About the Project

In 2016, I redesigned, built, and launched the Essex Community Fund’s website to support the organization's mission of fundraising and community outreach. In addition to the website, I organized and executed a large-scale online fundraiser featuring 160 decommissioned street signs, helping the organization raise thousands of dollars. This included creation of auction pages, professional photography, and marketing materials.

I also established the organization’s PayPal Giving Fund and eBay seller account for nonprofits, providing them with well-established platforms for ongoing fundraising efforts.

Lastly, I created a user manual and held training sessions to assist the client with ongoing website maintenance.

The Challenge

The Essex Community Fund needed a functional and visually appealing website to establish an online presence, promote their community programs, and serve as the foundation for future fundraising efforts. The previous website was challenging to navigate, both for users and for website management, as it was built in Dreamweaver and the clients lacked knowledge of web programming languages. Additionally, the client required a digital platform to conduct an auction fundraiser for a collection of decommissioned street signs, which required careful coordination of digital assets, fundraising tools, and marketing materials.

Scope and Process

Website Design and Development

I designed and developed the Essex Community Fund website on Wordpress, ensuring that it was user-friendly, visually engaging, and aligned with the organization's branding. I focused on a simple, easy-to-navigate layout that showcased their projects and provided clear calls-to-action for donations and events. Additionally, I chose WordPress because it was much easier to use over Dreamweaver and had all the capabilities that the organization required.

Auction Fundraiser Planning and Execution

I cooordinated a large-scale eBay auction for decommissioned street signs, which ran for three consecutive weeks. I carefully photographed and staged 160 signs, ensuring high-quality images for the eBay listings and the auction page.

Content Creation and Marketing

I developed auction marketing materials including a flyer, website pages, and eBay auction pages to promote the event and generate awareness. I also wrote descriptions and copy for each individual listing, highlighting the uniqueness of each sign to maximize interest.

Digital Payments Integration

I successfully launched the organization's PayPal Giving Fund account, integrating it into the website to allow for easy online donations. Additionally, I set up an eBay seller account for the fundraiser, ensuring smooth auction transactions and payments.

User Manual Development

I created an instructional website manual for the client to use as a reference when managing and updating their site. This document provided clear, easy-to-follow steps for ongoing maintenance, empowering the client to independently manage future content updates.

Final Deliverables

• A much more functional, easier-to-use website for the Essex Community Fund, incorporating donation capabilities, event pages, and organizational information.
• Marketing assets such as flyers, digital promotions, and eBay auction page copy.
• A user manual to guide the clients in maintaining the website independently post-launch.

Results

• The website launch successfully established a strong online presence for Essex Community Fund, providing them with a platform to promote their mission and fundraising initiatives.
• The auction fundraiser raised thousands of dollars for the organization, with the eBay page attracting significant traffic and engagement.
• The website saw positive feedback from users, particularly regarding its ease of navigation and donation functionality.
• The PayPal Giving Fund integration allowed for easy, secure donations, streamlining the process for both donors and the organization.

What I Learned

This project enhanced my skills in end-to-end website design and fundraising through digital platforms. It also underscored the importance of user-centered design, and I learned how to integrate multiple digital platforms(WordPress, PayPal Giving Fund, eBay) to create a cohesive digital user experience. The experience also taught me the importance of creating thorough training resources for clients, ensuring they can independently manage their digital presence long after the project is complete.