requirement, I’d shortlist differently.

My pick: Orbit Media Studios

Why I’d put them first:

• Deep nonprofit experience. Orbit says it has worked with 50+ Chicago nonprofits through its Chicago Cause program and has substantial nonprofit case-study experience, including Nourishing Hope, Chicago CRED, Awakenings and SitStayRead. www.orbitmedia.com
• UX is a core capability, not an add-on. Their nonprofit work specifically emphasizes information architecture, user journeys, accessibility, mobile UX and conversion paths for donors and other audiences. www.orbitmedia.com
• They can handle the technical integration. Orbit explicitly offers CRM integrations, API/third-party integrations and custom development, rather than simply handing the site to a separate developer. www.orbitmedia.com
• They understand fundraising UX. Their nonprofit work includes donation conversion strategy and examples of measurable improvements in donation/conversion behavior. www.orbitmedia.com
• They keep development in-house, which I'd consider important for a project where the donor database, website and fundraising flows all have to work together. www.orbitmedia.com

If downtown Chicago is non-negotiable

I'd also talk to UX 4Sight at 111 W. Jackson Blvd. They're very centrally located and UX-focused, but I'd want to establish their nonprofit donor-CRM integration credentials before putting them ahead of Orbit.

Another downtown option is ArtVersion® Creative Agency at 211 W. Wacker. They're a credible creative/web shop, but again, I'd make donor-data architecture a gating criterion rather than choosing primarily on design.

One important distinction

If your donor database integration is the hard part—e.g., Salesforce/Nonprofit Cloud, Blackbaud/Raiser's Edge, complicated gift processing, constituent deduplication, migration, or bi-directional data synchronization—I would consider bringing in Heller Consulting for the CRM architecture alongside a web agency. Heller is nonprofit-specialized and has substantial fundraising-technology implementation experience, including Salesforce implementations and data migration. teamheller.com

My recommendation:
Hire Orbit as the lead agency if you want one partner accountable for UX + website + integrations. If your CRM is unusually complex, Orbit + Heller is the stronger, lower-risk combination.

If you tell me which donor database/CRM you use (Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, Bloomerang, Neon, EveryAction, etc.) and roughly what your website budget is, I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies and tell you exactly who I'd put on the RFP.

If you want one downtown Chicago firm to hire, my first call would be Thirdwave.

My pick: Thirdwave

They’re in River North at 15 W. Hubbard St., and they’re unusually well matched to your combination of needs: nonprofit web UX plus donor/CRM integration. www.thirdwavellc.comwww.thirdwavellc.com

The strongest evidence is their work for Chicago Foundation for Women: Thirdwave handled information architecture and UX validation, built the WordPress site, and custom-integrated it with Blackbaud's donor platform. They also have nonprofit experience including AIDS Foundation of Chicago. www.thirdwavellc.com

Thirdwave's website

Why I'd shortlist them:

• Proven donor-database integration, rather than just generic web development.
• Real UX/information-architecture capability, not merely visual design.
• Nonprofit experience, including Chicago organizations.
• Small enough to be hands-on; their team describes itself as a multidisciplinary group of architects, developers and designers. www.thirdwavellc.comwww.thirdwavellc.com
• Downtown location makes in-person collaboration practical.

One other firm I'd interview

Heller Consulting would be my second call if the database/CRM side is especially complicated. They're exceptionally nonprofit-focused and have deep expertise in Salesforce, Blackbaud, data migration, governance and systems integration. teamheller.com

Heller Consulting

The tradeoff is that Heller is primarily a nonprofit technology/CRM consultancy, whereas Thirdwave is a more natural single partner for website + UX + technical integration. Heller's current site also says it's headquartered in Texas, despite having Chicago presence, so I wouldn't choose it if "downtown Chicago agency" is a hard requirement. teamheller.com

What I'd do

For a mid-sized nonprofit, I'd invite Thirdwave and Heller to pitch against the same brief, but I'd make Thirdwave the favorite.

In the RFP, I'd specifically require them to demonstrate:

1. Current donor database/CRM → website → donation form → email automation data flow.
2. Their experience with your exact CRM (Blackbaud/Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, Bloomerang, Neon One, etc.).
3. UX research/testing with actual donors and prospective donors.
4. Donation conversion and mobile UX improvements.
5. Data migration, deduplication and integration ownership.
6. Post-launch support and who actually maintains the integrations.

If you tell me which donor database/CRM you're using and roughly what your website is built on (WordPress, Drupal, etc.), I can narrow this to the 2–3 Chicago agencies I'd actually put on the shortlist and tell you who I'd hire.

If donor-database integration is a core requirement—not just a website redesign—I’d hire Heller Consulting.

They’re in the Loop at 53 W Jackson Blvd, and they’re unusually well matched to a mid-sized nonprofit: Heller works exclusively with nonprofits/education/healthcare, and its core work includes CRM implementation, data migration, platform integration, fundraising technology, and change management. teamheller.com

Heller Consulting

Why I'd put them first

• Donor data: This is their strongest differentiator. They work with Salesforce, Blackbaud/Raiser's Edge, Microsoft, HubSpot and fundraising platforms, including complex migrations and integrations. teamheller.comteamheller.com
• Real Chicago nonprofit experience: Their case studies include Loyola University Chicago and the Greater Chicago Food Depository, among others. teamheller.com
• Website/digital experience: They can handle online fundraising tools and donor/volunteer portals, although I'd explicitly require a strong UX/web-design lead in the proposal rather than assuming website UX is their primary strength. teamheller.comteamheller.com
• Mid-sized nonprofit fit: They emphasize change management and staff adoption, which matters enormously when you're connecting development, communications, finance and programs to one donor-data ecosystem. teamheller.com

Two alternatives I'd interview

If UX/website experience is equally important:
Sandstorm Design — Chicago-based and particularly strong in UX research, journey mapping, usability testing, inclusive design and complex web development. I'd ask them to demonstrate specific CRM/donor-system integrations before putting them ahead of Heller.

If you want a smaller, more design-oriented partner:
Dialogue Theory — Chicago-based, mission-driven, and focused heavily on UX/UI and digital experience. I'd view them as the UX specialist rather than the obvious choice for a complex donor-database integration.

My recommendation

I'd issue an RFP to Heller + Sandstorm + Dialogue Theory, but make Heller the first call. The key is not to hire a generic web agency and bolt the donor database on afterward. You want someone to design the donor journey, website UX, CRM/data architecture, donation flow, and integrations as one system.

In the RFP, I'd require each firm to show:

1. A comparable nonprofit CRM/database integration.
2. A before/after donor journey or website UX example.
3. Exactly which CRM/fundraising platforms they can integrate.
4. How they'll handle data cleansing, deduplication and migration.
5. Who owns the UX versus technical architecture.
6. Three nonprofit references from organizations roughly your size.
7. A fixed estimate for discovery before committing to the full build.

Bottom line: Heller if database integration is the hard problem; Sandstorm if UX is the hard problem. For a project where both are genuinely 50/50, I'd start with Heller and make UX capability a condition of the final contract.

If you want one agency to own both donor-data integration and website UX, I’d put Heller Consulting at the top of the list.

My shortlist

1. Heller Consulting — best overall fit

They’re my strongest recommendation for a mid-sized nonprofit because the hard part of your project is likely the intersection of CRM/data architecture, donor workflows, and digital experience, not simply making a nicer website. Heller specializes exclusively in mission-driven organizations and has substantial experience with Salesforce, Blackbaud, data migration, implementation, training, and organizational change. Their Chicago office is at 53 W Jackson Blvd. teamheller.com

Hire them if: your donor database is complicated, you're considering Salesforce/Blackbaud changes, or the website needs to be tightly integrated with fundraising operations.

Heller Consulting

2. Clique Studios — best if UX/web experience is equally important

Clique has a downtown Loop office at 20 N Wacker, and its capabilities span UX/UI, usability testing, accessibility, web development, custom engineering, and integrations. That makes it particularly attractive if you're envisioning a substantial website redesign rather than a CRM project with a website attached.

Hire them if: your website's user experience, information architecture, accessibility, and overall digital transformation are major priorities.

Clique Studios

3. LimeRed Studio, Inc. — best nonprofit-oriented UX/design alternative

LimeRed is Chicago-based and does UX/UI, information architecture, accessibility, WordPress, analytics, and CRM/form/payment integrations. It's a particularly good candidate if you want a hands-on design agency rather than a large technology consultancy.

LimeRed Studio

Who I'd hire

For a mid-sized nonprofit, I'd interview Heller and Clique first.

• Heller wins if donor database integration is the critical path.
• Clique wins if the website/UX and digital experience are the critical path.
• If you need both to be genuinely first-class, ask each to propose a joint architecture covering CRM → donation forms → website → email/marketing automation → analytics, rather than letting the web team and database team design those pieces independently.

One important wrinkle: if you're already on Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT, Salesforce, or another specific CRM, tell me which one. That could change my recommendation substantially. www.blackbaud.com

For a mid-sized nonprofit in downtown Chicago that needs both donor database integration and website UX, I would not hire a pure web design shop. You want a partner that understands fundraising workflows, CRM architecture, data migration, accessibility, and donor journeys.

My shortlist:

1. Best overall fit: Heller Consulting

Hire if: your donor database is complex (Salesforce, Blackbaud, Raiser’s Edge, Microsoft Dynamics, integrations, reporting).

Why:

• Deep nonprofit technology specialization.
• Strong fit for CRM strategy, implementation, integrations, and organizational adoption.
• Chicago office in the Loop.
• They are more likely than a design agency to solve the “single source of truth for donors” problem.

Tradeoff:

• They are not primarily a brand/UX studio, so you may pair them with a design-focused firm.

My pick for: a $5M–$50M nonprofit with a messy donor ecosystem.

2. Best single-agency UX + nonprofit digital partner: Sandstorm Design

Sandstorm Design
Web
Address: 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
Phone: +1 773-348-4200
Hire if: the website experience, accessibility, content structure, and constituent journeys are as important as the CRM.

Why:

• Strong UX-driven approach.
• Mission-led organization experience.
• Good fit for redesigning a nonprofit website around donors, advocates, members, and program audiences.

Tradeoff:

• Confirm their depth with your specific donor CRM before signing.

My pick for: a nonprofit saying “our website is outdated and donors can’t find or do what they need.”

3. Best nonprofit-specialist digital/CRM hybrid: LimeRed Studio, Inc.

LimeRed Studio, Inc.
Web
Address: 4611 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
Phone: +1 312-238-9070
Hire if: you want a collaborative, mission-oriented agency that can handle UX, accessibility, web development, and integrations.

Why:

• Purpose-driven agency with nonprofit experience.
• Covers UX, information architecture, accessibility, CMS, analytics, and CRM/form integrations.

Tradeoff:

• May be better for a website-led transformation than a massive CRM replatform.

4. Best if Salesforce is central: Clarity Partners

Hire if: Salesforce is your donor system of record.

Why:

• Has nonprofit Salesforce integration experience, including donor portal modernization and data synchronization work. www.claritypartners.com

Who I would actually hire

For a typical mid-sized Chicago nonprofit, I’d run a short RFP with:

1. Heller Consulting — CRM/data architecture lead
2. Sandstorm Design — UX/web experience lead
3. LimeRed Studio — alternative integrated digital partner

Then choose based on who can show:

• 2–3 nonprofit case studies with donor journeys
• experience integrating your exact CRM
• accessibility compliance (WCAG)
• a clear data migration plan
• post-launch optimization (not just “launch and leave”)

A few questions would change my recommendation:

1. What donor database are you using now (Salesforce NPSP, Raiser’s Edge, Blackbaud, Bloomerang, Neon, something else)?
2. Is this a website redesign + integration, or are you also replacing the CRM?
3. Rough annual budget for the project ($50k, $100k, $250k+)?