Given at 9:52 on a Saturday, on the books by 9:53

A concept build for a fictional community nonprofit. One gift, followed from the give button to the Friday grant report.

Volunteers packing donation boxes on a table beside a van

Before: two days

A Saturday gift sat in the payment processor until someone keyed it in, and the thank-you came weeks later.

Now: one minute

The gift is on the books and thanked while the donor is still online.

Trust before the ask

A first-time donor meets Prairie Lantern at 9:52 on a Saturday night. Each part of the page answers a question a careful donor asks.

The ask, with proof beside it

The top bar puts Our numbers next to the give button, so a careful donor can check first.

The mission in one breath

Years of service, one plain promise and a give button that works at 9:52 on a Saturday night.

Programs people can picture

Four programs in plain words, and each one is a fund a donor can give to directly.

Proof that sounds like a porch chat

Neighbors with first names and towns, talking about specific moments.

Numbers that hold up

Registered status, the board and the annual report, one scroll down.

Prairie Lantern

Programs
Give
Volunteer
Our numbers

(708) 555-0141Give to a program

A light on every block

Serving the near-west suburbs since 2011. Give to the program you care about, and it stays there, all the way to the books.

Pick a program to supportGive to a program

Your receipt arrives in a minute and names your fund. Or call (708) 555-0141

Prairie Lantern Alliance, the illustration on its home page — The Neighbor Pantry, open weeknights till 8

Where your gift goes

After-School TutoringHomework help three evenings a week, no waitlist games
Neighbor PantryGroceries with dignity, open when working families can come
Senior Rides & VisitsA lift to the doctor and a familiar voice at the door
Steady Month FundShort-term help when a hard month hits a good family

The receipt said pantry fund. The report matched
Odessa J., Maywood
The cleanest restricted funds a small shop has shown me
Gil H., Riverside
Volunteer form Sunday night, orientation invite by Monday lunch
Colette B., Oak Park

When she presses Give to a program, the rest of the work starts on its own.

What happens underneath

It reads each gift into donor, fund and follow-up records with the designation kept, and a person signs every tribute card.

9:52 pm

One gift, every detail filed

A first-time donor gives to the pantry, ticks the volunteer box and notes that her employer matches gifts. Each detail becomes its own record, down to Monday’s thank-you call.

Five records from one gift, none typed by hand.

Prairie Lantern9:52 pm

Her gift

What came with the gift

A first gift, for the Neighbor Pantry

Volunteer box ticked, weekday evenings

Note: my employer matches gifts

Prairie LanternInbox9:52 pm

What Prairie Lantern filed

Her gift

Donor: New record, first gift
Fund: Neighbor Pantry, restricted
Match: Employer match task opened
Volunteer: Sent to the coordinator

First gift, flagged for a thank-you callOn Monday’s call list

9:53 pm

A receipt that names her fund

A minute later the gift is coded to the pantry fund, and her receipt names that fund. Tribute gifts also get a card for the family, held until a person signs it.

The receipt, the books and the annual report all say pantry.

Prairie LanternThe receipt9:53 pm

Gift receipt, Neighbor Pantry fund

Sent

The gift: Received with thanks
The fund: Neighbor Pantry, as designated
Tax lines: Every required line, every time
Employer match: Instructions attached

In her inboxSent the minute the gift cleared

8:30 am

Monday starts with who to call and why

First gifts, returning donors and tributes each get a personal call, with a line on what to say. Her volunteer form already has its answer, an orientation invite.

Her call is first on the list, with her receipt one tap away.

Prairie LanternOfficeMonday 8:30 am