Even though I’m retired, I often find myself helping non-profit organizations set up websites. My recommendation to most of them is to set up a WordPress site. Very few need the demands of more complex sites. The non-profits I help are usually Christian-based, which is not popular in some tech communities and outright targeted in some parts of the world where they operate. Using WordPress is accessible in all languages, stable and very affordable hosting is available. Overall, this allows me to remain useful and focus on work with purpose.
Why WordPress?
To start, over half of all new websites on the planet now are based on the WordPress platform. That means it is actively supported, has lots of choices for themes, and most commerce platforms provide supported plug-ins. WordPress will be 20 years old in 2023, so it is a stable platform. Pretty much any activity of a non-profit can be accomplished at very reasonable prices.
Listening to yesterday’s annual State of the Word presentation, they added a few more reasons for using open-source. It is “Free as in Speech.” Users are free to run the program, study and change the program, redistribute the program, and distribute their modified copies. These freedoms with the software help with access to free speech.
Non-profit organizations face not just limited financial capital, but also limited human capacity to take on large projects. WordPress provides an easy way to start and maintain a web presence. There is some learning required for the non-profit manager or volunteers who will help with the website. There is full documentation and tutorials for any area of WordPress publishing. I’m a visual learner, so I depend on the thousands of online video tutorials to answer any questions which range from technical to aesthetics. Finally, WordCamps provide a great way to learn the platform while getting to know people in your area.
Need Creative Commons images, videos, sounds or other creative items for your non-profit website? WordPress acquired Openverse last year to scour the internet to help find those resources.
What’s new for 2023?
Block Themes – This theme uses Gutenberg blocks as components for the entire structure of a theme. This allows designers to recreate any look and feel. This may be the last theme anyone needs, if they know the design they want and have time to block it together.
Styles – This allows designers more control over typography, fonts, and appearances with multiple variations within a theme. The new 2023 default theme comes bundled with ten different Style variations.
Create Block Theme – This is a block theme that allows users to start with a blank canvas and quickly build their own theme.
Personally, I get distracted easily, so I really like the Zen mode for writing. It eliminates distractions, menues, sidebars and all the shiny things that distract me.
There is more in the video, so watch it here.
State of the Word
https://www.youtube.com/live/y_6cEoFFcdc
Video Mentions
Plug-ins mentioned that use Gutenberg:
BuddyPress is a social media plugin, that Matt Mullenweg calls a “social network in a box.”
EngineAwesome – Business Application Builder. Definitely, one I want to try out.
Website Mentions:
The Pew Research Political Typology Quiz is a fun demonstration of Gutenberg technology in a quiz application which will store information for their research.
DayOne – This is an award-winning, private journaling app that now uses Gutenberg.
There is a lot more detail in the video, so please take time to view it as you plan your website projects for 2023. Like I said at the beginning, there is a lot to offer for non-profits, as well as small businesses on a limited budget.
Allen