A strong technical foundation is essential for a digital giving platform to operate securely, reliably, and sustainably. This section outlines the critical technical specifications and best practices the platform must support to ensure compatibility, performance, security, and long-term scalability within the nonprofit’s existing and future infrastructure.
🧱 General Architecture (Modern Tech, APIs)
The platform must be built using modern technologies and conform to current web development and hosting standards. If the platform comprises multiple modules, it should support modular architecture with well-documented APIs or native integration points. Vendors should demonstrate the ability to configure or develop new integrations between these components. This modularity should support the organization’s future plans for system extensions or integrations.
“We need the flexibility to connect systems as needed — your platform should be modern, modular, and easy to plug into.”
🌐 Compatibility (CMS, Browsers, Mobile)
The platform must be fully compatible with the organization’s CMS, including the ability to easily embed forms or link out to donation pages. It should work across all major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) and mobile-first responsive design is essential. Given the growing share of donations from mobile users, mobile must be prioritized in all interfaces. All constituent-facing pages must meet or exceed WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards, ensuring usability for users with disabilities.
🔐 Data Security & Compliance
Security and data protection are paramount.
- PCI-DSS compliance is required for all payment processing components, with supporting PA-DSS certifications and annual attestations.
- End-to-end encryption (SSL/TLS in transit, encryption at rest) must be enforced, especially for sensitive donor data.
- Donor payment data must never be stored or transmitted insecurely; tokenization or hosted payment fields should be used.
- The platform must support GDPR and CCPA compliance, including consent capture, deletion/anonymization requests, and opt-in/out by channel.
- The system should provide role-based access controls (RBAC), granular permissions, and integration with SSO tools like Azure AD via SAML.
- Vendors must offer audit logs, activity monitoring, and support for penetration testing and vulnerability scanning.
- A documented incident response process is required, with notification of breaches within 72 hours.
- Vendors must ensure third-party components comply with the same standards and provide SOC 2 Type 2 reports when available.
“We take data protection seriously — your platform must meet rigorous standards for security and privacy.”
📈 Scalability & Performance
The platform must scale to accommodate high-volume donation traffic, particularly during peak campaigns (e.g., year-end giving, crises). Infrastructure should support:
- High availability via cloud hosting and load balancing
- Fast donation form and portal load times
- Minimal latency in payment and sync operations
Performance metrics should be provided for key touchpoints such as admin dashboards, APIs, and giving pages.
🧩 Maintainability & Extensibility
Platforms should use well-supported technologies that are easily maintainable by internal teams or external partners. Custom development should follow best practices with clean documentation. CRM configurations (e.g., in Salesforce) should support upgrade-safe approaches. Where feasible, the architecture should be extensible, allowing future capabilities to be added, such as volunteer management or additional engagement tools.
🧪 Testing & QA
A detailed testing and quality assurance plan must be provided, including:
- Functional testing
- Integration testing with the CRM and other systems
- Security vulnerability scans
- User Acceptance Testing (UAT) with organization staff
All issues found during testing must be resolved before launch. A soft launch or pilot phase is strongly preferred. Vendors should describe their QA and regression testing processes, especially for CRM updates like Salesforce seasonal releases.
🔄 Data Migration & Validation
If data migration is required, such as recurring donation schedules or user profiles, vendors must propose a safe and accurate migration strategy, including:
- Validation of data post-migration
- Backup and rollback planning
- Clear mapping of existing to new data structures
🎓 Training & Knowledge Transfer
The vendor must provide role-specific training to ensure staff can manage and use the system effectively. This includes:
- Pre-implementation training sessions
- Optional on-site or virtual training
- Full documentation including user guides, admin manuals, API documentation, and security guides
“We need more than software — we need training and documentation to use it well and grow with it.”
| Category |
Requirement Description |
| General Architecture |
Platform must be built on modern technologies and follow current web standards. Modular architecture with well-documented APIs or integration capabilities is required. Vendors must be able to configure or develop new integrations between system components. |
| Compatibility |
Full compatibility with the organization’s CMS. Must support embedding forms or linking from CMS pages. Interfaces must be mobile-first and responsive across devices and browsers. All constituent-facing components must conform to at least WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards. |
| Security + Compliance |
- PCI-DSS and PA-DSS certification for payment components
- SSL/TLS encryption in transit, at-rest encryption, tokenization or hosted fields
- GDPR, CCPA, and privacy compliance with opt-ins/opt-outs
- Security incident reporting within 72 hours; SOC 2 Type 2 or equivalent
- RBAC, SSO (e.g., Azure AD via SAML), audit trails, CRUD permissions
- Penetration testing, secure coding, card-spinning prevention, vulnerability scanning
|
| Scalability + Performance |
System must scale to handle high donation volumes and peaks (e.g., Giving Tuesday). Cloud-hosted, load-balanced infrastructure required. Must support performance optimization for APIs, giving pages, portals, and dashboards. |
| Maintainability + Extensibility |
Platform should use well-supported tools. Custom code must be documented. Platform must support upgrade-safe configurations (e.g., Salesforce). Modular design is preferred for future enhancements (e.g., volunteer management). |
| Testing + QA |
Vendors must provide a comprehensive QA plan, including functional testing, CRM integration testing, security testing, and User Acceptance Testing (UAT). All defects must be resolved pre-launch. Soft launch or pilot phase preferred. QA must cover CRM regression testing. |
| Data Migration + Validation |
If migration is needed, vendor must deliver a secure, validated process with mapping, backup/rollback plans, and post-migration validation checks. Recurring giving schedules and related data must be migrated accurately. |
| Training + Knowledge Transfer |
Vendor must deliver role-specific training for admins and users (virtual or on-site). Documentation must include user guides, admin manuals, API docs, and security guidance. Training must occur before launch and enable long-term independence. |
