London web developer rTraction (they did the new Harrison Pensa website) has just launched a contest that will result in a new website for a charity created for free by rTraction. Anyone can nominate a charity with a bad website. 10 finalists will be chosen based on criteria ranging from copyrighting to broken links to using comic sans fonts. Assuming those charities agree to participate, the finalist sites will be published for public voting.
If you know of a bad charity website that needs an update, or if you are that charity, make your nomination before February 21.
The story behind the contest is interesting – it is tied to the contest that London inspired to have the CBC’s Jian Ghomeshi host a show in London.
Harrison Pensa is pleased to play a small part in the contest. We drafted the contest rules, and part of the prize includes a free use of the soon to be released web terms of use and privacy policy generator at policytool.net.
I am not sure if this contest is over yet or has even started. If it is over or too late to nominate someone then please let me know if you’ll be doing the contest again next year.
I am currently working with Osborne House Inc. on a fund raiser. I am finding it difficult to help them out with additional fund raising because their incomplete website has not been operational for a few years now. It can still be seen, but it is incomplete, all the links except one are broken, and the working link loads a brochure .pdf file that only show one of two pages. Their only other online site is a Facebook page which contains very little information, no way to donate to them, and a link to their obsolete website.
I have talked to them about this and they say that people can still donate through PayPal, but it has to be done manually by logging on to PayPal and making a payment to a company email address. They need help badly, they are underfunded and they have no appropriate ways to receive donations.
I am going to see if there is a way I can help them out in the meantime, but I am really hoping I can help them through this contest.
Thank you,
Devin Sinclair
Hi Devin,
The contest is now over but I believe the organizers will be making this an annual national event. rtraction Canada is the company behind the Canada’s Worst Charity Website contest. Please visit their website at http://www.rtraction.com where you can sign up to receive updates or contact them directly regarding future dates.
Good luck!
Jodi Simpson