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Case Study

Optimized User Journey

Access Fund

Working to protect climbing landscapes and ensure sustainable access for generations to come.

The Challenge

Since 1991, Colorado-based Access Fund has worked “to ensure a sustainable future for climbing by bringing climbers together to protect climbing landscapes and the incredible experiences they offer.”

Access Fund’s impactful work includes (a) advocating for public lands to be managed sustainably and to remain accessible to all people, (b) purchasing threatened climbing areas, and (c) building nature-friendly trails and climbing locales.

Their messaging was directed not only at the climbing community, but at lawmakers, land managers, donors, and other pertinent audiences. However, communication efforts were notably hindered by their Craft content management system (CMS) that required outside technical support.

And while they had a rich library of amazing photography, their ability to use it online to tell their story—and ultimately to fundraise—was hampered by a dated display capability.

So Access Fund’s questions we needed to answer included:

  • Which CMS won’t require a developer, but will work with the variety of third-party plug-ins we wish to use and give us attractive, modern templates with which to build smart web content?
  • How can we improve our online storytelling to drive donations and gain new supportive members?

Our Solutions

  • Explored and recommended three major content management systems, all of which featured user-friendly drag-and-drop editors. After demoing, Access Fund selected the one they felt supported their desired functionality and was easiest to maintain in-house.
  • Created various templates for ongoing use that (a) vividly showcased their incredible photography, (b) promoted clear and compelling calls to action, and (c) reflected a thriving, contemporary nonprofit worthy of donor support. 
  • Integrated third-party platforms and plug-ins for a seamless, convenient operation. Fundraise Up’s already optimized donor experience was elevated even further through its custom integration into Access Fund’s website.

The Results

Access Fund enjoys a much easier interface for updating their content, requiring no outside support.

They now feature a modernized online presence that makes good use of third-party platforms like Fundraise Up to inspire donations.

For an improved donor journey, new pillar web pages were redesigned and rewritten to clearly explain the problems Access Fund solves and the case for supporting their organization financially.

Access Fund Homepage
Access Fund Impact Section

"I just wanted to express my thanks for the beautiful new website and the seamless launch.

This is my fourth website launch with Access Fund, and I've also managed website projects on the agency side, and this is by far the smoothest and easiest I've ever seen.

You all are very good at what you do, and you have our deep appreciation!” 

Access Fund

Holly Smolenski
VP of Marketing & Philanthropy

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