What was built An ArcGIS Experience Builder dashboard mapping seven school construction projects across Nepal, with dual-audience pop-up panels integrating construction data, funding metrics, and narrative photography.
Who it was for Building Education's development team — specifically for use in donor meetings across a full spectrum from analytically driven to emotionally driven audiences.
Why it mattered Nonprofit dashboards typically optimize for one audience and compromise the other. This one was architecturally designed to serve both simultaneously — the same project pin, two different experiences.

The Challenge

Most nonprofit dashboards are built for one kind of donor. This one had to work for two — simultaneously. Building Education's development officer needed a tool that could sit in front of any donor and connect with them, regardless of whether they respond to data or to stories.

The design challenge was real: how do you serve an analytically-minded donor who wants to see construction timelines, funding progress, and student reach figures — and an emotionally-driven donor who needs to see a child's face and understand why this school matters — in the same interface, without compromising either experience?

The answer was layered architecture. The map itself carries the data layer: seven project sites across Nepal, each with construction status, classroom counts, and funding metrics accessible on click. But the pop-up panels were designed as storytelling units — photography, narrative context, human-impact content integrated alongside the numbers. Both audiences click on the same school pin. Both get what moves them.

The dashboard is also designed as a living spatial dataset — new sites can be added as the organization expands. It's used to support program planning and donor engagement decisions, and will launch publicly as the centerpiece of an upcoming website overhaul.

"Before I started designing, I asked: what decision is each person trying to make? Two audiences. Two sets of triggers. One dashboard that serves both."

Process

  1. 1
    Research Interviewed stakeholders; identified two distinct donor audiences and their decision-making triggers; mapped what each audience needs to see.
  2. 2
    Data Prep Structured 7 project sites with construction status, funding amounts, classroom counts, student reach, and project timelines.
  3. 3
    GIS Work Built dual-audience layout in ArcGIS Experience Builder; designed pop-up panels with data + narrative + photography; tested for both audience types.
  4. 4
    Output Complete dashboard prototype; approved by staff; launching with website redesign.
Principle 02
The map is for a person making a decision

Every design decision — layout, pop-up content, data shown — should trace back to a specific person and a specific decision they need to make. If you can't name who the map is for, you can't design it well.