Introduction
Once your charity profile is in place, your project profile becomes part of the experience that helps donors connect with a specific need. This is where you move from describing your organization broadly to explaining one concrete initiative, what is at risk, who is affected, and why support matters now. A strong project profile combines clarity, structure, and emotional credibility so donors can quickly understand the opportunity to help.
Why your project profile matters
Your charity profile introduces the organization. Your project profile gives donors a reason to act. It is the place where your need becomes tangible, your impact becomes specific, and your story becomes easier to support. The strongest project profiles feel focused, real, and complete. They do not just explain what funding is missing. They show what that loss means for people and communities.
What a strong project profile should communicate
Specific need
The project should clearly explain which program, initiative, or service is affected.
Human impact
Donors should quickly understand who is affected, how they are affected, and why that matters.
Credible case for support
The profile should show why this project matters now, supported by clear budget details, strong images, and relevant categories.
Start with a clear budget snapshot
The budget page is not just a technical step. It anchors the project in reality. A donor does not need a long financial explanation here, but the platform does need a clear statement of the total project budget and the amount defunded.
The budget information also powers the funding donut shown on your live project profile, helping donors quickly see the project’s total budget and the portion affected by defunding.
Budget section best practices
Clearly state the total budget for the project
Enter the amount defunded accurately
Make sure the figures align with the story told in the impact section
Review for consistency before publishing
Writing a project overview that works
Your overview is often the first donor-facing description of the project itself. It should explain what the project is, why it matters, and who it helps, without becoming too broad or too vague. A strong overview usually performs best when the project name is specific, the region served is accurate, and the description moves quickly from purpose to outcome.
Best practices for the overview page
Keep the project name clear and specific
Avoid titles such as “new project” or “general fund.”
Make sure the region served matches the actual scope of the project
Use the overview to explain what the project does, why it matters, and who benefits
Aim to stay within the green range of the character bar for the best display
A simple project overview structure
Use a title that immediately tells the reader what the initiative is about.
Explain what the project aims to restore, protect, expand, or fund.
Mention the target population, community, or beneficiaries.
Show what success or relief looks like if support is secured.
Project overview template
“[Project Name] aims to [main activity] for [target population] in [region] to [outcome].”
Project overview example
“School Lunch Rescue aims to restore daily meal service for 20 schools in Orange County to ensure no child goes hungry and learning is not disrupted.”
Building a stronger impact section
The impact page is where the project becomes emotionally and socially meaningful. Instead of repeating the overview, this section should explain what has changed, what the immediate consequences are, and what is at risk over time if support is not restored. The impact section follows a three-part structure: Summary Impact, Short-Term Impact, and Long-Term Social Impact.
Understand the three impact fields
Summary Impact
A short, high-level statement of the immediate impact of defunding.
Short-term Impact
A more detailed explanation of the immediate consequences for people, services, or operations.
Long-Term Social Impact
A projection of the broader and ongoing consequences if the funding is not restored.
How to write the Summary Impact
This field should be concise and direct. It is not the place for full storytelling. It should quickly tell the donor what was lost, reduced, or paused and how many people or units were affected.
Character guidance
Aim for 150 to 200 characters, with a maximum of 400.
Template
“Due to defunding, we [lost, paused, or reduced X program], affecting [number of people or units].”
Example
“Forced to terminate school lunch program in 100 of our 300 schools, leaving 25,000 students without meals.”
How to write the Short-Term Impact
This section should explain what the immediate consequences look like in practice. Focus on real disruption, not abstract concern. What changed for participants, families, staff, schools, or communities as soon as support was lost? Strong responses usually connect a direct program cut to clear near-term consequences and then add one layer of ripple effect.
Character guidance
Aim for 500 to 700 characters, with a maximum of 1,000.
Template
“Cutting [program or service] in [area] immediately impacted [X people]. [Group] now [challenge], while [secondary effects]. Families or beneficiaries face [consequence].”
Example
“Cutting the school lunch program in 100 schools left 25,000 children without a daily meal. Teachers already report more students arriving hungry, distracted, and missing class, while families struggle with higher grocery bills.”
How to write the Long-Term Social Impact
This section should help donors understand the longer arc of harm if the project is not restored. Avoid making it sound theoretical. The best version connects present disruption to future consequences, so:
Use the following writing aids for the Long-Term Social Impact field.
Character guidance
Aim for 500 to 700 characters, with a maximum of 1,000.
Template
“If this funding is not restored, [population] may face [long-term consequences]. This could result in [broader effects]. For example, [story or illustration].”
Example
“If the program remains cut, these students risk falling behind academically, facing serious health problems, and experiencing lower graduation rates. The loss of school lunches today could limit opportunities for an entire generation.”
Choosing the right project images
Project images should reinforce the story, not just fill space. The goal is to help donors see the people, setting, and reality behind the project. Strong images feel authentic, relevant, and emotionally grounded. Weak images usually feel generic, overly designed, or disconnected from the actual work.
Image best practices for projects
Make sure you are following these guidelines:
What to upload
Upload both vertical and horizontal images so the project displays properly in different layouts.
What works best
Use high-resolution, authentic photos that show the program, the people served, or the visible outcome of the work.
What to avoid
Avoid stock imagery, logos, and heavy text overlays. Focus on real moments and credible visuals.
How to avoid display issues
Follow the recommended image sizes so the photos do not stretch or pixelate.
Suggested image approach by format
Vertical image
Use a closer, more personal image, such as a beneficiary receiving support or a participant engaged in the program.
Horizontal image
Use a wider image that shows the project environment, a group, or the broader setting where the work takes place.
Use AI to Prepare Project Images
Your project profile should include both a horizontal image and a vertical image so it displays properly across different parts of the platform. If your original photos are not already in the correct format, you can use AI to resize them for upload. These prompts are designed to preserve the image’s proportions, avoid distortion, and create clean results that look natural on the site.
Horizontal image prompt
Required size: 640 × 360
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Attach the image to the AI chat box and use this prompt:
“Please resize this image to 640×360 for horizontal website use. Do not stretch or pad the image. Keep the original proportions by cropping only the outer edges as needed, then resize to the final dimensions. The image should look natural and clean with no distortion.”
Vertical image prompt
Required size: 360 × 480
Aspect ratio: 3:4
Attach the image to the AI chat box and use this prompt:
“Please resize this image to 360×480 for vertical website use. Do not stretch or pad the image. Keep the original proportions by cropping only the outer edges as needed, then resize to the final dimensions. The image should look natural and clean with no distortion.”
Choosing project categories strategically
Categories help organize the project and shape how it appears within the platform, but they should stay focused. Choose categories based on the specific purpose of the project, not the full scope of your organization.
For example, if your organization works across education, food access, and community development, but this project is focused on school meals, the project category should reflect that food access work.
Category best practices for projects
Choose the category or categories that best match the actual project
Use no more than 4 categories
Remember that in many cases 1 category is enough
Avoid selecting categories only because your organization works in those areas more broadly
Keep categories aligned with the project overview and impact sections
For more guidance, see:
Project details that support visibility and trust
Not every field in the project editor is narrative, but these details still shape how your project is understood and surfaced on the platform. Together, they help clarify scope, improve trust, and make sure the right people can follow up if needed.
Use the website field thoughtfully
If the project has a relevant webpage, campaign page, or program page, use that link instead of a generic homepage whenever possible. A more specific link gives donors a clearer next step and strengthens the connection between the project profile and the work behind it. If no project-specific page exists, use the most relevant page on your organization’s website.
Choose the right region served
The Region Served by this Project field should reflect the actual reach of the project, not the overall reach of your organization. This helps donors understand scale at a glance and also helps our platform surface the project more accurately.
Best practices
Choose the option that matches the project’s real scope
Do not select a broader region just because your organization operates more widely
Keep this aligned with the overview and impact sections
Available options
Local / Neighborhood
Regional / State / Province
National
Cross-Border / Multi-National
International / Global
Online / Virtual
Add project contact information
This field is simple, but it should still be intentional. Enter the email and phone number for the person most directly connected to the project, especially someone who can answer questions or respond if follow-up is needed. This does not have to be the same person listed for the charity overall.
Review the location information
Location information may already be prefilled based on your organization’s IRS records, but it should still be reviewed before publishing. If your address, service location, or other location details have changed since those records were last updated, adjust the field so the project reflects current information. That keeps the profile more accurate for donors and more consistent across your account.
Final review before publishing
Before publishing, review the project as a donor would. Make sure the story feels consistent from budget to impact to images.
Confirm the budget and amount defunded
Make sure the project name is specific and useful
Check that the overview clearly explains what, why, and who
Review all three impact fields for clarity and consistency
Upload both vertical and horizontal images
Choose focused categories
Verify the project contact
Use the character bar as a guide and aim for the green range where possible
Confirm all required sections are complete before publishing
Understanding the character bar
The color-coded character bar helps you judge whether your content is likely to display well and remain easy to scan.
Blue means you are below the recommended range
Green means you are within the recommended range
Yellow means you are above the recommended range, which is still allowed, but may affect display
Different project fields have different length expectations. Overviews tend to be shorter, while impact fields allow more detail.
FAQ
Do project contacts need to be the same as charity contacts?
No. Project contacts can be different team members. The best choice is the person most directly responsible for the project.
Why do I need both vertical and horizontal images?
The platform displays images in different layouts, so providing both helps the project look complete and professional.
What should I include in the funding impact explanation?
Explain what funding changed, which program or service was affected, who is impacted, and what may happen if support is not restored. Include the amount affected when available and keep the explanation specific to this project.
What is the difference between Summary Impact and Short-Term Impact?
Summary Impact is a short statement of what changed immediately. Short-Term Impact explains in more detail how that change affects people, programs, or operations.
How many categories should I assign to a project?
For most projects, one focused category is enough. If the project genuinely spans more than one cause area, you can select multiple categories, but Charity Bridge Fund recommends using no more than four.
Can I publish a project before completing all sections?
No. Some sections are mandatory, and a complete project profile improves both visibility and donor confidence.
A strong project profile helps donors see more than a funding gap. It helps them understand the real-world impact of what is at risk, why the project matters now, and how their support can make a difference. When each section is completed thoughtfully, from budget and overview to impact, images, and categories, your project becomes clearer, more credible, and more compelling to support.