5 signs it’s time to upgrade your community's website

Your community website is often the first stop for alumni, donors, and members looking to connect, contribute, or engage. It’s your digital front door — and a chance to make a lasting impression and foster deeper connections. But how can you tell if it’s time to give your membershrip, alumni or community website a refresh?

Here are five signs your website might need an update — and how the right platform can help.

Your team is limited by your website 

A flexible and user-friendly website is essential for small teams managing busy alumni or community offices. If you rely on developers or designers to make even the most minor updates, it can really slow you down and waste resources.

A modern content management system (CMS) empowers your team to make their own updates, upload content, or create new pages with ease — no coding skills required. ToucanTech allows an unlimited number of admins to collaborate, so whether you're adding member success stories, alumni updates or updating event pages, everyone can pitch in when needed.

Your website isn't mobile responsive

On-the-go members, alumni and other community members are very likely to access your site from their phones or tablets. If your website isn’t mobile responsive, you risk losing engagement — and your Google search ranking.

A responsive website will automatically adjust to fit any screen size to offer a seamless user experience. Whether it’s registering for an event, reading the latest newsletter, or making a donation, a mobile-friendly site ensures your community can stay connected, anytime and anywhere.

You can’t link your website to your CRM

Your alumni or membership website should be more than just a pretty interface—it’s a vital tool for understanding and engaging your audience. If your website and CRM aren’t integrated, you’re missing out on some very valuable insights.

An all-in-one platform, like ToucanTech, combines your website with a powerful CRM and database. Track email opens, map family and friend networks, take membership payments, record donations, and capture new contact details directly from your website. With this level of integration, you’ll know your audience better and be able to serve them more effectively.

You can’t run and promote events on your website

From reunions and networking events to member-only conferences and virtual fundraisers, your website should be the hub for event promotion and registration. If you’re relying on third-party platforms to manage signups, you’re losing valuable opportunities to engage your audience on your site.

With ToucanTech, you can manage the entire event process — from ticketing to dietary preferences — all in one place. Promote your events through targeted email campaigns, exclude those who’ve already signed up, and keep attendees informed using reminders and updates, ensuring a smooth experience for everyone.

You can’t take payments online

Whether it’s membership fees, alumni association dues, event tickets, merchandise, or donations, being able to accept payments securely on your website is non-negotiable. A seamless payment process builds trust and convenience for your audience.

ToucanTech integrates with trusted payment providers like Apple Pay, Google Pay, Stripe and GoCardless, making it easy for users to pay on the go. Tax receipts and donor records are automatically generated and linked to your CRM, saving time and ensuring accuracy.

Is it time to update your website? 

Take inspiration from organizations like Rugby School, The Hutchins School and AIA Philadelphia, who’ve transformed their community websites using ToucanTech to bring their members, alumni and supporters together.

ToucanTech combines a dynamic website, CRM, database, and email engine in one easy-to-use solution. Ready to see what your community website can achieve? Get in touch with us to book a demo and learn more.