This section outlines the foundational capabilities the digital giving platform must meet, independent of individual features like donation forms or donor portals. These cross-cutting platform characteristics—such as usability, scalability, security, and accessibility—ensure the solution can support your organization’s strategic objectives long-term, perform reliably at scale, and serve both staff and donor needs effectively.
The platform must be intuitive and easy to use for both internal and external users. Donors should encounter a streamlined, enjoyable giving experience, while staff—including non-technical team members—should be able to manage campaigns, content, and data efficiently through a clear and navigable admin interface.
Key expectations include:
Example:
“Our current admin panel is overly complex and requires our CRM team to assist with form edits. We need a new platform that empowers non-technical fundraisers to build, launch, and manage donation pages independently.”
The platform must be built to scale as organizational needs evolve. It should be capable of handling large data sets, seasonal spikes, and crisis-response campaigns without performance degradation. The system should also support rapid campaign deployment and geographical expansion.
Key capabilities include:
Example:
“We need to be able to launch a branded crisis response form within 24 hours that can handle thousands of concurrent users without technical support or downtime.”
Modern donors often engage via mobile, so mobile-first design is essential. The platform must deliver a consistent and optimized experience across all devices and fully conform to accessibility standards to ensure inclusion for all constituents.
Requirements include:
Example:
“We regularly hear from supporters using screen readers or mobile devices who find our current giving pages unusable. Our new platform must provide a seamless mobile experience and meet accessibility standards.”
Donor trust is paramount. The platform must ensure robust data protection, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance. Data must be encrypted, access tightly controlled, and donor privacy protected.
Critical standards include:
Example:
“In one recent breach, a partner organization had donor tokens exposed due to lax role controls. We require RBAC, password standards, and encrypted fields for all sensitive data—and expect to retain full ownership of our donor records.”
The platform must include administrative tools that support efficient, error-free operation, along with access to technical and customer support when needed. While deep technical support details are covered in a later section, this subsection sets baseline expectations for platform usability and vendor support.
Key requirements include:
Example:
“During a system update last December, we weren’t notified of downtime in advance, which impacted our year-end appeal. The new platform must include timely update alerts and offer admin permission settings that prevent accidental edits by junior staff.”
Finally, vendors must demonstrate a commitment to product innovation. Your organization is not just purchasing current functionality but entering a long-term partnership. Visibility into the product roadmap and future feature development ensures alignment with future needs.
Desired attributes include:
Example:
“We’re looking for a partner with a modern product philosophy—one that evolves quickly. Our ideal vendor will share roadmap milestones and actively solicit user input for platform improvements.”