Case Study
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
The Challenge:
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation wanted their website redesigned to convey a more updated, professional look, and also to provide their diverse and extensive user base more ease in navigation.
The Solution:
Toys for Tots chose MDA Technologies for their:
- Demonstrated commitment to excellence and proven performance in responding to the needs of similar organizations
- Understanding of the Toys for Tots Mission
- Cost competitiveness
At the request of The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, MDA Technologies created a clean, crisp, visually appealing website with a menu that allows users to easily move through the various options. Even a novice can navigate to the various pages to find out more about the Toys For Tots mission, locate a campaign office, find answers to frequently asked questions, request toys, and of course, make donations. Also, the home page immediately identifies the goal of the Toys for Tots Foundation which is to collect donations from businesses and the general public to ensure that needy children will receive a shiny new toy at Christmas.
The Results:
Based on user feedback, Toys for Tots believes the new site has had a tremendous impact on usability and access. In addition to a better user experience, the redesign has played a significant role in the success of their mission. In 2005, on-line donations to the Toys For Tots Foundation was $760K. In 2006, the Foundation received $1.5 million on-line donations - almost double the previous year. The Foundation considers the ease of use and visual appeal of the redesigned site key to the tremendous increase of online donations in 2006.
Another key benefit of the updated website is that the Foundation now receives applications to participate in the campaign, approves those applications, and forwards authorization letters to applicants electronically for the first time in its history. This automated, time-saving functionality is responsible for reducing the space needed for paper files, and also for enhancing the Foundation’s community outreach efforts.
When asked for advice for others looking to create something similar, Brian Murray, Toys for Tots Foundation Vice President of Operations, suggests that you must have a good idea about what you are looking for before you embark upon the creation of your site. Web techs can steer you in a direction, but you must provide them with a starting point.
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