CiviCRM Make It Happen - Lighthouse Navigation

Help make CiviCRM easier to navigate

A modernized menu and unified search will help people find what they need faster, reduce training time, and make CiviCRM all around more enjoyable to use.

Support the campaign See an early mockup

What community members have said

The interface is dated compared to other CRM products.
The menu is a bit intense.
Fairly complex config and menu structure, not easy to manage.

Sample feedback from actual users in the 2025 CiviCRM User Survey

The Situation

An overwhelming UI gets in the way of productivity and wider adoption of Civi itself

When navigation feels overwhelming, it can make end users feel like they are doing something wrong. But they're not.

For some organizations, that first impression is enough to stop adoption of CiviCRM before it even begins. And that's a big problem when growing the ecosystem is critical in the times of AI and other competitive forces.

Sure, we all want access to features and to explore what is possible, but nonprofit staff typically do not have time for such things. They are trying to serve people, raise funds, run events, and keep programs moving. And that can lead to useful features that are underused. What they want it to be intuitive and smooth.

Put simply, we know the menu needs work, especially to remain competitive with other CRM's on the market.

Interface Direction

Early days mockup. For inspiration.

This early mockup from CiviCon 2025 shows the proposed direction that would be formally defined during the first phase.

Mock up variation from CiviCon 2025, courtesy of Lena Jukna
Credit: Lena Jukna from Systopia. See the original design and related wiki.

Simplified navigation

A left sidebar menu that is collapsible and compatible with CMS, for those not using Standalone.

Global search and quick add

A global search bar and create actions sit prominently at the top.

Separated user utilities

Help, notifications, your user profile, and admin settings stay easy to find when you need them.

Benefits

A navigation system designed around everyday work

For end users

Find data and reports faster, spend less time training, and get to harnessing the power of CiviCRM better.

For implementers and partners

Better customization options: configure menus and assign them to regions through a UI, and support Search Kit and Form Builder so organization-specific needs are easier to deliver.

Unified global search

Find contacts, contributions, memberships, and other records in one place.

Simpler staff experience

Role-based menus reduce clutter and show people what they need.

Faster everyday work

Quickly create and manage records.

In-app help

Connect users to DocBot, documentation, CiviAcademy and partner support to encourage more community participation.

Continuous feedback loop

Voluntarily share issue feedback back to CiviCRM Core Team and see relevant product updates.

Developer-friendly framework

Make navigation easier to extend, configure, and customize for specific use cases. e.g. mobile menu for canvassing.

Development roadmap

Each funding phase delivers progress you can see

The roadmap is organized into two major phases, delivered through five staged milestones. Phase 1 establishes the direction and a usable public beta extension you can install. Phase 2 builds on that foundation as funding allows. And you're participation through feedback is welcome all along the way!

  1. 1a

    Phase 1a

    Research, Design, and Technical Schema

    $5K

    A validated design direction and technical architecture.

    • Define the menu technical architecture
    • Create wireframes and layouts
    • Clean up the default menu structure
    • Gather user feedback on design and configurability
  2. 1b

    Phase 1b

    Public Beta Extension

    $8K

    A usable public beta that establishes the new menu framework.

    • Build the basic menu placement and framework
    • Add unified search across common entities
    • Add quick-create actions
    • Support RiverLea, standalone, and CMS render modes
    • Publish the work as a public extension
    • Get real world feedback from users like you and make adjustments
  3. 2a

    Phase 2a

    Customization and Permissions

    Known post-phase 1

    Menus become highly configurable allowing organizations to tailore them to specific roles.

    • Render menu items from configuration
    • Provide a UI for configuring menus and regions
    • Support Search Kit and Form Builder
    • Add role-based controls and organization branding
  4. 2b

    Phase 2b

    User Utilities and Support

    Known post-phase 1

    Adds support and communications area to increase community feedback, and access to community and professional partner resources.

    • Add notifications and announcements
    • Improve access to documentation and support
    • Add a feedback submission loop
    • Separate profile, preferences, and logout controls
    • Make settings, saved searches, and forms searchable
  5. 2c

    Phase 2c

    Visual Polish and Core Integration

    Known post-phase 1

    A polished, accessible implementation ready for core review.

    • Apply modern styling, iconography, and tooltips
    • Ensure WCAG accessibility and mobile responsiveness
    • Optimize performance and provide documentation
    • Complete Core Team review and prepare core pull requests

Why we need your financial support now

Help modernize the menu system

Improvements like this do not happen automatically; it takes organizations that rely on CiviCRM to invest in its future, especially in the age of AI disruption. Now is the time to have a hand in making it better for everyone.

Let's keep the momentum up after the recent RiverLea framework success. This is a practical, phased investment in making CiviCRM easier to use, a higher adoption rate, and more valuable for the organizations that depend on it.

Support the campaign!
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