“It should be easy—I’m using a website builder!” That’s what many nonprofit founders think when they start building their online presence. But as I learned while helping Windy City Seniors, even “easy” platforms can present complex challenges when you’re trying to collect donations and manage user accounts.

Meeting Through Community

I met the founder of Windy City Seniors through our local chamber of commerce—exactly the kind of community connection that leads to meaningful collaboration. She had built a website using Wix and was doing important work supporting seniors in Chicago, but was struggling with some technical aspects that were blocking her progress.

The challenges she faced are incredibly common for nonprofits: How do you set up secure donations? What’s the best way to handle user logins? How do you make these “simple” tools work for your specific needs?

The Real Challenges Behind “Simple” Tools

Website builders market themselves as user-friendly solutions that anyone can use. And in many ways, they are! But when nonprofits need to:

• Accept donations securely
• Set up recurring payment processing
• Implement single sign-on (SSO) for user convenience
• Integrate with other nonprofit tools
• Ensure compliance with payment regulations

…suddenly “simple” becomes quite complex.

What We Worked On

1. Donation Setup and Payment Integration

Website builders often have donation features, but understanding:

• Which payment processors to use
• How to set up recurring donations
• What fees to expect
• How to handle donor data securely

These aren’t intuitive, even with drag-and-drop interfaces.

2. Single Sign-On (SSO) Implementation

Making it easy for supporters to log in and manage their accounts required:

• Understanding authentication options
• Setting up secure user flows
• Connecting with external identity providers
• Balancing security with user experience

3. Integration Challenges

Connecting the website with:

• Email marketing tools
• Donor management systems
• Social media platforms
• Analytics and reporting tools

The Teaching Approach

Rather than just “fixing” things, I focused on knowledge transfer:

Explaining the “Why”

• Why certain security measures matter for nonprofit donations
• Why user experience affects donation completion rates
• Why integration choices impact long-term operations

Hands-On Learning

• Walking through settings together
• Documenting processes for future reference
• Building confidence for independent troubleshooting

Community-Centered Solutions

• Focusing on what serves the organization’s mission best
• Prioritizing donor experience and trust
• Ensuring sustainable, maintainable solutions

Lessons for Nonprofit Technology

1. “Simple” Tools Still Need Expert Guidance

Website builders are powerful, but navigating their advanced features often requires technical knowledge that founders don’t have time to develop.

2. Security and Trust Are Critical

For nonprofits collecting donations, any technical misstep can damage donor trust and organizational credibility.

3. Training is as Important as Implementation

Teaching someone to fish is more valuable than giving them a fish—especially for nonprofits with limited budgets.

4. Community Connections Create the Best Collaborations

Meeting through the chamber of commerce created a foundation of trust and mutual understanding of community needs.

The Ongoing Partnership

This isn’t a “project completed” situation—it’s an ongoing relationship. As Windy City Seniors grows and evolves, new technical challenges emerge. Having someone they can turn to for guidance and support makes a real difference.

Why This Work Matters

Nonprofits do incredible work in our communities, often with limited resources. When technical barriers prevent them from effectively:

• Collecting donations
• Communicating with supporters
• Managing operations efficiently
• Growing their impact

…we all lose out on the good they could be doing.

For Other Technologists

If you’re looking for meaningful ways to use your skills:

1. Connect with local nonprofits through chambers of commerce, volunteer matching services, or community events
2. Focus on teaching, not just fixing to build long-term capacity
3. Start with listening to understand their real challenges, not what you think they need
4. Be realistic about time commitments but consistent in your availability

For Nonprofits

If you’re struggling with technical aspects of your website or operations:

1. You’re not alone - these challenges are incredibly common
2. Don’t hesitate to ask for help - many technologists want to support community work
3. Budget for ongoing technical support - it’s as important as any other operational expense
4. Document what you learn so you can build internal capacity over time

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Working with community organizations has been some of the most rewarding tech work I’ve done. If you’re a nonprofit facing technical challenges or a fellow technologist interested in community work, I’d love to connect.