Case Study
Clarkston SCAMP
CASE STUDY
Clarkston SCAMP
CLIENT
SERVICES
- Custom Web Design & Development (WordPress)
- CMS Migration (Drupal to WordPress)
- Digital Strategy & Content Consulting
- Donation Platform Integration (Zeffy & DAF Widget)
- UX/UI Strategy for Nonprofits
- Performance Hosting and Maintenance
- Designed with a foundation for SEO
- GA4, Conversion Tracking, HotJar Behavioral Analytics implementation
The challenge
Clarkston SCAMP, a 50+ year legacy nonprofit providing summer camp experiences for individuals with special needs, required a digital home that matched the “magic” of their physical camp. The project faced several technical and strategic hurdles:
- Complex CMS Migration: Moving decades of content and functionality from an aging Drupal environment to a modern, user-friendly WordPress CMS.
- High Processing Fees: The previous donation setup incurred significant processing fees, resulting in reduced funding for SCAMPers
- User Friction: Both the registration process for SCAMPers and the donation flow for supporters involved cumbersome redirects to external sites, leading to high drop-off rates.
Niche Audience Targeting
Designing a dual-purpose interface that appeals to high-value donors while remaining accessible and welcoming for parents and caregivers of individuals with disabilities
SOLUTION
Strategic Donation Ecosystem
We recommended and integrated Zeffy, a platform that reduces donation processing fees to zero, ensuring 100% of every gift goes directly to the camp. We also implemented a specialized Donor Advised Fund (DAF) widget to cater to sophisticated charitable giving.
On-Page Conversion Paths
By removing external redirects and utilizing simple donation pop-ups, we created a streamlined experience where donors can contribute to specific events or SCAMP Camp without ever leaving the page.
Refined UX for Families
We overhauled the registration and application architecture. The new WordPress site features intuitive forms for camper registration, volunteer applications, and sponsorship sign-ups, significantly reducing the administrative burden on both the staff and the families.
Visual Storytelling
Aqaba consulted on a content strategy that brought the participants—the SCAMPers—to the forefront. Using vibrant design elements and strategic storytelling, the site now captures the inclusive, joyful essence of the Clarkston community.
RESULT
The launch of the new Clarkston SCAMP website has provided the organization with a high-performance growth engine that serves the Clarkston community more effectively than ever:
Zero-Fee Fundraising
The transition to Zeffy immediately increased the net impact of every donation by eliminating processing fees resulting in over $3000 saved in the first 90 days .
Reduced Registration Friction
Caretakers now enjoy a vastly simplified registration process, leading to faster camp enrollment and higher volunteer engagement.
Seamless Donor Journey
The integration of DAF (Donor Advised Fund) widgets and pop-up donation modals has modernized the donor experience, resulting in a more professional and trustworthy interface for high-ticket sponsors.
Modernized Management
The migration to WordPress has empowered the SCAMP staff to manage their own content, updates, and event news with ease, moving away from the technical limitations of their previous CMS.
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Clarkston SCAMP sought a website that acted as a true reflection of their welcoming environment. They wanted a design that was “fun” yet professional, showcasing the joy of their participants. Key requirements included a simplified donation process, seamless integration of new fundraising platforms, and a streamlined way to handle volunteer applications and sponsorships.
Aqaba Digital solved the “redirect fatigue” that was hurting donor conversions by implementing an on-page donation experience. We addressed the financial drain of processing fees by recommending a zero-fee platform and resolved the navigation issues of the old Drupal site by organizing content into an easy-to-navigate, state-of-the-art WordPress structure.
We handled the end-to-end lifecycle of the project: from designing and articulating the initial strategy to the technical deployment and ongoing high-performance hosting. The final product is a website that prioritizes the SCAMP mission while doubling as a powerful conversion tool for fundraising. An easy-to-navigate website is properly organized for users to find the pages they need easily. Simplified registration for SCAMP and applications for volunteers
SCAMP chose Aqaba Digital due to our reputation for high-fidelity web design and our deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by nonprofits trying to develop their digital presence. Being a Clarkston-based organization, they valued Aqaba’s strong local presence and the high recommendations received from community members in the Clarkston, Michigan area.
What did the client want?
Clarkston SCAMP sought a website that acted as a true reflection of their welcoming environment. They wanted a design that was “fun” yet professional, showcasing the joy of their participants. Key requirements included a simplified donation process, seamless integration of new fundraising platforms, and a streamlined way to handle volunteer applications and sponsorships.
What problems did we solve?
Aqaba Digital solved the “redirect fatigue” that was hurting donor conversions by implementing an on-page donation experience. We addressed the financial drain of processing fees by recommending a zero-fee platform and resolved the navigation issues of the old Drupal site by organizing content into an easy-to-navigate, state-of-the-art WordPress structure.
What did Aqaba do overall?
We handled the end-to-end lifecycle of the project: from designing and articulating the initial strategy to the technical deployment and ongoing high-performance hosting. The final product is a website that prioritizes the SCAMP mission while doubling as a powerful conversion tool for fundraising. An easy-to-navigate website is properly organized for users to find the pages they need easily. Simplified registration for SCAMP and applications for volunteers
Why did the Client Choose Aqaba?
SCAMP chose Aqaba Digital due to our reputation for high-fidelity web design and our deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by nonprofits trying to develop their digital presence. Being a Clarkston-based organization, they valued Aqaba’s strong local presence and the high recommendations received from community members in the Clarkston, Michigan area.
WHAT WE LEARNED
- Emotional Resonance through Visual Storytelling: We discovered that the most effective way to showcase the SCAMP mission was to move away from text-heavy descriptions and let the participants lead. By prioritizing high-resolution, candid imagery of the “SCAMPers” in action, the design successfully bridges the gap between a digital interface and the heart of the camp, fostering an immediate emotional connection with donors.
- The Power of Narrative-Driven Navigation: Improving the overall user experience meant more than just a clean layout; it required creating a “Guided Journey.” We learned that by structuring the site navigation around specific user personas—parents, volunteers, and donors—we could deliver a more intuitive UX that leads each group to their specific goals with zero confusion.
- Integrating Social Proof as a Design Element: A key takeaway was the importance of weaving community impact throughout the site. By strategically placing sponsor logos and donor acknowledgements within the flow of the SCAMP story, we created a design that validates the nonprofit’s credibility and inspires new supporters to join a proven success story.
- Digital Accessibility as an Inclusive Experience: Designing for a special needs nonprofit highlighted the necessity of accessible design principles. We learned that using high-contrast color palettes, readable typography, and logical site architecture wasn’t just a technical requirement—it was an extension of SCAMP’s inclusive mission, ensuring the digital environment is as welcoming as the physical camp.