Step 1

About You

These questions help us understand your organization, your existing assets, and what you actually need from your website.

There are no wrong answers — and you don't need to have everything figured out.

Rough notes are welcome. If you're unsure about something, just say so.

We'll help you fill in the gaps.

Quick Start (5 questions)

  • What is your organization's official name (and where do you serve)?
  • Do you already have a website and domain? If yes, share the URL.
  • What are the 3 most important things visitors should learn or do on your site?
  • What email should your website forms go to (and who monitors it)?
  • What does “success” look like for the website in the next 30–90 days?

Everything below is optional detail. Answer what you can — skip what you can’t.

1. Domain & Hosting
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  • 1Do you currently have a website? If yes, please share the URL and how often it's updated (if at all).
  • 2Do you already have a domain name? (Example: www.yourrescue.org)
  • 3What website-related tasks do you feel comfortable handling yourself?

Examples:

Updating text or imagesManaging formsUploading photosHandling newslettersIntegrating animal listingsBasic website edits

This helps us design something that fits your comfort level — not overwhelm it.

2. Organization Details
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  • 1What is your organization's official name?
  • 2Do you have a mission statement or tagline? If not, a sentence or two describing your purpose is perfectly fine.
  • 3Briefly, what does your organization do?
  • 4What year was your organization founded?
  • 5Are you a registered nonprofit (for example, 501(c)(3))? If yes, please share any relevant details.
3. Branding & Visuals
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  • 1Do you have a logo? (PNG, SVG, or high-resolution images work best.)
  • 2Do you have brand colors or a preferred color palette?
  • 3Any preferred fonts?
  • 4Do you have photos you'd like to use? (Animals, fosters, volunteers, events, behind-the-scenes moments.)
  • 5Are there any graphics, icons, or banners you'd like included?

If you don't have these yet, that's okay — we can work with what you have.

4. Website Structure & Pages
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  • 1What pages do you want on your website? (Examples: Home, About, Adopt, Foster, News, Volunteer, Donate, Contact, Blog)
  • 2Any sub-pages or special sections you already know you'll need?
  • 3Any specific features you want?

Examples:

FormsAdoption listingsVolunteer sign-upsDonation links
5. Pet Registries & Listings
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  • 1Which pet registries do you currently use? (Examples: Petfinder, Adopt a Pet, RescueGroups)
  • 2Do you want these listings displayed or integrated into your website?
  • 3Are there any other animal listings or databases you use?
6. Forms & Sign-Ups
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Do you currently have:

  • 1Adoption forms
  • 2Foster applications
  • 3Volunteer applications

Any other forms you need? (Contact forms, surrender requests, event sign-ups, donations.)

What email or mailing list system do you use? (Examples: Mailchimp, Constant Contact, none yet)

7. Content & Copy
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  • 1Do you already have written content for your pages?
  • 2Do you have team bios or volunteer introductions?
  • 3Any testimonials, success stories, or adoption highlights?
  • 4Partner or sponsor logos you'd like to include?
  • 5What actions should visitors take on your site? (Examples: "Apply to Adopt," "Donate," "Volunteer," "Contact Us")
7b. News & Events (Optional, But Recommended)
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  • 1Do you want a "News" or "News & Events" page on your website?
  • 2Do you host adoption events, fundraisers, or community outreach events?
  • 3If yes, paste 1-3 examples (title, date, location, short description). If you don't have any yet, write "none yet".
  • 4If you post updates today, where do they go (Facebook/Instagram/email/etc.)?

Examples:

Adoption eventsFundraisersCommunity updatesAnnouncements

This helps us build a clear, accurate News/Events page without guessing or inventing details.

8. Technical & Accessibility Needs
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  • 1Should the site be mobile-friendly? (Hint: we strongly recommend yes.)
  • 2Do you need multiple languages?
  • 3Any accessibility considerations? (Examples: screen readers, larger fonts, color contrast)
  • 4Any integrations needed? (Examples: social media, email tools, forms, payment platforms)
9. Visibility & Reach (Friendly SEO)
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  • 1What should your website title be?
  • 2Can you provide a short description of your organization for search results?
  • 3What keywords or phrases should people search for to find you?
  • 4Do you currently use Google Analytics or other tracking tools?
10. Contact Information
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  • 1Who should we contact for website-related questions?
  • 2Email address and phone number
  • 3Do you want to display a physical location or service area?
  • 4Links to social media accounts (if any)
11. Timeline & Maintenance
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  • 1When would you ideally like the website launched?
  • 2Who will help maintain the site after launch? (Your team, volunteers, us, or a mix)
  • 3Do you expect to add or update content regularly?
12. Inspiration & Preferences
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  • 1Are there websites you like or admire?
  • 2Any websites you don't like — or want to avoid?
  • 3How would you describe the tone you want? (Friendly, professional, warm, playful, serious, informal, etc.)

Ready for the Next Step?

Once this is done, we'll move on to how your rescue actually works day-to-day — so we can design systems that support real operations, not idealized ones.

Continue to Step 2: Rescue Workflow & Operations