This is an examination of how well a sample of major donor sites perform according to a low bandwidth test, derived from "Web Design by Donor Organizations for Low Bandwidth".
Many major donor organizations are guilty of practices that make it challenging to view their websites in low bandwidth environments. Of course, it would be unfair to nitpick every last detail, since it is unlikely that a truly perfect website even exists. It’s not their fault there is low bandwidth in the world, and they are, at least ostensibly, trying to help make the world a better place. Thus, this examination is not intended to demonize these organizations. Instead, it is meant to offer a look at how optimal some of the sites of major donors are for low bandwidth environments, and see who might need to make improvements. Included in this sample of current donor sites are Carnegie Council of New York, European Commission, USAID, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and International Renaissance Foundation, with my findings detailed in the links below, complete with tables and screenshots. Keep in mind that this examination was done on a DSL connection in New York City, making it much easier to find what I was looking for than if I had been in, say, The Gambia.
Each of these organizations has a site that does some aspects of web design well for low bandwidth environments, and some aspects not so well. This does not negate the important work they are doing. It is merely to illustrate ways in which these sites should improve if they are truly committed to the ultimate purpose of helping those in the world who are in need.
Donors that were examined: