I do my best to avoid spending time on sites focused on fundraising, as VolResource generally leaves that area to Fundraising UK. But with Intelligent Giving launching soon, a quick glance at their blog – The Charity Sleuths -was in order. I was a little alarmed to read that of the 22 responses they’d had from charities previewing entries (emphasis added):
Barring one addled response from someone who seems incapable of navigating the site, people seem to have grasped that the purpose of Intelligent Giving is positive, and that we are not some evil force intent on destroying the charity world. November 3rd is the official launch date but you’ll be able to see the site on the 1st.
Hardly inspiring confidence that they really have the user and charities in mind in producing a usable site on judging which are best charities to support. And as an ex charity finance director myself, some of their blog commentary on figures they find in annual accounts also makes me wonder if they have any expertise in that area. Well, hopefully we’ll find out in a few days.
UPDATE, 1st November – site looks OK with only a minor layout issue (if viewing at 800×600 or smaller). Maybe there are just a few too many menu and other options on the front page ….. On the comments front, checking the charity I used to be FD for a few years ago, Plantlife, saying that “the website’s still there so it is obviously still a going concern” (after a slight drop in income shown in the annual report they looked at) is rather trite and insulting. But early days.