When Peer Support Advocates of North Dakota (PSAND) approached me, they already had a Wix website in place. What they needed next was not a redesign, but a robust, easy-to-manage member portal that could support their growing organization, streamline internal processes, and improve the experience for members, donors, and event attendees.
The goal was to create an all-in-one solution that reduced manual administration, eliminated friction for users, and scaled sustainably, all while staying within the Wix ecosystem.
The Challenge
PSAND needed a system that could handle:
- Membership management
- Secure member access
- Donations and fundraising
- Event registration and tracking
- Staff workflows and documentation
All without forcing staff to juggle multiple tools or troubleshoot member logins.
The Solution: A Custom Wix Member Portal + CRM-Driven Workflows
Using Wix’s advanced member features, CRM tools, automations, and custom configuration, I built a centralized member portal that met PSAND’s functional and operational requirements.
Contact & Membership Management
The foundation of the solution was a streamlined CRM setup that allows PSAND to:
- Manage contacts and clearly distinguish members vs. non-members
- Allow users to create, manage, and update their own membership profiles
- Provide secure access to a members-only portal without staff needing to troubleshoot passwords or access issues
- Automate membership notifications and renewals
- Support multiple membership types and pricing tiers
- Track prospects and opportunities for outreach and growth
Members can log in, update their information, and manage their own accounts, significantly reducing administrative overhead for staff.
Member Directory: Connecting Members Across North Dakota
A key enhancement to the portal was a searchable, filterable member directory designed to help members connect with one another.
The directory includes:
- Profile photos uploaded by members to personalize profiles
- Contact email visibility (when enabled) to encourage peer-to-peer connection
- City and state fields tied directly to member profiles
- Location-based filtering, allowing members to find others in similar cities or regions
This feature transforms the portal from a static resource into an active community tool, helping members find peers, collaborators, and local support more easily.
Fundraising, Donations & Financial Management
PSAND also needed a flexible fundraising solution that integrated cleanly with membership data. The portal now supports:
- Online donations and contribution processing
- Fundraising campaigns
- Donor segmentation based on gift history
- Automatic receipt generation
- The ability to waive payment processing fees for donors where applicable
All donor and contribution data lives in one place, making reporting and stewardship easier.
Event Management Built for Members and Staff
To replace manual processes and third-party tools, I implemented Eventbrite-style event functionality directly within Wix, including:
- Paid and unpaid event registration
- Member-only event pricing and discounts
- Attendance tracking
- “Add to Calendar” functionality
- Support for both in-person and online events, including Microsoft Teams
- Centralized event management tied directly to member records
This allows PSAND to manage events end-to-end without leaving their website.
Designed for Ease of Use and Long-Term Sustainability
Beyond features, the system was built with usability and sustainability in mind:
- Ease of administration for staff
- Simple, intuitive workflows for members
- Minimal reliance on third-party integrations
- Predictable costs for ongoing administration and maintenance
- Access to Wix training resources and support
To ensure long-term success, I also created standard operating procedures (SOPs) for staff and provided communication support to help roll out the portal smoothly.
The Result
PSAND now has a centralized, scalable member portal that:
- Improves the member experience
- Reduces manual work for staff
- Supports fundraising and events in one system
- Encourages peer-to-peer connection through the member directory
- Grows with the organization over time
Most importantly, the solution works within their existing Wix site, proving that with the right planning and configuration, Wix can support complex nonprofit workflows without the need for expensive external platforms.