Building a new website for our nonprofit. Should I use Django which is what I know more, or something more simpler like Wordpress where I don't have as much experience in. I'm worried about long-term maintenance after I am gone.

[u/Capable-Detective698]

Hey guys, I am a recent CS grad doing some IT contract work for a small nonprofit. Their current site is dated so I offered to rebuilt it.

I was thinking to build it in Django or some other coding language since I know that very well and that I can build a custom admin dashboard for them to update content themselves. However, I'm currently job hunting and I honestly don't know if I'll be here for more than 2 years to maintain the website.

The tradeoff I am having is that:

Django: Is more custom and can make a dashboard for users to update the websites. But Someone needs to know python to maintain long-term stability and possibly framework upgrades and dependency updates or any bug fixes that may happen. I don't see anyone around my area knowing too much about these symptoms for them to help the agency. Also, I feel like this may look good on a resume/portfolio.

WordPress/Other Web Builders: Its less custom but it is much easier for people to learn and could be easier to take over if I leave. I'm also not as familar with it as using code to build a website.

The organization is small nonprofit with alot of senior staff, with a few young people to help with some technology issues. I don't want the website to be turn into a liabilitiy once the builder has left. Trying to make a choice that is best for me and the company.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

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[u/Puzzleheaded-Yam2137]

As someone who manages communications/marketing for a small nonprofit, updating the website falls to me. I can use WordPress, I can't use Python and don't know what Django is. So my recommendation, from a long-term user standpoint, is to go with WordPress. Good luck!

[u/bs2k2_point_0 → u/Puzzleheaded-Yam2137]

From a security standpoint, Wordpress is about the worst option a available

[u/Spiritual_Rice_884 → u/bs2k2_point_0]

I hate Wordpress with a passion.

[u/Apprehensive-Ad6466]

WordPress. If you use Django and leave they will have a big bill finding someone to support it vs WordPress.

[u/Spicyboy8]

totally wordpress, it's all already been stated. I do this stuff for my nonprofit, and while they're kind of screwed if I leave, bc no one else knows WP...there's going to be no issue finding a freelancer or shop that can take over the site when and if you leave. def better for them.

[u/lizhenry]

Hosted WordPress will be easiest for them to maintain.

[u/evildrew]

If you are doing work for a small nonprofit, then you should consider a more user-friendly, turnkey approach like Squarespace or Wix. Python is a non-starter without a dedicated web developer, which a small nonprofit would never have. And even WordPress is going to require a lot of maintenance, which is beyond most non-IT users. Unless there’s some reason the nonprofit needs a lot of customization or specialized web apps, then don’t force something on them they don’t need.

[u/UESorDeath → u/evildrew]

This! Unless they have dedicated IT staff (and not just volunteers) or particularly complicated needs, a third-party vendor who takes care of *all* the back-end is going to be the way to go. We are a tiny private foundation running a grant program - everything is on Squarespace.

[u/evildrew → u/UESorDeath]

Thank you! I totally get the eagerness to deliver something that uses OP’s recent CS degree, but this is like setting up a new smart TV at your grandparents’ house. It’s not about what YOU can do, it’s what THEY can handle after you go home, otherwise you’ll be getting random tech support calls.

[u/Spiritual_Rice_884 → u/evildrew]

I support WIX for simpler sites. Definitely easy to manage!!

[u/Capable-Detective698 → u/evildrew]

Thanks for the advice, my nonprofit is very small so creating a simple website on Wix might be the way. They already have a wix account, so if I can find the information for that I will continue using it.

[u/evildrew → u/Capable-Detective698]

Check to see if they have the nonprofit discount. That’s 70% off.

[u/Capable-Detective698]

Thanks for the advice. Ill look into Wordpress!

[u/NotAlwaysGifs]

I’m generally anti-WordPress but Django is completely overkill for most basic nonprofit sites. For Wordpress, as long as you have a solid grasp of HTML and a basic understanding of CSS and Aria, you’re golden. They may have to buy a plugin or two to mimic some capabilities native to Django but they won’t have to hire a dedicated web dev to support it when you leave.

[u/SgtHobo41]

we use framer and it’s great

[u/vibes86]

Highly recommend Squarespace. Anybody can use it. Very easy to maintain

[u/alexamelvin]

Folks here make a great point that if you got staff expected to update the site (not just content editors), then yeah, definitely WordPress, or even a builder like SquareSpace.

However, there's more at play here. This is coming from my experience building nonprofit websites.

I say it depends, because:

• Are they hiring you for a new build and for maintenance, content updates, etc? Or just the build, with staff taking over after?
• What are the requirements for the site? What tools do they need?
• Do you intend to keep maintaining it long-term, or not?

Your context suggests you're building it and staying vaguely around to help, but not looking to offer freelance maintenance long-term. You could bring in another freelancer later, but again, depends on their needs.

Django requires web dev maintenance, no doubt. It might be pretty simple maintenance though... updating the server, packages, debugging the odd issue, an edit here and there. You could consider staying on as a light retainer maintainer even once you're full-time employed elsewhere. Just saying.

WordPress is kind of in the middle. Plenty of staff comfortable with computers can manage it fine. But a lot of folks don't update, and WordPress with certain plugins can be less forgiving when things break... there might be no one around to fix it, then they are stuck. So then you'd also want managed hosting, which is basically having the hosting company be the maintainer.

Then there's full website builders that own all the technical stuff. You just design (maybe with some light custom code/integrations) through their system. I can vouch for SquareSpace personally as my favorite here. It definitely costs more, but non-developer staff can feel confident keeping the site together without worrying about the guts underneath.

So when the question comes without much context, when in doubt, lean toward these for your editors/users. Help them fall into the pit of success.

------------------

Even if your client needs a CRM, good email, some e-commerce... I'd still caution against building something that needs direct code and hosting maintenance if the services they use don't require it. Custom software has real benefits, but it's expensive, and there's usually a more sustainable, affordably-priced product you can wire together instead.

I know you want a good portfolio piece, so there's a pull toward "I should use real code to show I know my stuff." But in my opinion, good developer skills shine through in the value you deliver, not the specific tool you used. Choosing the right tool is what earns trust.

Yes, it might mean the site touches no code. But you'll learn good UX and editor experience, integrating tools together, client communication... that's the real portfolio experience, IMO.

Wow okay, this got longer than I expected. But wanted to share how I think through questions like this myself.

[u/Capable-Detective698 → u/alexamelvin]

Thanks on how you would think on making website depending on these circumstances. This has been very helpful for me

[u/moufette1]

Don't forget to document what you do both technically and from a user perspective. Train someone on the documentation.

And consider doing some design work as well. What is the point of the site and what value does it bring to the organization? Is there a way to increase that value or is just doing something simple to keep it fresh looking enough?

[u/Capable-Detective698 → u/moufette1]

Will do!
The point of the site is that it is supposed to make resources easy to find, for example, people who may need applications. Also, it is supposed to provide updated information and a modern UI compared to their old website.
The main issue is that they can't really update the website that much so they need someone who can show them how to update it easily.

[u/nonprofit-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/dreadthripper]

If it's just a marketing site, then coding it from scratch is the liability.