The Foundation Center has launched a newly redesigned website that gives people worldwide faster and greater access to the most comprehensive information about philanthropy available. Powered by advanced search technology, the new foundationcenter.org mines multiple databases and web properties in order to retrieve the most relevant and up-to-date results—a new entry point to Foundation Center's vast stores of knowledge from and about the global social sector.
With an open, modern design, the reconfigured site also reflects Foundation Center's mission to increase transparency in philanthropy and broaden access to the resources and innovative solutions people need to change the world. Whether a visitor is looking for a quick answer or investigating a complex issue, the enhanced site makes it easier to explore Foundation Center's extensive, curated data and knowledge and discover sources of insight from around the world.
"By combining a powerful search engine with machine learning software, we are indexing not only millions of grants but text-based information from domains like Philanthropy News Digest, IssueLab, and GrantSpace," said Bradford K. Smith, President of Foundation Center. "Now anyone, anywhere can search across all of Foundation Center's content, simply by typing some words or a phrase into a text box and clicking."
The new enterprise-level search functionality quickly generates results from across more than 15 of Foundation Center's websites and databases. In addition, it provides one-click access to common search queries like, "I want to start a nonprofit" and "I want to find information about funding trends." The search engine also now interprets the user's query and reveals additional, relevant content that can be filtered by high-level categories or refined by subject, population group, source, or geography.
Beyond these search enhancements, the website's design streamlines the presentation of Foundation Center's wide variety of services and areas of expertise. "Because Foundation Center has significantly expanded its digital offerings in recent years, people might not be aware of the breadth and depth of resources available. We wanted to help them navigate quickly to the specific data, knowledge, or product they're looking for," said Renée Westmoreland, Director of Web Design and Development at Foundation Center. "We spoke with site visitors and studied their usage patterns in order to create a new site experience based on their needs." The website now offers a "Foundation Center at a Glance" menu, providing an overview of the organization's core web properties, products, and locations; plus a simplified, top-level navigation that organizes content into the following categories:
- Gain Knowledge: Discover tools and platforms that blend data, analysis, and technology for smarter philanthropy.
- Find Funding: Access the most accurate, up-to-date sources of information about grantmakers and their grants.
- Improve Your Skills: Build capacity with resources and training that incorporate the best practices of organizations around the world.
- Ask Us: Get answers to questions about foundations, fundraising, and more, with individual attention from a Foundation Center expert, either in person at our regional hubs and network partners or by live chat, e-mail, or phone.
- About Us: Learn about the strategies and people that drive our work to strengthen the social sector.
As part of the Foundation Center 2020 strategic plan, the website relaunch advances the organization's commitment to communicating philanthropy's contribution to making a better world. By improving this central interface with the public, Foundation Center will provide faster, easier access to data, extensive original research, and comprehensive knowledge services.