Non-Profit Organization

YouthBuild USA spent several years using a closed, proprietary content and relationship management service (CMS/CRM) that seemed like a great leap forward at first. However over time they realized it wasn't nearly as user-friendly as hoped for, nor as open, with regards to data, as they needed. In the end, the proprietary system was unable to incorporate all the unique aspects of YouthBuild's data regarding their programs and contacts.

Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC) partnered with CivicActions in 2010 to augment a powerful online portal connecting video producers, media makers and students to support BAVC's goals of empowering the public to bring their artistry and vision to public access television, and to teach the public video production and computer skills through educational programs.

SACNAS, the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science, partnered with CivicActions in 2010 to build an online hub to connect SACNAS members, potential members, and institutions to support the organization's goal of encouraging Hispanic and Native American participation in sciences in both the academic and professional worlds.  

"The project helped show us the user-centered design process from the ground up. It showed how effective the process was and how we could do it ourselves in the future... We had read books about usability testing and user-centered design, but you helped us learn the skills and demystified the process. It’s a new skillset that our organization can continue to use on our own." 

-Daniel Newman, Co-Founder, Executive Director of MapLight.org

Challenge

American Public Media (APM) approached CivicActions in November 2010 to produce a campaign site to highlight public media and its funding in the USA , attract partner public media stations - to date over 250 stations have signed up - and encourage users to show their support for public media.

Henry Poole, provided strategic support to APM, thinking through the site goals and messaging.

Chuck Spidell worked with the APM team to produce a stunning and compelling website design and additional graphic assets to be used by partner stations.

Fenton Communications approached us for development support on the CapacityPlus.org site they were in the process of designing. We felt immediate alignment with Fenton, given their mission "…(to) serve the public interest by creating powerful issue campaigns that make change." Fenton's clients have contributed to some of the defining change movements of the past quarter century, from ending apartheid and curbing global warming to protecting people from harmful toxins.

The Great Turtle Race returned with a different course after the massive success of the first year (this time sponsored by one of the original sponsors, Drexel University). Once again the CivicActions team designed an accessible way to bring awareness to the annual migration of these lovable leatherback turtles.

NDN wanted capitalize on CivicActions' technology expertise and alignment with their mission to develop a technology roadmap that would enable the organization to realize aggressive communication and growth goals for the coming 5 years. Technology was in the way, with content split between two websites on different platforms, no central database, and little knowledge of the best way to reach their most important constituent groups.

Architecture for Humanity came to us with a highly-customized site they had built with an early version of Drupal. However, when the site was launched many features were not functioning properly or working as they desired. Additionally, the lack of on-going maintenance of the contributed modules they used provided little flexibility to move forward with further development.