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    Stark for Nonprofits: AI Accessibility Checker for Figma and Browsers

    Stark embeds AI-powered accessibility checking directly into the design tools and browsers your team already uses, so you catch WCAG violations during the design and build phases rather than discovering them after launch. It covers color contrast, color blindness simulation, focus order, alt-text, keyboard navigation, and compliance tracking, all from a single platform used by 50,000+ companies worldwide.

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    What It Does

    Accessibility problems are dramatically cheaper to fix during design than after a website or app is live. A missing alt-text attribute caught in Figma takes ten seconds to add. The same issue discovered after launch requires a developer ticket, a deployment cycle, and possibly legal exposure if a complaint was already filed. Yet most nonprofits only think about accessibility when something goes wrong, often after a constituent with a disability reports a problem or an advocacy organization contacts them.

    Stark changes this by making accessibility feedback available inside the tools where design and development decisions are made. Designers working in Figma can check color contrast against WCAG AA and AAA thresholds as they choose a color palette, see how a design looks to someone with any of eight types of color blindness, verify that every element has an accessible alt-text annotation, and confirm that keyboard focus order follows a logical sequence, all without leaving Figma. Developers can use Stark's browser extensions to scan live or staged websites against WCAG criteria and get live code highlighting that pinpoints exactly where issues exist in the source.

    For organizations at higher tiers, Stark's Compliance Center provides structured tracking against accessibility frameworks including WCAG 2.1, WCAG 2.2, the European Accessibility Act (EAA), and EN 301 549. It auto-generates accessibility statements and maintains 365 days of report history, giving organizations documented evidence of their accessibility efforts over time.

    Founded in 2017 and headquartered in New Jersey, Stark remains an independent company with approximately 29 employees and $7.5M in total funding. It shipped 36 major updates in 2025, including mobile app testing, a new MCP Server that integrates with Claude and Cursor AI coding tools, and folder organization for managing multiple client or product accessibility projects.

    Best For

    Organization Size

    Nonprofits of any size that have an in-house designer or work with an outside design agency. The free Starter plan works for a single freelance designer; Team plans (from ~$15/seat/month) suit organizations with a 3-10 person design and communications team. The tool is not ideal for organizations with no design or technical staff at all.

    Use Cases

    • Designing a new nonprofit website, app, or donor portal
    • Building a WCAG-compliant brand design system in Figma
    • Auditing an existing website with a browser extension before a redesign
    • Tracking EAA compliance for organizations with EU-based donors or programs
    • Training communications staff on accessible color and contrast decisions

    Ideal Roles

    • UX/UI designers and graphic designers using Figma
    • Front-end developers managing website code
    • Communications directors overseeing digital content creation
    • Accessibility or compliance coordinators building organization-wide standards

    Key Features for Nonprofits

    Color Contrast and Vision Simulation

    Real-time color contrast checking against WCAG AA and AAA thresholds, with AI-powered color suggestions when a chosen palette fails. Simulate eight types of color blindness including deuteranopia, protanopia, and achromatopsia to see exactly how your designs appear to different visitors. Advanced plans support contrast checking against gradients and images, which is critical for hero images with overlaid text.

    AI-Powered Alt-Text and Suggestions

    Stark's Sidekick feature (paid plans) uses AI to automatically detect design accessibility issues and suggest remediation. For images, Stark prompts designers to add alt-text annotations directly in Figma so developers receive the right metadata when they build from designs. This prevents the most common cause of accessibility failures: images that reach production without descriptions.

    Focus Order and Keyboard Navigation

    Verify that the keyboard focus order in your design follows a logical sequence for users who navigate by keyboard rather than mouse. This is among the most commonly overlooked accessibility issues in nonprofit websites and donation forms, and one of the most frustrating for users who rely on keyboard navigation. Stark surfaces these problems in the design phase before any code is written.

    WCAG Browser Extension

    Scan any live or staged website for WCAG violations directly from your browser. Available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave, and Arc. The extension generates real-time reports with live code highlighting so developers can see exactly which HTML element is causing each failure. This makes it practical to do quick accessibility checks on existing pages without setting up any additional tooling.

    Touch Target Checker

    WCAG 2.5.5 requires interactive elements to be at least 44x44 CSS pixels. Small tap targets are a frequent barrier for users with motor impairments and older adults who struggle with precision touch on mobile devices. Stark's touch target checker flags elements that fail this threshold directly in Figma before the design reaches production.

    Compliance Center and EAA Tracking

    Higher-tier plans include the Compliance Center, which provides structured tracking against WCAG 2.1, WCAG 2.2, the European Accessibility Act, and EN 301 549. Auto-generates accessibility statements required by EU regulations and maintains 365 days of audit history for documentation purposes. Organizations managing multiple products or client projects can organize them into folders by compliance status.

    How Stark Uses AI

    What's Actually AI-Powered

    AI Color Suggestions (Sidekick)

    When your color choice fails WCAG contrast requirements, Stark's AI suggests alternative colors that pass while staying as close as possible to your original palette. Instead of manually hunting for compliant hex codes, the AI proposes solutions that preserve your brand feel while meeting accessibility standards. This feature is available on paid plans.

    Automated Issue Detection (Sidekick)

    Stark's Sidekick AI scans Figma designs and live web pages for accessibility violations, surfacing issues beyond what manual inspection would catch. It goes beyond simple contrast checks to evaluate semantic structure, ARIA attribute completeness, interactive element sizing, and color blindness accessibility across a design system. Sidekick learns from your organization's design patterns over time to improve detection accuracy.

    Accessibility Insights Analytics

    In 2025, Stark launched Accessibility Insights, an AI-powered analytics layer that processes usage data flowing through the platform to surface trends and patterns in your accessibility compliance over time. For teams managing multiple projects or a design system, this makes it easier to identify which components or templates are consistently generating accessibility violations.

    MCP Server for AI Coding Tools

    Stark's MCP (Model Context Protocol) Server, launched in beta in 2025, connects Stark directly to AI coding environments like Anthropic's Claude and Cursor. Developers using these AI coding tools can receive Stark accessibility context and suggestions inline as they write code, without switching to a separate tool. This represents a meaningful step toward making accessibility a built-in part of AI-assisted development rather than an afterthought.

    What's NOT AI (But Still Useful)

    • Color contrast ratio calculation is mathematical, not AI, though AI adds color suggestions on top
    • Color blindness simulation uses established vision science models, not generative AI
    • WCAG browser scans use rule-based checks against the WCAG specification, not machine learning
    • The WCAG Checklist widget for FigJam is a structured human checklist, not AI-generated

    AI Limitations to Understand

    Stark identifies, it does not fix: Unlike AudioEye or UserWay, Stark does not automatically apply fixes to a live website. It surfaces issues during design and testing and expects a human, typically a designer or developer, to act on them. This produces more durable accessibility improvements but requires more technical follow-through.

    AI features require paid plans: The free Starter plan provides manual tools and basic checks. The AI-powered Sidekick, automated scanning, and Compliance Center require paid Individual or Team subscriptions.

    Custom sites need more attention: Stark's AI detection is tuned for common design patterns. Organizations with highly custom-built websites or unusual component structures may find that automated detection misses edge cases that manual expert review would catch.

    Real-World Nonprofit Scenario

    Consider a disability advocacy organization preparing to redesign their website in Figma. Their communications director handles design and has been using brand colors for years without ever checking them against WCAG standards. When a volunteer installs Stark and checks the primary brand color combination, they discover that the light-green text on a white background fails WCAG AA at small sizes. The AI immediately suggests three alternative greens that pass AA while staying within the same brand family.

    As the redesign progresses, Stark flags a hero image with overlaid white text that fails contrast, surfaces nine images without alt-text annotations, and identifies a donation form where the tab order jumps unpredictably between fields. Each issue is resolved in Figma before the developer writes a single line of code. When the website launches, it passes a WCAG 2.1 AA audit on the first review.

    For a disability advocacy organization, arriving at launch with an accessible website rather than discovering failures afterward is both mission-consistent and a meaningful reduction in legal and reputational risk. The entire process cost a Stark team subscription and a few additional hours of design iteration, rather than a post-launch remediation project.

    Pricing

    Standard Plans

    • StarterFree
    • Premium (Individual)~$120/year or $12/month
    • Team~$15/seat/month (min. 5 seats)
    • EnterpriseCustom pricing

    Pricing information is approximate and subject to change. Verify current pricing directly with Stark at getstark.co.

    What's Included by Tier

    • Free: Color contrast checker, vision simulation, browser extension, FigJam checklist widget, Figma/Sketch/XD plugins
    • Premium: Everything free plus AI Sidekick, 1 project with asset tracking, real-time automated scanning, live code highlighting
    • Team: Everything Premium plus unlimited projects, shared reports, team management, SSO option
    • Add-on: Compliance Center (EAA, EN 301 549, auto-accessibility statements) available as optional add-on for Team and Enterprise
    • Trial: 30-day free trial available for Team plans; no credit card required

    Nonprofit Pricing

    Stark does not currently offer a dedicated nonprofit discount. The company retired its Education discount program as of July 1, 2025, and replaced it with a 30-day free trial for Team plans. There is no published nonprofit pricing program as of early 2026.

    • Start with the free Starter plan, which provides meaningful value for small organizations without budget for paid tools
    • Use the 30-day Team trial to evaluate the full platform before committing
    • Contact Stark's sales team with your 501(c)(3) documentation; enterprise software companies sometimes offer discretionary discounts even without formal programs
    • If Stark's pricing is out of reach, free alternatives like WAVE by WebAIM or the free Axe browser extension can cover core website auditing at no cost

    Learning Curve

    Basic Design Tools

    Beginner level. The Figma plugin installs in one click and the contrast checker is immediately usable. Color blindness simulation requires no setup. Reviewers consistently describe the plugin as intuitive and well-documented. Non-technical designers can be up and running within 30 minutes.

    Browser Extension

    Beginner to intermediate level. Installing the extension and running a scan is straightforward. Interpreting the results and knowing how to fix issues requires some accessibility knowledge. Stark includes educational context explaining why each issue matters, which helps staff build understanding alongside the tool.

    CI/CD and MCP Integration

    Advanced level. Connecting Stark to GitHub for continuous monitoring and setting up the MCP Server for AI coding tools requires developer experience. These features are aimed at development teams running continuous integration pipelines, not communications or program staff.

    Time to First Value

    • Install Figma plugin: 2 minutes
    • First color contrast check: Under 5 minutes
    • First WCAG browser scan of a live page: 10-15 minutes
    • Proficiency with core accessibility checks: 1-2 hours of regular use
    • Team-wide adoption with shared reports: 1-2 weeks

    Quick Win: Check Your Brand Colors in 5 Minutes

    Install the free Stark browser extension, navigate to your organization's homepage, and run a WCAG scan. Then open Figma, install the free Stark plugin, and check your primary brand color combination against WCAG AA. Many nonprofits discover that their established brand colors fail contrast requirements. Knowing this early, before a redesign project begins, gives your team time to address it systematically rather than scrambling at launch.

    Integration & Compatibility

    Design Tools

    • Figma (primary integration, 4.9 stars in Figma community)
    • Sketch
    • Adobe XD
    • FigJam (WCAG Checklist widget)

    Browser Extensions

    • Google Chrome
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Safari, Brave, and Arc

    Developer and CI/CD

    • GitHub (continuous monitoring, Grow and Scale plans)
    • CI/CD pipeline integration (Grow and Scale plans)
    • MCP Server for Claude and Cursor AI coding tools (beta)
    • Ticketing system integration (Enterprise add-on)
    • iOS and Android mobile app testing (2025)

    Security and Compliance

    • SOC 2 Type II certified
    • GDPR compliant
    • SSO available (Team and Enterprise plans)
    • WCAG 2.1, WCAG 2.2, EAA, and EN 301 549 compliance frameworks

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Catches issues early: Fixing accessibility problems during design costs a fraction of what post-launch remediation costs in developer time and legal risk
    • Best-in-class Figma integration: The plugin is polished, actively maintained, and consistently rated highly in the Figma community with a 4.9-star average
    • Genuinely free starting point: The Starter plan provides real value for small organizations before any payment is required
    • Educational approach: Stark explains why each accessibility issue matters, helping staff develop genuine understanding rather than just checkbox compliance
    • Actively developed: 36 major updates in 2025 shows a product team investing in new capabilities, including AI features and mobile testing
    • SOC 2 and GDPR certified: Safe for organizations handling sensitive constituent data

    Cons

    • Requires design or developer staff: Stark is not useful for nonprofits with no one working in Figma, Sketch, or web code; those organizations need an overlay tool like AudioEye instead
    • No nonprofit discount: The Education program was retired in July 2025, and there is no published nonprofit pricing as of early 2026
    • Automation limited to paid tiers: The free plan lacks AI-powered issue detection; meaningful automation requires a paid Individual or Team subscription
    • Team minimum may feel forced: The Team plan requires a minimum of 5 seats, which may be more than a very small nonprofit needs and adds cost
    • Compliance Center is an add-on: EAA and advanced compliance tracking are not included in base plans and require an additional fee
    • Does not fix live website issues: Stark identifies problems but requires a human to implement the fixes; it is not a turnkey compliance solution for existing sites

    Alternatives to Consider

    If Stark doesn't feel like the right fit, consider these alternatives depending on your situation:

    AudioEye or UserWay for Existing Websites Without Developer Support

    If your nonprofit has an existing website with accessibility issues and no in-house developer or designer to address them, AudioEye and UserWay are better fits. Both install via a JavaScript snippet with no technical expertise required and apply automated fixes to your live website in real time. They start at $49/month and include compliance documentation. Stark works best when someone can act on the issues it surfaces.

    WAVE by WebAIM (Free) for Budget-Constrained Auditing

    WAVE is a free browser extension from WebAIM (the Web Accessibility in Mind organization) that provides visual WCAG scanning of any webpage. It is less comprehensive than Stark's paid plans and doesn't integrate with Figma, but it is completely free and provides a strong starting point for any nonprofit wanting to understand their website's accessibility baseline. Google's free Lighthouse tool, built into Chrome DevTools, is another no-cost alternative for basic auditing.

    Able Figma Plugin (Free) for Color Contrast Only

    The Able plugin for Figma is a free, community-built accessibility checker focused primarily on color contrast and color blindness simulation. It covers less ground than Stark but is free indefinitely and suitable for designers who only need color checking rather than a full accessibility suite. For organizations whose main gap is color compliance in design, Able provides a zero-cost alternative to Stark's free tier.

    Getting Started

    1

    Install the free Stark Figma plugin and browser extension

    Go to getstark.co, create a free account, and install the Figma plugin from the Figma Community (search "Stark"). Also install the browser extension for Chrome or Firefox. Both are free and take under 5 minutes. You don't need a credit card to start.

    2

    Run a WCAG scan on your existing website

    Open your organization's homepage in the browser with Stark's extension active and run a scan. Review the report to understand your current accessibility status. This baseline is valuable both for internal awareness and for prioritizing where to focus remediation efforts, whether through Stark or another tool.

    3

    Check your Figma design files with the color contrast checker

    If you have an existing Figma file for your website or brand, open it and use Stark's color contrast tool to check your primary text and background combinations. If you don't yet have a Figma file, use the browser extension on your live site to identify any color contrast failures. Document what you find for your next design update or redesign conversation.

    4

    Evaluate the 30-day Team trial if you need collaborative features

    If your team includes multiple designers or you need shared accessibility reports and project tracking, start the 30-day Team trial. This lets you evaluate the AI Sidekick, automated scanning, and shared project features before committing to a paid plan. Contact Stark's sales team during the trial to ask about any available nonprofit pricing.

    Need Help Building an Accessible Digital Presence?

    Accessibility is not just a legal requirement. For nonprofits serving people with disabilities or older adults, it is a direct expression of mission. But building accessibility into your design and development workflows takes time, training, and the right tools for your team's actual skill set.

    One Hundred Nights helps nonprofits assess their accessibility gaps, select the right tools for their context (design-phase tools like Stark vs. live-site overlays like AudioEye), and build internal capacity for ongoing compliance. Read our guide to getting started with AI tools for nonprofits or reach out to discuss your specific situation.

    Contact Us to Learn More

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Stark free for nonprofits?

    Stark offers a free Starter plan that includes access to core tools: the color contrast checker, color blindness simulation, WCAG browser extension, and FigJam checklist widget. Paid plans start at approximately $120/year for individual users. Stark retired its Education discount program as of July 2025, and there is no published nonprofit discount as of early 2026. Nonprofits on tight budgets can start with the free tier and use it meaningfully within Figma and the browser extension.

    What design tools does Stark work with?

    Stark integrates with Figma (the most robust and polished integration with a 4.9-star rating in the Figma community), Sketch, and Adobe XD. For browser-based testing, Stark offers extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave, and Arc. Developers can also connect Stark to GitHub for continuous accessibility monitoring in CI/CD pipelines. In 2025, Stark added mobile app testing for iOS and Android.

    How is Stark different from AudioEye or UserWay?

    Stark, AudioEye, and UserWay solve different problems. Stark is a design and development tool for catching and fixing accessibility issues before they reach users, primarily inside Figma and browser-based scans. AudioEye and UserWay are website overlay platforms that apply automated fixes to live websites in real time, primarily for organizations without developer resources. If you have a designer or developer who builds your digital products, Stark helps them build accessibly from the start.

    Does Stark require technical skills?

    The basic features of Stark are beginner-friendly, especially the Figma plugin and browser extension. Designers can install the Figma plugin and start checking color contrast and simulating color blindness within minutes. Advanced features like CI/CD integration and the MCP Server for developers require technical comfort and are aimed at development teams. Nonprofits without technical staff can still use Stark's free tier effectively for design review.

    What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and does Stark help with it?

    The European Accessibility Act (EAA) took effect in June 2025 and requires that digital products and services sold in the EU meet EN 301 549 accessibility standards, which largely align with WCAG 2.1 AA. Stark added an EAA compliance framework to its Compliance Center in 2025 ahead of the deadline. For nonprofits with European operations or EU-based donors, Stark's Compliance Center provides structured tracking against EAA requirements.

    Can Stark fix accessibility issues on a live website?

    Stark identifies accessibility issues rather than automatically fixing them on live websites. It reports problems during design (in Figma) and during browser testing (via the extension), then guides designers and developers to make corrections at the source. This is different from overlay tools like AudioEye or UserWay, which apply automated fixes to live websites without code changes. Stark's approach is more rigorous because it addresses root causes, but it requires someone with design or development skills to implement the fixes.

    Is Stark suitable for a nonprofit with no designer on staff?

    Stark is most valuable for organizations that have an in-house or contracted designer working in Figma, or a developer who can review and fix code-level accessibility issues. For nonprofits without any technical or design staff, free tools like the WAVE browser extension from WebAIM or Google's Lighthouse tool can help audit existing websites at no cost. If you need automated website fixes without technical expertise, AudioEye or UserWay are more appropriate starting points.