Shift In Action (IONS)

How does a mature organization completely transform itself in order to serve a new web-savvy generation, without losing their current base of support?

After more than 30 years as the leading research organization exploring the power and potential of human consciousness, the Institute of Noetic Sciences decided to take a revolutionary leap and extend itself fully into the Internet.

The Institute is committed to supporting a shift in consciousness that can transform our world into one that is grounded in freedom, wisdom, and love. IONS was once a thriving institution with an esteemed print magazine delivered by mail each quarter to tens of thousands of donors and members, but due to growing costs and a declining membership, IONS foresaw the potential for crisis in the future.

To begin our engagement, practice leader Henri Poole developed a strategy based on the Institute's strengths to use the web to stabalize the current membership while increasing participation and fundraising opportunities. The goal was to reach out to a younger, and more tech-savvy audience while maintaining the authority and decorum that the older members had come to value from the organization. Master visual designer Brooks Cole worked closely with IONS to develop a new modern look, which rockstar engineer Rich Orris transformed into a stunning website. Project Manager Aaron Pava worked with the IONS staff to quickly begin the process of encoding the treasure of audio recordings from the last 30 years into MP3 format to be used in the new subscription-based download service.

The team used the power of the Drupal content management system as a collaborative authoring environment which encourages members to participate in an interactive experience of creating the website, not merely consuming content that others supply.

One of the most innovative features on new website is the "EventFinder" module. "EventFinder" was used to support their 300+ geographic-based communities around the world. This new tool made it simple for members to find local community events within any user-specified distance of their ZIP code. Users create profile pages to share their own stories and interests, building on the IONS vision of using members as a resource for each other. Thousands of workshops, retreats, research and educational activities now are shared directly via this new peer-to-peer communication though the new IONS Shift In Action website.

In just a few months time, IONS transformed their dusty archives and disengaged membership into a wildly successful and thriving community network.

About Institute of Noetic Sciences

The Institute of Noetic Sciences is a nonprofit membership organization located in Northern California that conducts and sponsors leading-edge research into the potentials and powers of consciousness — including perceptions, beliefs, attention, intention, and intuition. The institute explores phenomena that do not necessarily fit conventional scientific models, while maintaining a commitment to scientific rigor. The institute is not a spiritual association, political-action group, or a single-cause institute. Rather, IONS honors open-minded approaches and multiple ways of knowing, bring discernment to their work, and support diversity of perspectives on social and scientific matters.