What Developer Society does

The Developer Society is a not-for-profit digital cooperative (Community Benefit Society registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, FCA Registration Number 7532) headquartered in Birmingham, UK. Founded in the 2000s by Steve Hawkes, Paul Evans, and Alex Tomkins as the world's first not-for-profit developer cooperative, the organisation employs approximately 22 team members who are also co-owners with democratic input into organisational decisions. The company exclusively serves charities, NGOs, and mission-driven organisations, helping them build digital tools that enable their frontline work.

The cooperative delivers custom digital solutions built on a Django and Wagtail CMS stack with React frontends, Python and PostgreSQL backends, and integrations including GeoDjango for polygon-based location mapping and Twilio for communications. Core offerings include Wagtail CMS websites, helpline management systems, donation and fundraising platforms, volunteer management dashboards with predictive capacity modelling, conservation data platforms, and data visualisation tools. The company holds ISO 9001, 14001, 20000, and 27001 certifications alongside Cyber Essentials Plus, positioning it to handle sensitive charity and public-sector-adjacent data. Notable technology initiatives include Worthwhile AI, a community-owned AI platform designed specifically for the third sector, and human-in-the-loop AI deployments such as the Sudan civic space monitoring tool.

The revenue model is professional services from custom digital development projects for charity clients, priced on a quote-based, project-by-project basis with multi-year contract structures. Marketing is content-led through case studies, blog content on AI ethics and accessibility, and referral pipelines via long-term partnerships (notably with CAST). The client portfolio spans at least 16 named organisations across human rights (BHRRC, CIVICUS), refugee support (Choose Love, Refugee Council), mental health (Samaritans, Beat), wildlife conservation (Bat Conservation Trust, Charles Darwin Foundation), and active travel (Living Streets), with documented outcomes including 19.8% donation conversion rates, 39 million page views in a client's first year, and 140,000 daily registrations on rebuilt platforms.

Name

Developer Society

Legal name

Developer Society Limited

Website

https://dev.ngo

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Developer Society is a UK not-for-profit digital cooperative of approximately 22 members providing custom web development, helpline systems, donation platforms, and AI tools exclusively to charities and NGOs. It has served 200+ mission-driven organisations across human rights, health, environment, and refugee support sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Digital Services

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Low-Code/No-Code Application Development & Modernization (BPAEAFAF)

Keywords

• Charity web development
• NGO digital services
• Nonprofit website design
• Wagtail CMS development
• Helpline system development

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital development services: Professional services revenue from designing and building websites, web applications, and digital platforms for charity and NGO clients. Projects include website builds, digital transformations, helpline systems, and data visualisation tools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Developer Society is a not-for-profit digital co-operative that designs, builds, and maintains custom websites, digital platforms, helpline systems, donation tools, and AI-enabled solutions exclusively for charities, NGOs, and other mission-driven organisations. Work is delivered as bespoke professional services projects using Wagtail CMS, Django, React, and related open-source technologies.

Product overview

The Developer Society is a not-for-profit digital co-operative that provides digital services exclusively to charities, NGOs, and mission-driven organisations. Their offering centres on custom Wagtail CMS website development, complemented by specialised platforms including volunteer management systems, helpline management solutions, donation and fundraising platforms, and conservation data tools. They have developed Worthwhile AI, a community-owned AI platform for the third sector. Additional services include digital transformation consulting, branding and visual identity work, and photography/creative production. All work is delivered through a cooperative model where team members are also owners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Worthwhile AI: A community-owned AI solution designed specifically for the third sector, ensuring all charities can safely and confidently explore AI capabilities.

Products and services

• Wagtail CMS Website Development
• Digital Transformation Consulting
• Worthwhile AI Platform
• Helpline Management Systems
• Donation and Fundraising Platforms
• Volunteer Management Systems
• Conservation Data Platforms
• Branding and Visual Identity
• Photography and Creative Production

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ charities helped with digital tools
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CAST (Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership working together frequently as one team to support excellent organisations in need of smart technical solutions. CAST brings additional experience of working with funding organisations aligning digital practice with strategic ambitions and values. Joint projects include work with Disrupt Foundation, Crisis, and development of digital leadership assessment tools.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Forum One: US digital agency building websites, platforms, and digital experiences for nonprofits and associations. Directly comparable in capability mix (web development, data visualisation, CRM) and customer segment.
• Torchbox: UK-based digital agency with deep Wagtail CMS and Django expertise serving nonprofit, charity, and education clients. Highly comparable technology stack and target market directly overlap with Developer Society's Wagtail-led service line.
• Firespring: US-based marketing and technology provider for nonprofits, offering websites, donor management, and printing. Comparable mission-driven customer focus with a broader services portfolio.
• Whole Whale: US-based digital agency exclusively serving nonprofits and mission-driven organisations. Same customer base, same nonprofit-only sector focus, and similar services including data, fundraising, and digital strategy.
• Beaconfire: US digital agency focused on nonprofits, associations, and mission-driven organisations, offering web development, CRM, and digital strategy. Closely comparable in services and customer vertical.
• Manifesto: UK creative and digital agency serving charities and social-purpose brands. Similar UK-based geographic focus, shared nonprofit customer base, and overlapping digital branding and web services.

Broad incumbents

• Funraise: Nonprofit fundraising software platform with features for online giving, CRM, and campaign management. Closely adjacent to Developer Society's donation and fundraising platform offerings but operated as a SaaS product.
• Publicis Sapient: Large global digital transformation consultancy with a dedicated nonprofit and social impact practice. Overlapping capabilities in digital strategy and platform builds, but as part of a much broader portfolio.
• Network for Good: US nonprofit software platform providing donor management, fundraising, and online giving tools. Adjacent to Developer Society's donation platform work but product-led rather than services-led.

Regional players

• Resource Media: US-based strategic communications nonprofit for social-change organisations, including digital and content services. Comparable mission-aligned client base but operates primarily in North America.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/devsociety_

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 Developer Society