When The Standby Program, a nonprofit specializing in audio and visual archiving for museums, artists, and cultural institutions, approached us, they were facing a critical website crisis. Their existing site was outdated, suffered from cross-browser compatibility issues, and had been blacklisted following a security incident—severely impacting credibility, email deliverability, and online visibility.
As a small nonprofit run by a dedicated husband-and-wife team, The Standby Program relied heavily on word-of-mouth referrals. They needed immediate help to restore website security and trust, followed by a complete WordPress website modernization to better showcase their preservation work and professional expertise.
Emergency Website Security Remediation
Our first priority was addressing the website security breach and restoring the site’s reputation. We conducted a full security audit to identify vulnerabilities, remediated compromised files, and took commercially reasonable steps to harden the website against future attacks.
This process included:
- Investigating and resolving the source of the compromise
- Removing malware and unsafe scripts
- Assisting with blacklist removal and reputation recovery
- Implementing stronger security measures and monitoring
Once the immediate threat was resolved, the site was stable, secure, and ready for a full rebuild.
Rebuilding a Secure, Modern WordPress Website
With the crisis addressed, we rebuilt the website from the ground up using a secure WordPress environment and a modern, responsive design. We restructured the site’s content to improve clarity, usability, and trust—ensuring visitors could easily understand The Standby Program’s services and experience.
The new website delivers:
- Improved cross-browser and mobile compatibility
- Clear content hierarchy and project-focused navigation
- A professional, trustworthy design aligned with their archival expertise
Showcasing Archival Work with Video and Media Integration
To help The Standby Program better highlight their projects, we integrated their existing Vimeo account, allowing them to embed video clips and project stills without hosting large media files directly on the site. This approach keeps the site fast, lightweight, and easy to maintain while providing a compelling visual showcase of their work.
Email Marketing and Donation Infrastructure Setup
Beyond the website itself, we implemented supporting digital tools to strengthen engagement and sustainability:
- Mailchimp email marketing setup, including custom-branded templates
- Automated welcome email series for new subscribers
- Embedded email signup forms throughout the site
- PayPal donation integration with branded forms, receipts, and tracking
These systems help The Standby Program connect with supporters and manage donations more efficiently.
DNS Troubleshooting and Ongoing Website Support
During the DNS transition, we discovered the client’s email was configured using a nonstandard setup, which caused a temporary interruption in email delivery. We quickly identified and resolved the issue, communicated clearly about DNS propagation timelines, and provided guidance on more stable email hosting options for the future.
Today, The Standby Program has a secure, modern nonprofit website supported by ongoing maintenance and responsive technical support. Their digital presence now reflects the care, professionalism, and reliability they bring to preserving cultural heritage for museums and institutions across the East Coast.
