YMCA

Improving website customisation

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The Problem

Central YMCA had multiple Drupal websites approaching end of life. At the same time, they wanted to integrate with a new CRM and consolidate the YMCA Club and YMCA Central sites.

As a nonprofit, their goals were clear:

  • Maximise lead generation

  • Improve brand awareness and UX

  • Reduce long-term costs and reliance on external agencies

  • Build a more flexible, future-proof digital setup

Each site had its own objectives:

  • YMCA Central: boost conversion rates, attract fundraisers and sponsors, and showcase strategy and mission

  • YMCA Fit: increase callbacks and conversions, prepare for e-commerce, and re-establish expertise

  • YMCA Awards: portray goals transparently, attract candidates, support fundraising, and manage centre data efficiently

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The Idea

We followed a structured process:

  • Discovery: ran workshops, user research, GA review, and usability testing to establish vision and direction

  • Design: created unique IAs, wireframes, and final UI designs for each site through iterative design cycles

  • Development: built three fully customisable WordPress sites with a simple rows-and-columns approach, giving YMCA teams freedom to create pages without developer support; optimised for SEO and lead gen

  • Launch: migrated content and deployed on a scalable hosting solution

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The Outcome

  • Three customisable websites giving YMCA full content and design control

  • New D365 CRM integration with YMCA Fit, centralising course management and streamlining live updates

  • Improved lead generation and user experience for course seekers

  • A custom importer system for YMCA Awards, eliminating repetitive data entry and ensuring centre data is always up to date

The result: greater efficiency, improved user journeys, and reduced long-term costs, empowering YMCA to manage its digital presence independently.

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FAQs

  • Why did YMCA need new websites?

    Their Drupal sites were reaching end of life, and they wanted a more flexible, future-proof solution integrated with their new CRM.

  • How did Ideas + Outcomes improve YMCA’s digital setup?

    By delivering three fully customisable WordPress sites with unique designs, SEO optimisation, and seamless CRM integration.

  • What technical improvements were included?

    D365 CRM integration with YMCA Fit, a custom importer for YMCA Awards, and scalable hosting.

  • What results did the project deliver?

    Improved lead generation, greater efficiency, reduced long-term costs, and independence for YMCA to manage content without external support.

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