Community IT Innovators. Established 1993. Serving social mission organizations with integrated technology services you can trust.

I’ve been understandably obsessed the last two weeks with the final push to go live with the new site, which for me has meant not letting the perfect get in the way of the good – over and over again.  And even though this is my third go round after YouthVote.org (now defunct – not because of my website redesign!) and Ashoka, the process doesn’t get easier, although I do keep learning a lot.

I wonder if it is the same or worse in the for-profit web world – a commonality in the nonprofit side is how there is the process you know you should be doing – building consensus, driving the process with thoughtful goals, building an online strategy that is integral to the site, not getting distracted by geewhiz new cool stuff but really keeping your readers and users’ needs in mind.  But then what really happens is very different from what you know you should take the time to do.  And the results are very … public.  Which is probably what leads to the obsession over getting the little things right, when I probably should have been paying a lot closer attention to the big things back in the kick off meetings.

One thing that has evolved since this project started, however, is the incorporation of the theme “home” into our work at CITI, as we look for new office.  Yes, we finally have to admit we are too big for our space, and in characteristically CITI fashion we are learning all about ourselves as we make choices on the new one.  Natural light being high on the list of must haves, along with commutable location, things to do locally (especially lunch), and above all, a place that reflects our values.  A home.

recycled birdhouse, emily montgomery, used with permission