Connecting cultures

Upstate International (UI) connects cultures in the Upstate region of South Carolina through programs, events and educational opportunities. As the organization grew, so did the work of managing members, events and donors. The mission was growing faster than the systems behind it.

The problem

Membership registrations, language classes and event sign-ups were spread across several third-party platforms. That created data silos, which made it hard for staff to manage members, donors and attendees in one place. Staff re-entered the same data by hand, which took time and invited errors.

UI wanted one connected system that would:

  • Connect their website with Little Green Light (LGL), their donor management software.
  • Give members one portal for registrations, renewals and updates.
  • Handle event and language class registrations, with data syncing to LGL.
  • Automate routine tasks to reduce staff workload.

WooCommerce and Little Green Light

We built a custom plugin that syncs WooCommerce transactions with LGL’s donor database through the LGL API. Every membership, language class and event registration goes to LGL automatically, so staff don’t re-enter it by hand. We mapped UI’s membership tiers, class types and donor details to LGL’s database fields, so staff can report on them in detail.

Member portal

We built a membership portal on UI’s website. Members can update their profiles, renew their memberships and register for events in one place. The portal also sends automated renewal reminders.

Classes and events

Visitors can browse language classes and events, then register and pay through WooCommerce. Registration data flows into LGL, giving staff current attendee lists and simpler reporting.

Website redesign

We also redesigned the website with clear navigation, a mobile-friendly layout and photos that reflect UI’s community.

The result

UI now runs memberships, classes, events and donor records through one connected system. Registrations and payments land in LGL without manual entry, members handle renewals and sign-ups on their own, and staff spend less time on data entry and more on programs.

For another Greenville nonprofit build, see Greenville Mentoring Collaborative, or read about our systems and integrations work.