Client: Georgia Council for the Social Studies (GCSS)
Industry: Nonprofit / Education
Services Provided: WordPress Development, Custom Forms, CRM Integration, Payment Gateway Integration
Project Partner: mediaGuild

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đźš© The Challenge

The Georgia Council for the Social Studies (GCSS) is a nonprofit organization that champions social studies education throughout the state. They approached mediaGuild with a dual challenge:

  1. Modernize their outdated website, which no longer met the expectations of a professional membership organization.
  2. Streamline and professionalize the registration process for their Annual Statewide Conference—their flagship event for educators—by replacing their manual workflows and a basic PayPal button with a more integrated and scalable system.

GCSS required:

  • A modern WordPress website that was visually appealing, mobile-friendly, and easy to maintain.
  • Custom registration forms for conference attendees and members.
  • A seamless integration with their custom CRM for tracking contacts and managing events.
  • A secure, professional-grade payment gateway to handle conference fees and membership dues.

🛠️ The Solution

mediaGuild delivered a full-stack digital transformation, covering everything from front-end design to backend automation.

1. WordPress Website Redesign

We rebuilt the GCSS website from the ground up using WordPress, focusing on:

  • Responsive, mobile-first design for usability across devices.
  • Clean architecture that highlighted GCSS’s mission, events, and resources.
  • Easy content management so staff could update the site without technical support.
2. Custom Conference Forms

We developed dynamic registration forms tailored to the conference:

  • Collected contact information, session preferences, and dietary needs.
  • Supported group registrations for schools and districts.
  • Embedded logic to route submissions directly into their CRM system.
3. CRM Integration

To unify data management, we integrated form submissions with a custom CRM platform. This allowed GCSS to:

  • Track attendees, members, and past participation.
  • Automate email confirmations, receipts, and reminders.
  • Export data and generate event reports for board and logistics teams.
4. Payment Gateway Integration

We replaced the legacy PayPal button with a robust Authorize.net payment gateway integration. This enabled:

  • Seamless in-form credit card payments for registration and dues.
  • Real-time payment confirmations with CRM sync.
  • PCI-compliant security and professional presentation.
  • Reduced friction for users—no PayPal account required.

âś… The Results

  • 60% reduction in administrative overhead from automated data and payment processing.
  • Professionalized online transactions, improving trust and conversion with a secure Authorize.net gateway.
  • Unified event and member data, enabling better communication and follow-up.
  • Improved attendee experience through a clean and simple registration process.

🎓 What GCSS Said

“Switching from a PayPal button to an integrated Authorize.net system was a game-changer. mediaGuild helped us elevate our entire digital experience—from our website to how we handle registrations and payments. It’s easier for our members and easier for our team.”
— GCSS Board Member

đź’ˇ Conclusion

With strategic planning and custom development, mediaGuild helped GCSS shift from a pieced-together digital presence to a fully integrated platform built for growth. From website design to payment automation, the new system supports their mission, saves time, and delivers a professional experience that reflects the organization’s value.

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