Bo's Place asked HexaGroup to create a site that would help the organization become more efficient specifically in three essential areas: Development and fund raising, volunteer administration, and provision of services to families who called everyday looking for support after the death of a loved one.

Service to grieving families is the organization's highest priority. Since their inception, many people called Bo's Place daily, seeking help for family members dealing with the loss of a family member. These calls were in addition to the plethora of calls regarding volunteer opportunities or basic information about the organization's services and the staff would often become overwhelmed. The new site had to do something to relieve the staff so they could deal with the most urgent needs.

The new $7 million capital campaign also presented particular challenges. Previous to the new site, Bo's Place development staff had only an organizational brochure and staff-generated handouts to present to potential donors. The original website was that brochure in digital form. The development personnel understood that an expertly designed website demonstrated to potential donors the professional, serious intention of the organization and it would also offer the fund raisers another choice for promoting the organization. They requested that the site provide potential donors with a secure, easy way to make donations.

Volunteer management was a serious need for the organization. Until the new site became live, management was done via phone and email and was very labor intensive. Online scheduling and volunteer application forms were seen as a way to free staff to deal with the main mission of the organization - providing services for grieving families.

HexaGroup first interviewed Bo's Place staff members to better understand the organization's essential operations. These interviews provided key information for the next phase - the customization of the new site's content management system (CMS). HexaGroup graphic designers also worked with the staff to develop -a new look and feel for the site that would communicate both the professional nature of the organization as well as its orientation towards grieving children. We customized e-business features to allow for online donations with direct deposit into the organizations accounts and online receipts for donors, further freeing staff members for more essential tasks. And, the easy-access administrative interface of the CMS allows Bo's Place staff members to make changes to the site with little difficulty.

Families in need now have a place on the internet that provides essential information on how to deal with a child's grief. The many support group schedules, evening programs and professional training services are all listed online and updatable by Bo's staff. Donors can now make direct donations to the organization via credit card through the site's secure page, and board member minutes are available through secure sign in. Furthermore, families can email the organization directly seeking answers to issues only trained personnel can answer. Organization team members manage the site directly through the easily accessible administrative interface. What's more, Bo's Place growing cadre of volunteers now have a central location to arrange their volunteer schedule, apply for volunteer positions and contact the staff with questions. With these combined benefits, the site is doing what it should - providing grieving families access to the help they need to deal with the death of a loved one.