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For legacy organizations, "the way we've always done it" is usually the biggest barrier to growth.
Since 1992, the Richardson Home School Association (RHSA) has been a cornerstone of the North Texas homeschool community. Their motto, "Tuesdays feel like a holiday," is real. The in-person experience is warm, organized, and trusted.
Their digital presence was not.
Behind the scenes, leadership was carrying a heavy load of admin debt: manual email loops, broken links in weekly newsletters, scattered event workflows, and a fundraising setup that created more friction than momentum.
Branded Mayhem stepped in to perform a Presence Architecture, installing a "Digital Spine" designed to automate the boring stuff so RHSA could focus on families, not busywork.
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What We Built (The Digital Spine)
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1) Presence Architecture: The Wix Rebuild
A nonprofit website shouldn't act like a brochure. It should behave like a 24/7 concierge.
We rebuilt RHSA on a stronger Wix foundation, using Presence Architecture: a system that's designed to build trust and drive action, not just "look nice."
The conversion funnel (two journeys, instantly)
We reshaped the homepage around the two highest-value user paths:
Instead of forcing visitors to hunt for next steps, we made the actions obvious above the fold, with clean, repeatable CTAs across the site.
The credibility stack (heritage + youth-forward)
RHSA needed to feel established without feeling dated. We built a visual system that balanced:
Segmented UX + FAQ strategy (human-first, search-friendly)
Rather than dumping everything into one massive FAQ page, we distributed questions across the paths where they actually matter (joining, tours, events, donations).
That helps real humans and improves search performance, especially for local discovery queries like:
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2) Fundraising Pivot: BetterWorld → Zeffy
Operational friction is a silent killer for nonprofits. RHSA's previous fundraising flow created extra steps and extra admin.
We introduced RHSA to Zeffy and integrated donation and ticket flows directly into the new site.
This wasn't just a tool swap. It was a conversion decision:
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3) The "One Shot" Fundraiser: Sponsor ROI, Not Sponsor Charity
To support RHSA's Dryvebox golf simulator event, we built a dedicated microsite: oneshot.rhsa.org
Most nonprofit events treat sponsors like donors who want a logo placement. We treated sponsors like partners who want measurable value.
HubSpot integration (separate audiences, better comms)
We separated event marketing from core member communication by routing sponsors and ticket buyers into HubSpot. That allowed RHSA to run high-frequency event messaging without burning out the main member list.
Modern sponsor inventory (beyond "logo on a t-shirt")
We designed a sponsor engine with real activation logic, including:
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4) Automating the Onboarding Gap
One of RHSA's biggest time sinks was new family inquiries.
We took the team's existing onboarding materials (emails, handouts, policies) and turned them into a structured digital onboarding path.
By rebuilding the "How to Join" experience as a step-by-step guide, complete with safety protocols and code of conduct, the website now handles "orientation" before a volunteer ever has to jump into a 1:1 email thread.
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The Result: From Manual Loops to Automated Pipelines
RHSA now has a digital system that matches the quality of its community.
With a site that drives action, a fundraising flow built for simplicity, and an event engine designed for sponsor ROI, RHSA can grow without increasing volunteer workload at the same pace.
A Digital Spine reduces admin debt, improves conversion, and creates a foundation that can scale.
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What This Proves
Nonprofit digital transformation isn't about chasing technology. It's about removing friction so your mission can move faster.
RHSA didn't need more tools. They needed fewer manual loops and a web presence that actually worked.
For organizations facing similar challenges — legacy systems, volunteer overload, scattered operations — the path forward is the same: build a Digital Spine that lets you focus on what matters.
See the live site: rhsa.org
Ready to build yours? Book Brand Therapy and get a priority plan in 30 minutes.
— The Mayhem Crew
"A Digital Spine reduces admin debt, improves conversion, and creates a foundation that can scale."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is nonprofit digital transformation?
Nonprofit digital transformation is the process of replacing manual, disconnected operations with integrated digital systems that reduce admin burden and improve outcomes. For organizations like RHSA, this means automating onboarding, streamlining fundraising, and building a web presence that converts curiosity into action.
Why use Wix for a nonprofit website?
Wix provides nonprofits with an accessible platform for forms, newsletters, event calendars, and content management without requiring developer resources. It allows volunteer teams to update content independently while maintaining professional design standards.
Is Zeffy a BetterWorld alternative for fundraising?
Yes. Zeffy is a zero-fee fundraising platform where donors can optionally add a contribution to support Zeffy rather than paying platform fees. This creates a cleaner donor experience and simpler reporting compared to BetterWorld.
How do nonprofits improve donor conversion on a website?
Donor conversion improves when the highest-value actions (donate, schedule a tour, join) are visible above the fold, supported by trust signals (years of service, testimonials, credibility proof), and connected to clear next-step CTAs throughout the site.
How can nonprofits track sponsors and event leads in HubSpot?
By routing event ticket buyers and sponsor contacts into HubSpot separately from core member lists, nonprofits can run high-frequency event marketing without burning out their main communication channels. HubSpot free tier supports up to 1,000 contacts for this purpose.
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