When Nancy Wilkov, a retired Florida magistrate judge, approached us to launch a brand-new nonprofit, she brought a clear vision and an innovative fundraising concept. The Fountain of Youth Foundation provides funding for children and teens in foster and kinship care to celebrate birthdays, participate in extracurricular activities like sports and music lessons, and attend summer camps—opportunities not typically covered by foster care funding.
Her creative idea? Encourage supporters to “donate their birthday” by asking friends and family to give in honor of their special day instead of buying gifts. To make this online-first nonprofit a reality, the foundation needed a thoughtful and easy-to-use digital platform.
Building a Donor-Focused Online Fundraising Platform
We developed a website that supports both donors and families through a streamlined, secure experience. Key features include:
- Custom FundraiseUp integration with eCard functionality, allowing donors to notify birthday honorees of gifts made in their name. This feature became central to the “Stay Young Forever, Donate Your Birthday” campaign.
- MailChimp integration for donor communication, including audience segmentation by donation type and automated workflows to nurture long-term supporter relationships.
- Secure family request system for foster families to submit private wish lists for their children, generating unique shareable URLs while maintaining privacy and dignity.
- Automated confirmations and updates to keep families informed throughout the donation and approval process.
Results and Impact
The Fountain of Youth Foundation now has a mission-driven, online fundraising platform that connects donors and foster families effectively. The site’s design and functionality allow donors to give easily and meaningfully, while families can securely request the resources their children need.
By combining strategic nonprofit web design, thoughtful user experience, and purpose-built technology, we helped Nancy turn her creative vision into a fully operational platform that fills gaps in foster care and makes birthdays matter for every child.
