WebCitz started working with this client in 2025
- Client: Paul Van Handel Memorial Foundation
- Platform: WordPress
- Industry: Government / Community, Non Profit / Religious
- Services: Maintenance / Support, Web Development, Web Hosting
The Challenge
As a historical foundation, their digital presence needs to bridge the gap between the past and the modern donor. Their primary hurdles included:
- Outdated Aesthetics: Their previous site didn’t reflect the importance of their mission or provide a professional “face” for the foundation.
- Mobile Inaccessibility: With more community members and donors browsing on smartphones, the lack of a mobile-responsive design was a major barrier to engagement.
- Friction in Fundraising: The site lacked streamlined, modern options for supporters to make donations or get in touch with the foundation leadership.
The WebCitz Solution
We implemented a “Modern Heritage” strategy, prioritizing ease of use for both the foundation staff and the public:
- Custom WordPress Redesign (2025): We guided the foundation through the design selection process, helping them pick a professional, clean layout that honors their historical mission while feeling modern and trustworthy.
- Content Migration & UI Cleanup: We handled the heavy lifting of moving their historical content into the new site. During this process, we performed a thorough cleanup of the user interface (UI) in several key areas to ensure a more polished and professional appearance.
- Mobile-First Engineering: We optimized the entire site architecture for mobile devices. This ensures that whether a visitor is on a desktop or a phone, the site is fast, readable, and easy to navigate.
- Integrated Donation & Contact Tools: To support their fundraising goals, we implemented clear “Donation” options and streamlined contact forms. This makes it easier for the community to provide financial support or inquire about historical contributions.
- GA4 & Analytics Infrastructure: We set up Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to help the foundation understand its audience. They can now track which historical sections are the most popular and monitor the effectiveness of their digital fundraising efforts.
- Managed Hosting & Support: We provide secure hosting for the site, ensuring that their historical archives are always available to the public.
The Result
By 2026, the Pioneer Village & Historical Foundation has a robust digital home that effectively supports its preservation mission. Our work turned a simple informational site into a functional community hub. By trusting WebCitz with their redesign and technical infrastructure, the foundation is now better equipped to attract new donors, share local history, and ensure the legacy of Selby is preserved for years to come.
