WordCamp New York City 2009

Amanda Blum

Having been a backseat driver on the 501c3 bus for 25 years, I speak Bleeding Heart fluently. I’ve seen that most non-profits suffer from the same issues:
— PR/Marketing departments not integrated with tech departments, a failure because of the way marketing works in 2010.
— Design has been prioritized over function in website considerations.
— Without solid tech counsel, organizations are slaves to paid software and/or webmasters.

Your Website is Not the Bastard Kid of Your Org
I know all the issues: staff stretched thin, high turnover, volunteer training timesuck, lack of resources/ funding, and nepotistic hiring practices (“My nephew Mervin can put us on the interwebs for free!”).  Can WordPress solve these problems? Of course not…but it can turn your website from a time and resource drain into a highly functioning marketing and service delivery tool, and help reduce many of these problems at the same time. Stop thinking of WordPress as a blogging tool: it is a highly powerful Content Management System (magic website manager).

Bleeding Heart meets Bleeding Edge
I am like a kid with cake when it comes to convincing non profits about WordPress as a way to reduce costs, maximize efficiency and most importantly- sell your cause.

• WordPress is budget friendly (and by “budget friendly”, I mean “free”)
• WordPress isn’t going anywhere.
• WordPress development and design help is easier/ cheaper because it is the most popular CMS on the planet.
• A breathtaking number of WordPress training guides and support exist for users.
• WordPress is scalable to grow with your organization.
• WordPress is flexible in appearance and can change as needed.
• WordPress plugins offer utility and functionality that allow non profits to streamline interior and exterior processes to better serve constituent groups.
• WordPress user levels allow you to distribute workload amongst many staff/volunteers without liability or security concerns
• WordPress’s ubiquity on the planet makes it likely volunteers already have experience with the system (easier to find volunteers/less time training them)
• WordPress’s widgets and plugins allow easy (read: cheap) ways to grow into and integrate social media, email marketing, donations, forms and calendars into your website.
• WordPress, being web based, is accessible from any internet connection. You can work remotely, you can access it from the field, and you never have to worry about crashing software/hardware.

I am Funny. WordPress is Not.
WordPress is a serious Mofo. I’ve yet to encounter a non profit that couldn’t be better served by the wonder that is WP, but let’s test the theory. We’ll cover all the reasons that WordPress can rock your world, how to convince the board, and where to start on your WP project with a little time left over for “Stump the Redhead.”   See you Saturday, after lunch, in the CMS track.