Institute for Applied Ecology
A custom WordPress redesign for a Corvallis-based conservation nonprofit restoring native species and habitats across the American West.
The Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE) is a 501(c)(3) conservation nonprofit founded in 1999 in Corvallis, Oregon, with a mission to conserve native species and habitats through restoration, research, and education. With offices in Corvallis and Santa Fe, New Mexico, IAE operates six programs spanning habitat restoration, native seed partnerships, conservation research, pollinator projects, ecological education, and innovative programs like Sagebrush in Prisons and New Mexico Conservation in Prisons. The organization manages the Native Seed Network and hosts the National Native Seed Conference — a national gathering for the native seed industry. IAE has earned the Candid Gold Seal of Transparency, is a 1% For the Planet member, and has received recognition from the Wildlife Society, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Oregon Recreation and Parks Association. With 21 full-time staff, 10–12 seasonal positions, and an active internship pipeline, IAE is one of the most active applied conservation organizations in the western United States.
Website Design
We redesigned and rebuilt the Institute for Applied Ecology’s website on WordPress to support an organization whose digital needs are unusually broad for a nonprofit of its size. The site serves six distinct programs across two states, each with its own audiences, content needs, and conversion pathways — from habitat restoration practitioners and native seed growers to classroom educators, prison program coordinators, potential donors, and prospective interns. The redesign organized IAE’s extensive program content into a clean information architecture (Restoration, Research, Education, Resources, Get Involved) that lets each audience find their way without getting lost in the breadth. A WooCommerce-powered store supports merchandise and resource sales. The site integrates a Google Translate widget for multilingual access, maintains a news feed and events calendar, and supports the National Native Seed Conference with dedicated landing and registration content. The visual design uses IAE’s established olive and earth-tone palette with full-bleed field photography that connects the digital experience to the landscapes IAE works to protect.
Website Hosting & Maintenance
We host appliedeco.org on managed WordPress infrastructure tuned for a content-rich nonprofit site with WooCommerce, a multilingual translation layer, and a steady publishing cadence across six programs. The hosting plan includes QUIC.cloud CDN integration for performance and bot protection, daily backups, security hardening (firewall, malware scanning, timely WordPress and plugin updates), 24/7 monitoring, and direct support from our team. IAE’s staff are conservation scientists and educators, not web developers — the hosting arrangement means they can focus on field seasons, research, seed partnerships, and education programs without thinking about WordPress infrastructure.
03 — The Work
Six programs, two states, one clear digital home.
04 — Praise From the Client
Josh and Abide developed and launched our new website with skill and attention. We are very pleased with the design and functionality of the new site, which is also faster and easier to update and maintain than our previous online presence. The project was economical for our nonprofit, too. And when we need ongoing assistance the team is there to help us. We feel our website is now in good hands. Thanks, Abide!
Tom Kaye
Executive Director
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