INTRODUCTION
Building a Digital Ecosystem for a Nonprofit
What started as a single conversation in December 2023 quickly grew into a five-month sprint to design, prototype, and launch a mobile app for a community that had outgrown Facebook groups. Stand In Pride’s mission is to provide a safe, inclusive space where LGBTQ+ individuals can connect, share resources, and support one another.
Their organization already had an active following, but they needed a safer, more reliable way to connect. Together with the founder, community members, and a small team, we built an app, website, and digital presence that could scale to support over 100,000+ members.
Team
Stand In Pride, PointBreak Labs
Role
User Research, Wireframing, Interface/Product Design, Prototyping, Website Administrator, Social & Content Designer, Shopify Manager, Tech Support, Fundraising, Digital Marketing
Tools used
Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, HelpScout, Shopify, Framer, TestFlight
Timeline
Dec 2023 - July 2025
RAISING THE FUNDS
Fundraising Design
To support their fundraising for the app development, I designed the Givebutter graphics and donation landing page to create a clear, engaging, and branded donor experience. The design makes contributing simple and accessible, highlights their mission, and drives donations through a professional, mobile-friendly platform.
THE CHALLENGES
Local support was hard to identify in large regional groups
Many members felt the posts of those seeking support often got lost in Facebook's algorithm and it was difficult to find support in regional groups, hoping to connect more locally.
Safety and privacy were ongoing concerns.
Many users felt unsafe on Facebook due to the political climate, lack of moderation for hate speech, bullying etc., and exposure to harassment, making it an unwelcoming platform for those in the community.
Nonprofit needed space to grow
The community needed more than a new app — they needed an ecosystem. Something flexible, safe, and scalable that could carry their mission across platforms and audiences.
OUR APPROACH
Understanding their audience
From the very beginning, this project was built with the community. We held regular calls with the founder, ran polls within groups, and gathered feedback directly from members to understand their pain points, challenges, and needs. What surfaced again and again was clear: privacy and accessibility had to guide every decision.
Members consistently shared concerns about their experience on Facebook. Posts seeking support often got lost in the algorithm, buried under hundreds of comments, or overlooked in large regional groups. For those wanting to help, it was equally frustrating — by the time they saw a post, dozens of others had already responded. Finding support nearby was especially difficult, leaving many feeling disconnected.
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
Need for regional feeds
Members wanted to be able to sign up with their zip code and connect with members locally, with the option to filter the distance of their search.
Extensive privacy settings
Concerns about safety were consistent across the board. Members needed more control over their information, with options to adjust visibility and manage their profiles.
Member directory
Those offering support wanted an easier way to connect. A directory of members available to help — organized by region for supporters to list themselves.
Customizable profiles
Personalization was a high priority. Members asked for the ability to share details like bios, photos, age, and gender, allowing them to connect on a more personal level.
Interest based groups
To keep engagement strong and give members ownership, the community wanted to form groups around shared interests. These groups would encourage ongoing interaction and a sense of belonging beyond immediate support needs.
Filter by needs
Members expressed the need of a filtering system for the feed, allowing them to find posts by offering support, seeking support, or by event/occassion.
WIREFRAMING & LAYOUT
Designing the front-end app
Once I had a clear picture of the community’s needs, I moved into Figma to start shaping how the app would function.
Regional feeds quickly became the anchor of the design. Members needed a way to connect locally, so I built flows that used a user’s zip code to generate a feed of nearby activity, while still giving them the option to change locations if they moved or traveled.
From the very beginning, I baked safety into the wireframes. I designed profile visibility settings, controls to block or flag content, and contextual safety reminders that would appear based on certain keywords. One example: if someone typed “money” in a message, a gentle note would pop up reminding them of community guidelines around financial safety. These small touches were essential to building trust.
This phase was where the vision and branding started to take shape — translating abstract needs into a system of screens, flows, and features that could truly support the community.
PROTOTYPING
Testing the interface
With a prototype, Stand In Pride's team was able to see how members would interact with the platform.
Message savannahbuchanann@gmail.com for any issues accessing prototype.
TESTING RESULTS
The approval process for members raised concerns, creating high workload for a volunteer-based team. Ultimately, we decided to take this out an focus more on a reporting system - cutting costs and speeding up the app launch.
Thinking of the scope and scalability of the app, we decided to include the Business Directory to version 2, allowing us to launch sooner.
Through testing the member directory, we changed it to be regional, rather than worldwide, aiding in helping others find local support.
FINALIZING THE MOBILE & WEB PLATFORM
Final Design & Refinements
One screen that went through several iterations was the Discover screen. I knew this section needed to do more than just show content: it had to grow with Stand In Pride’s future goals, like adding a business directory and offering better access to resources. Each version brought it closer to that vision, balancing clarity, structure, and the need for flexibility.
By the end of the testing phase we had tightened up the UI, removed the approval process for members, and moved the Business Directory into version 2 to meet development costs and our launch date,
PREPARING FOR LAUNCH
Marketing & Website Design
As a newly formed non-profit, Stand In Pride needed a fully functioning website that not only represented their values and provided a tech support center, but was easy to navigate with a clear mission. This included creating a solid social media presence to reach their audience and spread their mission. Initially, we started with a 1-page landing website, to share more about the app and raise funds.
As Stand In pride grew, their website needed to as well.
We focused on clear messaging, simple navigation, and accessibility. The goal was to make it easy for visitors to understand the mission, learn how to get involved, and donate. We prioritized clean layouts, bold visuals and thoughtful imagery, and clear calls to action to guide users smoothly through the site.
The result: a full 10-page responsive website that accurately represents Stand In Pride as a growing non-profit. View live website here.
PREPARING FOR LAUNCH
Marketing & Website Design
To further boost the app and continue raising funds for Stand In Pride, we helped kickstart their Instagram presence and created a custom 2024 Pride T-shirt design. Reaching the right audience across platforms was essential for spreading the word and raising funding for app maintenance costs.
Following the Pride campaign, I led the full product design and Shopify setup, building an online store that was visually engaging and optimized for user experience. This included designing product layouts, initializing products, setting up CMS collections, establishing branding elements, and creating a seamless shopping flow to support ongoing fundraising efforts.
EXPANDING ACCESSIBILITY & NONPROFIT GROWTH
The Results
Stand In Pride launched in June 2024 on the App Store and Google Play, marking a full transition from Facebook groups to their new platform. With the launch, the organization gained a fully customizable portal, giving them control over approving community-created groups and managing members.
Beyond the app itself, I delivered a comprehensive suite of digital solutions, including:
Full UX/UI design for mobile and web apps
Community feedback integration and iterative wireframing
Givebutter fundraising graphics and a donation landing page
Custom website design and development
Custom product design and Shopify store setup, including CMS collections
Social media strategy and initial Instagram launch
Brand-aligned graphics and digital touchpoints across platforms
This end-to-end work ensured Stand In Pride had a polished, professional, and scalable platform that empowered the community and supported ongoing fundraising efforts. They continue to serve their community and grow as a nonprofit today.
THE IMPACT
