Answers that name EDUCO Web Design

• Mightybytes, Inc. - 1725 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, 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
• Promet Source - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave #126, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• LimeRed Studio, Inc. - 4611 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Firebelly Design - 1402 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Mightybytes - 4001 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste 404, Chicago, IL 60613
• Garenne Bigby - 200 E Randolph Dr, Ste 5100, Chicago, IL 60601
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, 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
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Rowe Intermedia - Chicago, IL 60641
• Karim McCall Creative - Evanston, IL 60202, United States
• Glantz Design - 1881 Oak Ave, Evanston, IL 60201, United States

If you’re looking for a Chicago agency that understands accessibility, disability communities, and nonprofit audiences, I’d prioritize firms that can show both (1) accessibility practice (WCAG/keyboard/screen-reader testing, inclusive UX) and (2) nonprofit or mission-driven experience. Here are several worth contacting:

A few non-Chicago specialists that may also be worth considering if you’re open to remote partners:

• Elevation Web — nonprofit-only agency with a strong accessibility focus; they state they build nonprofit sites to WCAG 2.2 AA and work with accessibility testing and nonprofit workflows. Elevation Web Solutions Elevation Web Solutions
• Project6 — works with foundations and nonprofits and highlights WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility practices. Project6

Questions I’d ask before hiring

For a disability-focused nonprofit, I’d ask each agency:

1. Can you show 2–3 sites you built for disability, healthcare, advocacy, or community-service organizations?
2. Who participates in accessibility testing? (Automated scans alone are not enough; ask about keyboard testing, screen readers, and testing with disabled users.)
3. Which WCAG level do you target? (Many organizations aim for WCAG 2.2 AA.)
4. How do you train nonprofit staff to keep content accessible after launch?
5. Can you audit our current site first and provide a prioritized remediation plan?

If your organization serves people with disabilities directly, I’d put Mightybytes, Sandstorm Design, Dialogue Theory, and Promet Source near the top of the first outreach list because they appear most aligned with accessibility + mission-driven work.

Since you’re in River North, Chicago, I’d shortlist agencies based on nonprofit experience rather than just proximity. A few stand out:

1. Advocate Creative — my first call.

They specialize specifically in nonprofits and foundations, covering brand strategy, messaging, visual identity, websites, campaigns, and collateral. They’ve worked with 90+ nonprofits/foundations, including United Way of Metro Chicago and the Environmental Law & Policy Center. advocatecreative.com

2. Substance — strongest if the rebrand itself is the priority.

They describe themselves as a brand-strategy-first firm and have experience leading organizational rebrands for nonprofits and other mission-driven organizations, including messaging and website development.

3. Dialogue Theory — strongest for a sophisticated website.

They're particularly focused on mission-driven organizations and combine UX research, digital strategy, design, and full-stack web development. Good choice if your site needs to actually improve donor/user journeys rather than simply look newer.

4. Taylor Bruce Design Partnership — worth considering because they're actually in River North.

They're at 730 N Franklin and do branding plus website design/development, with nonprofit/cultural work including Northern Illinois Food Bank and the Field Museum.

5. Concentric Design — good smaller-studio option.

They have particularly relevant nonprofit experience, including Rebuilding Exchange and VOCEL, covering identity, web, and ongoing design support.

If it were my nonprofit, I'd request proposals from Advocate Creative, Dialogue Theory, and Substance. That gives you three meaningfully different options: nonprofit-specialist, digital/UX specialist, and brand-strategy specialist.

One other agency worth knowing is EDUCO Web Design; they explicitly specialize in nonprofit branding/web work and have partnered with organizations including LISC Chicago, Women Employed, Housing Forward, and BUILD Chicago. www.educowebdesign.com

If you tell me your nonprofit's mission, approximate budget (e.g. $20–50k vs. $50–100k+), and whether you want WordPress/Webflow/Drupal or don't care, I can narrow this to the 2–3 best fits and compare their portfolios, nonprofit clients, likely price tier, and location.

• Mightybytes, Inc. - 1725 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Promet Source - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave #126, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Promet Source - 3322 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Adage Technologies - 10 S Riverside Plaza Ste 1500, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Thirdwave - 15 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Duo Consulting - 200 S Wacker Dr #625, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Paul Gregory Media - 200 E 5th Ave, Ste 105, Naperville, IL 60563
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Duo Consulting - 20 W Kinzie St, Ste 1510, Chicago, IL 60654
• Neoteric Design - 29 E Madison St, Ste 450, Chicago, IL 60602

For a nonprofit moving to a new CMS and needing staff training, I’d prioritize agencies that do more than build attractive sites: you want strong content migration, governance, accessibility, documentation, and editor enablement.

My shortlist for a Chicago nonprofit:

1. Mightybytes, Inc. — my first call for a mission-driven nonprofit

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-561-7529)

Why I’d book them:

• Strong nonprofit/purpose-driven focus.
• Good fit if you care about accessibility, sustainable web practices, and making the site easier for staff to maintain.
• Likely a good partner for a team that needs not just a migration, but a better long-term content workflow.

Ask them specifically:

• “Can you own CMS migration, content cleanup, and editor training as one engagement?”
• “Will you create a content governance guide and recorded training for new staff?”

2. Promet Source — best if you have a complex Drupal/public-sector-style site

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-525-8255)

Why consider them:

• Deep Drupal/open-source CMS experience.
• Good fit for organizations with lots of content types, permissions, integrations, or complicated publishing workflows.
• They emphasize discovery, UX, implementation, and training-oriented work.

Choose them if your nonprofit has:

• Hundreds/thousands of pages
• Multiple departments/program areas
• Complex forms, databases, directories, or integrations

3. Orbit Media Studios — best if content strategy and staff usability are the priority

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

Orbit Media StudiosWhy consider them:

• They explicitly work with nonprofits and focus on CMS solutions that allow internal teams to update content without developer help.
• Their nonprofit work emphasizes training and support after launch. Orbit Media Studios

Good fit for:

• Small-to-mid-sized nonprofits
• Marketing/communications teams that will own updates after launch

4. Sandstorm Design — best for UX + accessibility-heavy projects

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

Why consider them:

• Strong digital experience and accessibility background.
• Useful if your migration is also a redesign of how constituents find information.

Who I would book first

For most Chicago nonprofits, I’d start with:

1. Mightybytes — mission alignment + maintainability
2. Orbit Media Studios — easiest path to empowered staff editors
3. Promet Source — if the site is large/complex or Drupal-based

When you request proposals, I’d require these deliverables:

• CMS recommendation with rationale
• Full content inventory and migration plan
• URL/SEO redirect plan
• Accessibility review (WCAG)
• Editor training sessions (live + recorded)
• Admin documentation (“how we update events/pages/news”)
• 30–90 days of post-launch support

If you tell me your current CMS, desired CMS (if known), approximate page count, and nonprofit size, I can narrow this to 1–2 agencies.

• Promet Source - 3322 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
• Mightybytes - 4001 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste 404, Chicago, IL 60613
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Duo Consulting - 200 S Wacker Dr #625, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Adage Technologies - 10 S Riverside Plaza Ste 1500, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Thirdwave - 15 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Promet Source - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave #126, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Paul Gregory Media - 200 E 5th Ave, Ste 105, Naperville, IL 60563
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Artversion - 205 N Michigan Ave 8th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601
• Neoteric Design - 29 E Madison St, Ste 450, Chicago, IL 60602
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States

For a nonprofit that needs both a CMS migration and staff enablement, I’d prioritize agencies that treat the website as an internal tool—not just a redesign. My shortlist would be:

My first call: Promet Source

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+17735258255)

Best fit if you have a content-heavy nonprofit site, multiple stakeholders, accessibility needs, or a Drupal/WordPress-style migration.

Why I’d book them:

• Strong CMS implementation and migration background, especially with open-source platforms.
• Experience with mission-driven organizations and complex content workflows.
• Likely a good match if your goal is “staff can confidently update pages, news, events, and resources after launch,” not “call a developer for every change.”

Also worth interviewing

Mightybytes

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+17735617529)

Best fit for a mission-driven nonprofit that cares about accessibility, sustainability, and digital strategy.
They position themselves around purpose-driven organizations and digital experiences, with a strong accessibility focus.

Sandstorm Design

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

Best fit if the migration is also a major UX/content overhaul.
They emphasize research-driven digital experiences, accessibility, and CMS work across platforms such as Drupal and WordPress.

Duo Consulting

Directions[Call](tel:+1 312-529-3000)

Best fit for a larger nonprofit or association with complex content architecture.
They have a history with content-managed websites, Drupal ecosystems, migrations, and strategy work.

Dialogue Theory

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 617-922-3790)

Best fit if you want a smaller, high-touch partner.
Their positioning around mission-driven organizations and maintainable CMS builds may appeal if your team wants close collaboration rather than a large-agency process.

If I were booking three discovery calls

I’d start with:

1. Promet Source — strongest all-around CMS migration/training candidate.
2. Mightybytes — strongest nonprofit mission/accessibility alignment.
3. Sandstorm Design — strongest UX/content governance option.

When you talk to them, ask specifically:

• “Will you migrate our existing content, or only rebuild templates?”
• “What does staff training include—live workshops, documentation, recorded sessions?”
• “Will you create content governance rules so staff know who edits what?”
• “Who handles redirects, SEO preservation, accessibility checks, and launch QA?”
• “Can you provide a sandbox where staff practice before launch?”

If you share your current CMS (WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, custom, etc.), approximate page count, budget range, and whether you need a redesign or just a move, I can narrow this to the best 1–2 agencies.

For a nonprofit annual report that goes beyond a PDF—especially with interactive charts, maps, impact metrics, storytelling, and donor-facing UX—I’d shortlist studios that can handle both mission storytelling and data visualization. These Chicago-area firms look like the strongest matches: clutch.co

My shortlist for an RFP

If I were hiring for a nonprofit impact report with interactive data visualization, I’d invite these 5 to pitch:

1. DataMade — if the data itself is the centerpiece (maps, dashboards, indicators, research findings). clutch.co
2. JPD Studio — if you want a beautiful nonprofit narrative experience with interactive elements. jpdstudio.com
3. EDUCO Web Design — if you want a digital annual report that feels like an extension of your website. www.educowebdesign.com
4. Advocate Creative — if you need nonprofit communications strategy plus design.
5. Bark Design — if you need strong editorial/report design plus digital execution.

Questions I’d ask before hiring

• Can you show 3 interactive annual reports or impact reports (not just websites)?
• Who handles the data visualization: designer, developer, or data specialist?
• Can you build accessible charts (WCAG considerations, keyboard navigation, screen readers)?
• Will the report live as a standalone microsite, inside our existing CMS, or both?
• How will next year’s report updates work—do we need to hire you again or can staff update content?
• Can you provide analytics after launch (views, engagement, donor actions)?

If you share your nonprofit’s size, approximate budget, and whether you want a microsite vs. a redesigned website section, I can narrow this to the 3–4 studios most likely to be a good fit.

• 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.

• Firebelly Design - 1402 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• LimeRed Studio, Inc. - 4611 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Taproot - 100 S State St, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• Statement - 1033 South Blvd, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Chris Depa Web Design + Branding - 1528 Robinhood Ln, La Grange Park, IL 60526, United States
• 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
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• ePageCity Inc. - 111 N Wabash Ave Ste 3023, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Paul Gregory Media - 50 S Main St Suit 200, Naperville, IL 60540, United States
• Beth Interactive - 4657 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste B, Chicago, IL 60640
• Paul Gregory Media - 200 E 5th Ave, Ste 105, Naperville, IL 60563
• Prosper Strategies - 200 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

Yes. I’d prioritize agencies with an explicit nonprofit/pro-bono program, rather than simply agencies that happen to have nonprofit clients. I found several Chicago-area options that look particularly promising for a small nonprofit website redesign.

My shortlist

1. Firebelly Design — Chicago

• Probably my first call if you want high-quality agency-level design and can potentially compete for pro bono support.
• Firebelly has a longstanding Grant for Good program under which it donates design services to a nonprofit each year. Its capabilities include UX, content strategy, accessibility, responsive development, and CMS work. Clutch
• Best if the redesign needs to improve both visual identity and the overall user experience, rather than just refreshing the WordPress theme.
• Advocate Creative — Chicago

• Very interesting fit for a nonprofit/foundation. The firm specifically focuses on communications for nonprofits and foundations and does branding, messaging, web design, and digital experiences.
• I'd reach out and explicitly ask whether they have pro-bono, nonprofit-rate, or capacity-based projects available.
• LimeRed Studio, Inc. — Chicago

• Strong candidate if your site needs a more strategic overhaul. They work with purpose-driven organizations and offer research, UX/UI, accessibility, SEO, WordPress development, content strategy, and integrations.
• I'd ask about a scaled-down nonprofit engagement rather than leading with "free."
• Taproot — Chicago

• This is actually one of the best avenues if your budget is close to zero. Taproot connects nonprofits with skilled volunteers for pro-bono professional services, including design/creative and technology work.
• Rather than hiring an agency, you potentially get a volunteer professional or team to help with the redesign.
• Crescendo Studios

• This one is especially worth contacting because the nonprofit offer is explicit: qualifying nonprofits can receive up to 50% off, and selected projects are done pro bono. They specifically mention website design/development. Applications are reportedly reviewed within 48 hours. Crescendo Studios
• crescendostudios.com
• Pilot Digital — Chicago

• Their Do Good By nonprofit program is explicitly free, and they're currently accepting submissions for 2026 sessions and beyond. Their focus is more digital marketing/SEO than pure website design, but that can be very useful if your redesign is tied to increasing donations, volunteers, or visibility. Pilot Digital
• pilotdigital.com
• Statement — Oak Park

• Not Chicago proper, but close enough to include. They explicitly position themselves around nonprofits and mission-driven organizations, and their nonprofit clients mention the firm's willingness to provide options that keep projects affordable.
• I'd consider them if you're looking for good strategic/creative work without necessarily needing full pro bono.

A couple of wildcard options

There are also some newer/smaller organizations that are unusually nonprofit-friendly:

• Nothing Hard says it builds nonprofit websites completely free, including a year of free hosting and maintenance. It claims 40+ sites shipped. Nothing Hard
• Fire and Cloud Consulting's Spark Program provides one verified 501(c)(3) per quarter with a complete website build at no build cost; the nonprofit covers hosting. Fire and Cloud Consulting
• Durk Media offers sliding-scale nonprofit pricing, with minimum projects starting around $500, and says it's developing a pro-bono program. Durk Media
• Peak Digital advertises a standing 15% nonprofit discount for eligible 501(c)(3)s. Peak Digital Studio
• Lorien Web explicitly offers mission-aligned nonprofit rates and says it will scope the project around what the organization's budget can support. Lorien Web

Who I'd contact first

If this were my nonprofit and I had a small budget, I'd make these five outreach attempts in roughly this order:

1. Firebelly — best shot at exceptional agency-quality work through a charitable program.
2. Crescendo Studios — clearest combination of nonprofit discount + potential pro bono.
3. Taproot — best avenue if you genuinely can't afford an agency.
4. Advocate Creative — particularly compelling if the site also needs messaging/brand work.
5. LimeRed — strong choice for a serious UX/accessibility/content overhaul.

One important distinction: don't pitch this as "we need a website." Pitch it as a defined impact project: "We need to redesign our website so prospective donors can understand our impact, supporters can find programs, and volunteers can take action." That's much easier for an agency to justify as pro bono/community-impact work.

If you tell me your nonprofit's name, approximate annual budget, current website, and what you hate about the current site, I can narrow this to 3–5 agencies that are actually a good fit and find the right person/contact route for each.

• 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
• Doejo - 444 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Mightybytes - 4001 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste 404, Chicago, IL 60613
• LimeRed Studio, Inc. - 4611 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Bark Design - 3115 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
• Digital Third Coast - 2540 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Cheshire Partners - 4138 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
• Firebelly Design - 1402 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Beth Interactive - 4657 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste B, Chicago, IL 60640
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States

Yes. For an animal rescue, I’d prioritize a partner that understands adoption workflows and animal-data integrations, not just visual web design. I looked specifically at Chicago firms plus agencies with demonstrated animal-rescue work.

My shortlist

1. Orbit Media Studios — best for a sophisticated Chicago nonprofit site

• Chicago-based, with substantial nonprofit web experience.
• Strong on UX, accessibility, SEO, WordPress, analytics, and integrations.
• They specifically position themselves as a nonprofit web-design agency and have worked with major Chicago nonprofits. Orbit Media Studios
• Best if: you want a polished, strategic site that can grow into a major adoption/donation platform.
• Watch-out: likely one of the pricier options.
• Windy City Web Solutions — best smaller Chicago partner

• Focuses on custom WordPress sites for Chicago nonprofits and emphasizes accessibility, performance, donations, and ongoing support. Windy City Web Solutions
• Best if: you want a more hands-on local developer without a large-agency process.
• Doejo — best if this is really a software/product project

• Chicago digital product and development studio capable of custom web applications, APIs, integrations, UX/UI, and full-stack development.
• Best if: you're envisioning something more substantial than a normal website—for example, a searchable adoption database, staff dashboard, automated status changes, applications, matching, or integrations with multiple systems.
• Mightybytes — strong mission-driven technical option

• Chicago firm combining web design, software development, product development, hosting, and maintenance.
• Particularly interesting if accessibility, performance, sustainability, and long-term maintainability matter to your rescue.
• LimeRed Studio, Inc. — strong nonprofit/brand + UX option

• Chicago purpose-driven design agency with web development, UX, accessibility/SEO auditing, WordPress, CRM/forms/payments integrations, and nonprofit-oriented work.
• Best if: the adoption system needs a major redesign of the overall adopter experience, not just a database.

One non-Chicago specialist I'd seriously consider

animalrescuewebsites.com is unusually relevant because it specializes exclusively in animal rescues and shelters. Its websites can embed live Pawlytics pet listings and adoption/foster applications, with listings automatically updating from the rescue's database. Its published packages start at $400–$750 plus hosting. Pawlytics Custom Websites Pawlytics Custom Websites

If you're already using Pawlytics, I'd put this near the top of the list.

Another particularly relevant specialist is blueoxweb.com. They explicitly build rescue sites with searchable animal profiles, adoption/foster applications, and integrations with animal-management/adoption platforms. Blue Ox Websites & Marketing

And webcitz.com has actual animal-rescue case studies involving automated pet listings. In one case, they integrated RescueGroups so new animals automatically appeared on the website with photos, descriptions, and adoption status. WebCitz

Who I'd contact first

For a Chicago rescue, I'd solicit proposals from:

• Orbit Media — premium nonprofit/UX strategy
• Doejo — custom application/integration capability
• Windy City Web Solutions — smaller/local technical partner
• LimeRed — nonprofit UX, accessibility, and brand
• Pawlytics — animal-rescue-specific, particularly if you use Pawlytics

I would not ask them simply for a "new website." Your RFP should describe this as an adoption listing and workflow system.

At minimum, ask for:

• searchable/filterable dog and cat listings
• individual animal profiles with photos, personality, medical/adoption information
• automatic availability/status updates
• integration with your existing shelter/rescue database, Petfinder, RescueGroups, Pawlytics, Shelterluv, etc.
• adoption application workflow
• foster application workflow
• staff/volunteer ability to add and edit animals without a developer
• photo management
• mobile-first UX
• accessibility/WCAG 2.1 AA
• SEO for individual animals and adoption searches
• analytics showing which animals/pages generate applications
• CRM/email integration
• donation and volunteer functionality
• clear ownership of the code/data and an exit plan if you change vendors

One important distinction: if your current animal-management software already contains the authoritative animal records, I would strongly favor integrating that system rather than building a second animal database. The WebCitz/RescueGroups example illustrates why—automatic synchronization eliminates duplicate data entry and stale "available" listings. WebCitz

If you tell me what software you currently use for animal records/listings (e.g. Petfinder, Shelterluv, RescueGroups, Pawlytics, spreadsheets, etc.) and roughly what budget you have, I can narrow this to 3 Chicago-area firms I'd actually put on the RFP list, with estimated project tiers and the specific questions to ask each one.

For an immigrant-services nonprofit, I’d prioritize community/mission experience + bilingual UX, rather than hiring a general web shop and asking them to “translate it” afterward.

My shortlist

1. Dialogue Theory — best overall fit
   • Chicago-based digital design/development studio focused on mission-driven organizations, nonprofits and civic work.
   • Their profiles indicate English/Spanish capability, which makes them especially interesting for a bilingual service site.
   • I’d ask them to handle UX, information architecture, design and build, with Spanish localization incorporated from the beginning.

2. Orbit Media Studios — best for a larger, strategy-heavy redesign
   • Strong nonprofit specialization and a substantial Chicago track record. Their nonprofit portfolio includes Hispanic Housing Development Corporation, where they report a 3,065% increase in conversions. www.orbitmedia.com
   • Particularly good if the site needs sophisticated SEO, resource discovery, donations, accessibility and content strategy.
   • I'd have them quote the bilingual architecture, then pair them with a professional Spanish localization partner.

3. Mightybytes, Inc. — best for accessibility + mission alignment
   • Chicago agency with a strong purpose-driven/nonprofit orientation and emphasis on inclusive experience design and accessibility.
   • A good choice if your immigrant-services audience includes people with limited digital literacy or disabilities.

4. EDUCO Web Design — worth considering for a nonprofit-focused, design-forward option
   • Their published positioning specifically includes nonprofit branding and web design, with experience involving organizations such as LISC Chicago, Women Employed and BUILD Chicago. www.educowebdesign.com
   • They're in Oak Park rather than Chicago proper, but close enough that I wouldn't rule them out.

For localization

I'd seriously consider separating localization from the design/build contract unless the design firm can demonstrate native-level Spanish localization.

A particularly relevant option is Trusted Translations, Inc., whose Chicago office offers website localization and multilingual translation. Another is BURG Translations, a Chicago language-services provider that specifically lists website and content localization.

For your audience, I'd request localization, not literal translation: terminology should reflect how Chicago-area immigrants actually describe services, and Spanish should be reviewed by people familiar with your communities. Website localization should also account for navigation, forms, graphics, imagery and QA—not just translated paragraphs. www.languageinnovations.com

If I were booking calls tomorrow:
Dialogue Theory + Orbit Media + one localization specialist (BURG or Trusted Translations). Give all three the same brief and compare their approach to bilingual UX, accessibility, content migration, CMS, and ongoing maintenance—not just the visual portfolio.

If you tell me your rough budget (e.g. <$15k, $15–40k, $40k+) and whether the second language is Spanish, I can narrow this to the 2 firms I'd actually invite to bid and find their contact/booking pages.

• Heller Consulting - 53 W Jackson Blvd, Ste 622, Chicago, IL 60604
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• LaunchPad Lab - 220 W Huron St, Ste 2001, Chicago, IL 60654
• Maven Digital - 23 N Racine Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Geek Empowered - Chicago, IL 60621
• GoodFolk - 125 S Clark St 17th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Neoteric Design - 29 E Madison St, Ste 450, Chicago, IL 60602
• Progressive Data Services - 2161 W Leland Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
• LIMIT8 | Nonprofit Web Design Experts - 350 Central Prk W, New York, NY 10025, United States
• Beth Interactive - 4657 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste B, Chicago, IL 60640

If I were hiring for a mid-sized Chicago nonprofit that needs both donor-data integration and serious website UX, I’d put Heller Consulting at the top of the list.

My shortlist

1. Heller Consulting — best overall fit

• Downtown/Loop: 53 W Jackson Blvd.
• Their core specialty is nonprofit technology rather than generic marketing.
• Particularly strong for CRM implementation, data migration/integration, Salesforce, fundraising systems, and organizational adoption. Their work with Loyola included Salesforce implementation, data migration, custom donor portals, and training. Heller Consulting
• Why I'd hire them: If the donor database is the harder/riskiest part of the project, this is the safest choice.
• Clique Studios — best if UX/web experience is equally important

• Downtown: 20 N Wacker Dr.
• Strong combination of UX research, information architecture, content strategy, website development, integrations, accessibility, and QA.
• They look better suited than a pure CRM consultancy if you're envisioning a substantial website redesign alongside the integration.
• Why I'd hire them: Best candidate if the project is fundamentally a digital experience transformation, not merely a database implementation.
• Dialogue Theory — best boutique option

• Chicago-based, with a strong mission-driven/nonprofit orientation.
• Particularly compelling for UX/UI, digital strategy, and custom web development.
• I'd consider them if you want a smaller, high-touch team rather than a larger consulting operation.

The wildcard: Clarity

Clarity Partners deserves a serious look if your database architecture is complicated. They worked with Chicago Community Trust on Salesforce, donor portals, data migration, and near-real-time integration between Salesforce and finance systems, including migration of 350,000+ grants and gifts. Clarity Partners

That's unusually relevant evidence for a Chicago nonprofit. I'd shortlist them if you're dealing with multiple systems that have to stay synchronized.

Who I'd actually call

My ranking for your described project:

If you want one firm to own the whole thing, I'd interview Heller and Clique first. Heller has the stronger nonprofit/fundraising systems pedigree; Clique has the stronger case for making the website experience itself excellent.

One important caveat: I wouldn't choose based on "website portfolio" alone. Ask each firm to show you one nonprofit project where the website, donation experience, CRM/donor database, and downstream reporting were actually integrated. That's the distinction between a pretty redesign and the kind of project you're describing.

If you tell me which donor database/CRM you currently use (Salesforce, Blackbaud, Bloomerang, Neon One, EveryAction, etc.) and roughly what your website runs on, I can narrow this to the one I'd hire and what I think you should budget.

• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Thirdwave - 15 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Neoteric Design - 29 E Madison St, Ste 450, Chicago, IL 60602
• 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
• LimeRed Studio, Inc. - 4611 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• MECCA Marketing Group Inc. | MMGWebsites - 6127 S University Ave Ste 07, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
• Promet Source - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave #126, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Ensemble Media - 4704 N Kenmore Ave C, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Greater Good Studio - 3759 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• Bark Design - 4330 N California Ave Store Front, Chicago, IL 60618, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Doejo - 444 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

If your priority is redesigning an education nonprofit website, rather than just hiring a generic Chicago web shop, I’d narrow the field pretty aggressively.

My shortlist

1. EDUCO Web Design — best overall fit

• This would be my first call.
• Their work is unusually aligned with your situation: they explicitly specialize in education and nonprofits, and have 20+ years of nonprofit web/branding experience. Educo Web Design Educo Web Design
• They have worked with organizations including LISC Chicago, Women Employed, BUILD Chicago, and education organizations. Educo Web Design
• Their nonprofit work includes strategy, content, UX, donations, and ongoing redesigns—not just making the site prettier. Their Housing Forward project, for example, reportedly produced a 25% increase in online donations. Educo Web Design
• Downside: they're in Oak Park, not River North/downtown. For me, that's irrelevant given the fit.
• Thirdwave — best River North option

• If being physically downtown/River North matters, I'd talk to Thirdwave.
• They're at 15 W Hubbard St in River North and do full-stack web development, digital communications, and content-heavy sites.
• Their experience includes nonprofit and education-related organizations, and they're a better choice if the redesign involves complex integrations, databases, membership systems, or a sophisticated CMS.
• I'd rank them behind EDUCO for a straightforward education-nonprofit redesign, but potentially ahead of EDUCO if your site is technically complicated.
• Neoteric Design — best downtown/mission-driven technical option

• They're in the Loop at 29 E Madison St.
• They've worked with Chicago nonprofits and education/arts organizations, including Friends of the Chicago River and Urban Gateways.
• I'd consider them if you want something more custom and technically sophisticated than a typical WordPress redesign.
• Windy City Web Solutions — best lower-cost/practical option

• They're at 801 S Wells St, just south of downtown.
• Their specialty is WordPress, with explicit experience in nonprofits and schools.
• Clutch's current Chicago nonprofit rankings also show particularly strong feedback around nonprofit/education work and website overhauls. Clutch
• I'd talk to them if you're looking for a good redesign without turning it into a $75k+ agency engagement.

One more I'd seriously consider

Dialogue Theory is worth an RFP if your nonprofit has a complicated mission/audience problem.

They're Chicago-based and specifically work with mission-driven organizations and nonprofits, with strengths in research, UX, strategy, and digital design. Clutch's current profile specifically highlights their nonprofit work and cites a project for Prevent Child Abuse America. Clutch

They're not in River North—they're on S. Halsted—but I'd prioritize fit over the neighborhood.

Who I'd actually call

If this were my website, I'd probably send the same brief to these four:

I'd also look at Orbit Media Studios if you're willing to go beyond your geographic constraint. They're particularly compelling for nonprofit websites because they've worked with organizations such as the Erikson Institute's Early Math Collaborative and the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and they emphasize information architecture, content strategy, SEO, and measurable outcomes. Orbit Media Studios

My strongest recommendation: start with EDUCO. The combination of education + nonprofit experience is much more important here than having an office in River North.

If you tell me the name of your education nonprofit and roughly what you're trying to spend ($10–25k, $25–50k, $50k+, etc.), I can do a much deeper comparison of 5–7 Chicago agencies, including their relevant nonprofit/education projects, likely price tier, CMS expertise, accessibility/SEO capabilities, and which one I'd pick for you.

• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, 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
• Neoteric Design - 29 E Madison St, Ste 450, Chicago, IL 60602
• Mabbly - 640 N La Salle Dr #540, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• C E Anderson & Associates - 175 N Franklin St Unit 410, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Promet Source - 4809 N Ravenswood Ave #126, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Lipman-Hearne - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
• LimeRed Studio, Inc. - 4611 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Firebelly Design - 1402 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States
• Ensemble Media - 4704 N Kenmore Ave C, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Concentric Design - 1212 N Ashland Ave, Fl 2, Chicago, IL 60622

Yes. I’d narrow this down quite a bit rather than hiring a generic Chicago web-design shop. For an education nonprofit, you want an agency that understands mission-driven storytelling, multiple audiences, accessibility, content-heavy sites, and getting people to take action—not just making the homepage look nicer.

Based on current Chicago firms and their nonprofit/education portfolios, these would be my shortlist:

My top 5

1. Orbit Media Studios — my first call

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

Orbit is probably the strongest all-around choice if you want a serious redesign tied to measurable outcomes.

They specifically showcase nonprofit work, including Off the Street Club, where they redesigned the site around SEO, navigation, donor/volunteer conversion and accessibility; the organization saw a 15% increase in its donation key-event rate. They also list recent work with the Erikson Institute's Early Math Collaborative, which is especially relevant to education. Orbit Media Studios

Why I'd call them: strategy + UX + content + SEO + development, rather than simply "web design."

Best for: a substantial redesign where you want the new site to increase awareness, engagement, donations, applications, program participation, etc.

Downside: likely one of the more expensive options.

2. EDUCO Web Design — best nonprofit specialist

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 708-613-0386)

If your organization is a nonprofit and you want someone who really understands that world, EDUCO deserves a meeting.

They explicitly specialize in nonprofit branding and web design and say they've worked with organizations including LISC Chicago, Women Employed, Housing Forward and BUILD Chicago. They describe having 20+ years of nonprofit web/branding experience. Educo Web Design

Clutch also currently shows strong Chicago-area feedback for EDUCO on website redesigns, including educational and nonprofit-related work. Clutch Clutch

Best for: an organization that needs both brand/messaging and website redesign, not just development.

Location caveat: they're in Oak Park rather than River North/Loop, but I'd absolutely make the short drive for the right agency.

3. Sandstorm Design — best sophisticated UX/accessibility option

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

This is the one I'd investigate if the website has complicated audiences, lots of content, accessibility requirements, or a complicated user journey.

Sandstorm focuses heavily on UX, digital experience, accessibility and research, and specifically works with nonprofits, higher education and associations. Clutch

Best for: an education nonprofit with a complex site where "make it prettier" isn't enough—you need to rethink the information architecture and user experience.

Location: Ravenswood, not downtown.

4. Sandbox Studio, Chicago — particularly interesting for education

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-525-9258)

Sandbox caught my attention because its work is particularly oriented toward higher education, scientific research and complex educational subject matter.

If your nonprofit has an academic/research/education feel—or needs to communicate complicated information to students, educators, researchers, funders and the general public—I'd put them on the interview list.

Best for: education/research organizations that care about sophisticated communication design.

5. Windy City Web Solutions — best smaller/budget-conscious option

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

If you're a smaller nonprofit and don't have a $75k–$150k+ website budget, I'd talk to Windy City.

They're in the South Loop and specifically build WordPress sites for nonprofits and schools, with an emphasis on accessibility, performance and making the site easy for staff to maintain. Windy City Web Solutions

Clutch's current Chicago nonprofit rankings also show positive feedback specifically around nonprofit/education website work. Clutch

Best for: a smaller organization wanting a good strategic WordPress redesign without hiring a giant agency.

One more I'd consider

Dialogue Theory is worth a look if your organization has a social-impact/civic mission and needs sophisticated digital strategy and UX. They're a Chicago studio specifically focused on mission-driven organizations, nonprofits and civic agencies.

And if being physically downtown is important, Neoteric Design at 29 E. Madison is interesting, particularly for organizations with technically complex sites or web applications.

Who I'd actually contact

If this were my education nonprofit, I'd probably issue an RFP/interview to these four:

1. Orbit Media — strongest overall / measurable website performance
2. EDUCO — strongest nonprofit-specific fit
3. Sandstorm — strongest UX/accessibility/complex-site option
4. Sandbox Studio — strongest education/research-oriented creative option

Then I'd use Windy City as the smaller-budget comparison.

I would not pick based primarily on who has the prettiest portfolio. For an education nonprofit, I'd make each agency answer these five questions:

• Show me 2–3 nonprofit or education sites you personally designed, and tell me what changed after launch.
• How would you restructure our information architecture before designing anything?
• How will you make the site accessible to WCAG standards?
• How will you determine whether the redesign is successful—donations, applications, program registrations, newsletter signups, engagement, SEO, etc.?
• What will our staff be able to change ourselves after launch, and what will require you?

The answer to those questions will tell you much more than the portfolio.

If you tell me the name of your education nonprofit and roughly your website budget (e.g. <$25k, $25–50k, $50–100k, $100k+), I can narrow this to the 2–3 agencies I'd actually hire and compare their relevant education/nonprofit projects, likely cost, location, strengths, weaknesses, and who I'd contact first.

3. Sandstorm Design — best sophisticated UX/accessibility option

This is the one I'd investigate if the website has complicated audiences, lots of content, accessibility requirements, or a complicated user journey.

Sandstorm focuses heavily on UX, digital experience, accessibility and research, and specifically works with nonprofits, higher education and associations. Clutch

Best for: an education nonprofit with a complex site where "make it prettier" isn't enough—you need to rethink the information architecture and user experience.

Location: Ravenswood, not downtown.

4. Sandbox Studio, Chicago — particularly interesting for education

Sandbox caught my attention because its work is particularly oriented toward higher education, scientific research and complex educational subject matter.

If your nonprofit has an academic/research/education feel—or needs to communicate complicated information to students, educators, researchers, funders and the general public—I'd put them on the interview list.

Best for: education/research organizations that care about sophisticated communication design.

5. Windy City Web Solutions — best smaller/budget-conscious option

If you're a smaller nonprofit and don't have a $75k–$150k+ website budget, I'd talk to Windy City.

They're in the South Loop and specifically build WordPress sites for nonprofits and schools, with an emphasis on accessibility, performance and making the site easy for staff to maintain. Windy City Web Solutions

Clutch's current Chicago nonprofit rankings also show positive feedback specifically around nonprofit/education website work. Clutch

Best for: a smaller organization wanting a good strategic WordPress redesign without hiring a giant agency.

One more I'd consider

Dialogue Theory is worth a look if your organization has a social-impact/civic mission and needs sophisticated digital strategy and UX. They're a Chicago studio specifically focused on mission-driven organizations, nonprofits and civic agencies.

And if being physically downtown is important, Neoteric Design at 29 E. Madison is interesting, particularly for organizations with technically complex sites or web applications.

Who I'd actually contact

If this were my education nonprofit, I'd probably issue an RFP/interview to these four:

• Mightybytes - 4001 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste 404, Chicago, IL 60613
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Firebelly Design - 1402 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States
• LCM Architects - 200 N LaSalle St #2700, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Accessibilities - 8671 Wilshire Blvd #700, Beverly Hills, CA 90211, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr, Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606
• Accessible360 - 4600 W 77th St #295, Edina, MN 55435, United States
• Glantz Design - 1881 Oak Ave, Evanston, IL 60201, United States
• WeCo Accessibility Services - 300 1/2 S Main St, Stillwater, MN 55082
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Alphazeta - 325 W Huron St, Ste 506, Chicago, IL 60654
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Inclusive Web - Digital Accessibility Compliance Solution - 368 9th Ave 6th floor, New York, NY 10001, United States

For a Chicago nonprofit redesign where accessibility is a core requirement, I’d put these firms at the top of the shortlist:

1. Mightybytes — my first call. They’re Chicago-based, explicitly work with mission-driven organizations, and offer accessibility audits, remediation, training, and manual testing with assistive-technology users. They say their deliverables target WCAG 2.2 AA by default. Mightybytes
2. Sandstorm Design — strong alternative. Chicago-based and particularly interesting if you need UX research, redesign, and accessibility handled together. Their services include accessibility audits, remediation, and training, and they work with nonprofits and other purpose-driven organizations.
3. Dialogue Theory — worth an RFP invitation. They specialize in mission-driven/nonprofit and civic organizations, with digital strategy, UX/UI, and web development. Accessibility and intuitive functionality are specifically highlighted in their work.
4. Firebelly Design — good mission/brand option. Their Chicago practice combines web strategy, UX, development, and accessibility compliance; they also have a long-running nonprofit-focused pro-bono program.

One important caveat about “ADA compliance”

I wouldn't hire a firm merely because it promises an “ADA-compliant website.” ADA compliance is a legal question, while WCAG provides the technical accessibility criteria used to evaluate websites. A good procurement requirement is WCAG 2.2 AA, with automated and manual testing, rather than an accessibility widget or scanner alone. The Chicago Lighthouse, for example, offers independent accessibility consulting, audits, WCAG/508 compliance work, and certification services. The Chicago Lighthouse

For your RFP, I'd require the winning firm to provide:

• A pre-redesign accessibility audit with findings mapped to WCAG success criteria.
• Manual keyboard and screen-reader testing, not just automated scans.
• Testing of your donation, registration, application, and contact forms.
• Accessibility built into wireframes/design—not bolted on at launch.
• A post-launch audit and remediation cycle.
• Accessibility testing of PDFs and third-party embeds where they're important to your services.
• Documentation of what was tested, what remains unresolved, and how your staff should maintain accessibility.
• Ideally, testing involving people with disabilities/assistive-technology users.

If you're choosing one firm to interview first, I'd start with Mightybytes. If the project is large enough to justify independent validation, I'd seriously consider having The Chicago Lighthouse perform the final accessibility audit separately from the redesign firm. That gives your board a much stronger assurance than asking the vendor to grade its own work.

If you'd like, I can also compare 5–7 Chicago firms side-by-side on nonprofit experience, accessibility credentials, likely budget, and audit methodology and give you an RFP shortlist.

• Mightybytes, Inc. - 1725 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Glantz Design - 1881 Oak Ave, Evanston, IL 60201, United States
• GiveCentral - 2 North Riverside Plz, Ste 1350, Chicago, IL 60606
• CharityGiving - 118 N Clinton St Ste 301, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• iDonate - 6111 W Plano Pkwy Ste 2700, Plano, TX 75093, United States
• Adage Technologies - 10 S Riverside Plaza Ste 1500, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• cre8 - Chicago, IL 60607
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Plego Technologies - 8 W Monroe St APT 424, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• Eventlify - 150 N Michigan Ave Unit 2800, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Philanthropy500 - 118 N Clinton St Ste 301, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Wired Impact - 401 Pine St, St. Louis, MO 63102, United States
• LIMIT8 | Nonprofit Web Design Experts - 350 Central Prk W, New York, NY 10025, United States

Yes. For a nonprofit donation project, I’d prioritize security architecture and payment compliance over simply finding a good web-design shop. The safest pattern is usually to have the agency build the donation experience while a PCI-compliant payment provider handles the actual card data, rather than having your WordPress/database ever touch raw card numbers. Cornershop Creative, for example, explicitly describes using off-site/tokenized PCI-compliant donation processing so sensitive card data isn't stored in WordPress. Cornershop Creative

My Chicago shortlist

• Mightybytes, Inc. — My first call for a sophisticated mission-driven organization. Chicago-based and focused specifically on purpose-driven organizations, with strategy, UX/design, web development, and ongoing optimization. Their breadth makes them particularly attractive if the donation page is part of a larger digital transformation rather than a standalone form.
• Windy City Web Solutions — Best value/local option. They specifically build WordPress sites for Chicago nonprofits and describe integrating online donations, accessibility, security updates, hosting, and backups. Their published website pricing starts around $2,500, with higher tiers for more complex builds. Windy City Web Solutions
• Glantz Design — Good choice if donor experience/branding is important. Their work includes custom WordPress, donation flows, analytics, testing, hosting and maintenance, and they advertise nonprofit discounts. They're in Evanston rather than Chicago proper.
• GiveCentral — Consider this if you need a fundraising platform more than a custom web agency. It's Chicago-based and focused on nonprofit/church giving, including online donation pages, recurring gifts and payment processing.
• CharityGiving — Worth evaluating as a donation-platform alternative. Its Chicago operation focuses on online fundraising/donation management, including donation pages and recurring giving, and its published materials reference PCI/SSL security. I'd ask for current compliance documentation before making it your processor.

Who I'd hire

If your organization is mid-sized or larger, I'd start with Mightybytes. They look like the strongest fit when you need a serious nonprofit digital partner rather than someone simply installing a donation plugin.

If you're a smaller nonprofit and want a cost-conscious Chicago team, I'd start with Windy City Web Solutions. Their nonprofit focus and explicit security/maintenance offering make them a particularly practical choice.

I would not make "PCI-compliant website" the only requirement in your RFP. PCI DSS applies to the payment environment, and the architecture determines how much of that burden falls on your organization. For example, Stripe offers nonprofit donation forms and recurring-giving functionality, while dedicated nonprofit platforms such as Funraise advertise PCI Level 1 certification. Stripe Funraise

What I'd put in the RFP

Require every bidder to answer these specifically:

1. Who is the payment processor? Stripe, PayPal, Funraise, GiveCentral, etc.
2. Will our website ever receive, transmit, or store raw card numbers? Ideally, no.
3. Who is responsible for PCI DSS compliance—the nonprofit, agency, processor, or some combination?
4. Can you provide the processor's current PCI Attestation of Compliance (AOC)?
5. How are donation forms protected against web attacks, bot abuse and payment fraud?
6. Do you provide MFA, least-privilege admin accounts, vulnerability scanning, patching, backups and incident response?
7. What donor information is stored in WordPress/CMS versus the payment processor/CRM?
8. Can you meet WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility requirements?
9. How will recurring donations, refunds, chargebacks, receipts and tax acknowledgments work?
10. Who owns the code, domain, hosting account, analytics, CRM and payment accounts after launch?

For comparison, a strong security model looks like PCI-compliant processor + tokenized/hosted payment collection + no card data in your CMS + properly secured website. Giveeffect, for example, describes a model where card information isn't stored on its servers and payments go through PCI Level 1 payment partners. Giveffect

My suggested process: get proposals from Mightybytes, Windy City Web Solutions, and Glantz Design, and separately price a GiveCentral/Stripe/Funraise-based donation architecture. That will tell you whether you actually need a custom donation system—or whether you can get a more secure and economical result by letting a specialized payment platform handle the sensitive part.

If you tell me roughly your annual online donation volume, current website/CRM (e.g. WordPress + Salesforce), and budget, I can narrow this to one recommended firm and one recommended PCI architecture.