San Antonio Pets Alive, SAPA!
From content sprawl to operational clarity. Discover how we built a custom content engine that automates updates, elevates sponsors, and reduces founder/staff friction for one of San Antonio’s most vital nonprofits.
Shannon Communications
Project Management, Copywriting
https://shannoncomms.com/
One Dog Solutions
Development
http://onedog.solutions/
Rhonda Negard
Web Design, Web Development
https://fatdogcreatives.com/about
San Antonio Pets Alive! (SAPA!) is a high-impact nonprofit dedicated to saving the lives of at-risk dogs and cats. With thousands of animals moving through their system, their digital presence is a critical operational hub for adoptions, donations, and community engagement.
The Challenge
The Overhead of Success: Prior to the redesign, SAPA! was struggling with "Content Sprawl." Their website had become a collection of manual workarounds that were difficult to update and confusing to navigate. Internal Friction: Staff members were wasting hours on manual formatting for job openings and financials. Sponsor Invisibility: Major donors were buried in sub-pages, reducing the perceived value of partnerships. User Fatigue: Critical calls-to-action were buried, and time-sensitive event info remained on the site long after the event had ended.
The Strategy
Designing for Three Sets of Users: We approached this project with William Lidwell’s cognitive ease in mind. We didn't just design for the public; we designed for the internal staff and the sponsors. The strategy was to move from a "brochure" that people had to manage to a "system" that managed itself.
Project Scope
Information Architecture & Content Strategy
Custom Post Type Development
Automated Event Management Systems
Stakeholder Visibility Strategy
UX/UI Design & Backend Development
The Solution
Custom Content Engines: We replaced manual pages with Custom Post Types and Conditional Logic to remove human error from the publishing process. "Form In, Structure Out": We built custom modules for job openings, financials, and success stories. Staff simply complete a form, and the layout, hierarchy, and branding are applied automatically. Automated Life-Cycles: We implemented post-expiration logic for events and "sticky" highlights for major milestones like the annual gala. The site cleans itself up, so the information is always current. Architecture of Influence: We redesigned the global layout to move primary CTAs above the fold and integrated a persistent sponsor-visibility system. High-level partners are now featured sitewide, elevating their brand value without cluttering the UX.
The Result
A Scalable Operational Tool: The new SAPA! website has transitioned from a digital bottleneck to a high-performing asset. By reducing the "babysitting" required from staff, we’ve freed up their time to focus on their actual mission. The result is a site that looks better, feels calmer, and—most importantly—functions as a durable tool for growth.
