Made by We

What Made by We does

Made by We is a privately held, founder-led design studio based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, founded in 2012 by Liz Rose. The firm operates as a selective boutique that partners with ambitious nonprofits, social enterprises, think tanks, educational institutions, and crisis-intervention organizations to deliver strategy, brand identity, design systems, websites, accessibility, analytics, and print collateral. Its core technology stack is WordPress CMS paired with Figma-based component libraries, including proprietary systems such as a 200-component Figma library built for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a Dynamic Collections tool and Flexible Content Block System delivered for FutureEd, and the MUSE Design System with 200+ web components.

The studio's commercial model is professional services on a project-fee basis, with publicly referenced budget tiers ranging from under $10,000 for single-service engagements to $50,000+ for large-scale, multi-service projects, typically structured as multi-year contracts. Go-to-market is relationship- and portfolio-driven: the website's case-study library and a project inquiry form serve as the primary conversion mechanism, supplemented by speaking and teaching at Sundance Labs, WordCamp DC, AIGA DC, SVA, SCAD, MICA, Miami University, and University of Minnesota. Customer logos span Harvard Medical School, Stanford University, Georgetown's FutureEd, the 988 Lifeline / Vibrant Emotional Health, NYC Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Farm Commons, and other mission-driven organizations.

Made by We is bootstrapped with no documented funding rounds, acquisitions, or external ownership, and is staffed at 11-50 employees. The company deliberately limits the number of engagements it accepts per year, prioritizing mission alignment and craft over scale. Its competitive positioning is built around accessibility-first, community-centered design for the nonprofit sector, evidenced by WCAG-compliant color contrast systems, multilingual support, and quantified client outcomes such as 6M+ active users on the 988 Lifeline site and an 83% year-over-year increase in average engagement time.

Name

Made by We

Legal name

Made by We

Website

https://madebywe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Made by We is a privately held, Gaithersburg-based design studio founded in 2012 that partners with nonprofits, think tanks, and mission-driven organizations to deliver brand strategy, web design, accessibility, and print services on a selective project-fee basis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Gaithersburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Branding & Web Design: Project-based fees for strategic direction, brand identity, web design, and development services for nonprofit clients. Engagements range from single-service projects to comprehensive end-to-end partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Made by We is an award-winning boutique design studio that partners with nonprofit, education, and mission-driven organizations to deliver web design and build, brand identity, design systems, accessibility, and print collateral services. Engagements range from single-service projects to comprehensive end-to-end partnerships, leveraging WordPress CMS and Figma-based component design systems to create accessible, multilingual websites and compelling brands.

Product overview

Made by We is an award-winning design studio offering a comprehensive service-based toolkit for nonprofits and social enterprises. The portfolio consists of eight interconnected services: Strategic Direction, Discovery & Research, Brand Identity, Design Systems, Web Design & Build, Accessibility, Insight & Analytics, and Print & Collateral. Services are offered individually or as end-to-end engagements, with strategic direction informing brand identity work, which feeds into design systems that enable consistent web and print production. All digital work incorporates accessibility by default, and analytics tools support ongoing impact measurement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Direction Translation of mission and values into clear messaging and visual direction for nonprofits and social enterprises, including brand positioning, messaging frameworks, and stakeholder workshops.
• Discovery & Research Community-focused research including audience interviews, needs mapping, and content audits that inform design decisions for nonprofit and social impact clients.
• Brand Identity Visual identity development including logos, brand kits, and voice/tone guidelines that build trust with target audiences for mission-driven organizations.
• Design Systems Reusable component libraries, style guides, and templates enabling consistent, scalable brand expression across teams and channels for nonprofit and education clients.
• Web Design & Build Custom responsive website development with CMS setup and team training, featuring block-based page editing systems and multilingual support, tailored to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations.
• Accessibility Inclusive design implementation including WCAG audits, inclusive UX design, and remediation to ensure compliance and broad accessibility for nonprofit, education, and public-sector clients.
• Insight & Analytics Impact measurement and decision-support tools including dashboards, reporting, and A/B testing capabilities for mission-driven organizations.
• Print & Collateral Tactile branded materials for events, campaigns, and outreach including annual reports, event kits, and campaign assets for nonprofit clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6M+ active users reached over 12 months on 988 Lifeline website
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MADExWE

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Made by We