Gló - A Communication and Fundraising Platform

The client - Gló

Gló is a leading Icelandic non-profit dedicated to fostering the inclusion and active participation of children and young people with diverse needs and abilities. Founded in 1952, originally established by parents during Iceland's polio epidemic, the organisation has evolved into a pioneer of disability services.

Today, Gló operates a multifaceted service ecosystem, including:

• Gló Rehabilitation Centre: Providing early intervention and family-centered care.
• Reykjadalur: Hosting summer camps, weekend stays, and specialized leisure activities.
• Knowledge Hub: Creating a collaborative platform for families, researchers, and professionals to share best practices in paediatric disability support.
   

Rebranding and Digital Vision

Following a transition from its former identity as the Benefit Society of Disabled Children (SLF), the organisation adopted the name Gló. This rebrand signified a shift toward a modern, inclusive mission.

From a digital perspective, Gló’s wide range of activities and diverse user base, from young children to professional researchers, required a platform where accessibility was not a feature, but a core foundation. Furthermore, because Gló relies heavily on seasonal fundraising and e-commerce for its operational budget, the digital solution required a seamless, high-performance interface to convert community support into tangible funding.

 

A Unified Platform for Community and Support

The primary objective was to engineer a digital ecosystem that balances mission-driven communication with high-conversion fundraising. As Gló underwent a major rebranding, they required a platform that reflected their modern identity while serving as a reliable tool for service users, donors, and internal staff.

The Challenge: Overcoming Digital Barriers

Before the transition to Drupal, Gló faced several critical bottlenecks:

• Lack of Autonomy: The legacy CMS offered limited flexibility, forcing content editors to rely on developers for minor updates.
• Accessibility Gaps: The previous site failed to meet modern accessibility standards, creating barriers for the very audience Gló serves.
• Static Fundraising Tools: The organisation struggled with rigid e-commerce features that could not handle time-sensitive campaigns or complex shipping and payment rules.

The Transformation: Goals & Requirements

The project focused on four key pillars:

1. Accessibility-First Design: Ensuring the interface was fully optimised for assistive technologies (screen readers, keyboard navigation) to support inclusive access for all youth and families.
2. Advanced Editorial Empowerment: Implementing a component-based layout system that allows editors to manage the three core areas of Gló’s activity—services, rehabilitation, and leisure—without writing code.
3. Dynamic E-commerce Integration: Building a sophisticated fundraising engine capable of managing seasonal campaigns, unique sales rules, and automated shipping/payment gateway integrations.
4. Operational Intelligence: Integrating automated translation capabilities and an SEO-friendly architecture to expand the organisation’s reach across Iceland and beyond.

The Result

By leveraging Drupal’s flexibility, the project transformed Gló’s digital presence from a static brochure into a high-performance, accessible, and scalable fundraising platform. The new system provides a seamless bridge between Gló's professional rehabilitation services and its vital community-driven summer programs.

Highlights - A Future-Ready Digital Foundation 

The migration to Drupal has provided Gló with a scalable, professional foundation that aligns their digital presence with their mission of inclusivity. The website clearly reflects Gló’s renewed identity while ensuring that information and services remain accessible to everyone, including users relying on assistive technologies.

Together, these improvements ensure that Gló can focus on what matters most: supporting children and young people with diverse needs and helping them participate fully in society.

Client Quote

We felt we were in good hands during our relaunch with 1xINTERNET. Their experience with projects like ours was obvious, and at the same time they took the time to understand our needs and goals to ensure the website met our expectations. They also made sure we felt comfortable and confident working with the site after the relaunch, which was very important for our editors.”

Kristín Dagmar, Marketing and Fundraising Manager at Gló