One Institute
Project proposal
Our purpose
We create joyful, equitable, inclusive digital experiences that enable changemakers to do their best work.
We create inclusive websites and future-forward technologies
for organizations driving transformational change.
for nonprofits and foundations strengthening communities.
for educators making learning accessible to all.
for credit unions and community-first finance.
for organizations protecting people and planet.
for fellow B Corps and purpose-driven businesses.
Executive summary
Founded in 1952, One Institute is the oldest active LGBTQ+ organization in the country. Communicating its rich history is as important as its work today: public programs, youth education and exhibitions that teach queer history through the arts and humanities across LA County. A rebuild ahead of its 75th anniversary is the chance to show the history and its impactful work side by side.
Founded in 2009, Mangrove brings years of research, thought leadership and best practices to digital design and development. We help mission-driven teams bring clarity to complex information, so their websites support focused growth and impact.
Challenges & opportunities
A history as vital as the work
From the first widely distributed LGBTQ+ magazine in 1953 to this year's programs, One Institute's history is a core part of its DNA. A new site will weave together historical archives, events and current programs, so visitors can truly understand the breadth and depth of the organization's work and impact.
The organization's heart represented online
Being at a One Institute exhibition, in a program, or part of the community carries a feeling the current site doesn't yet capture. The new site should provoke that same feeling, bringing that energy forward through imagery, storytelling and video that show what the organization is really about.
Related brands that build on each other
The Circa Festival brings One Institute's programming to communities across LA County, yet it lives on a siloed microsite of its own. Bringing its content into the main will make the sites easier to manage, and allow for the festival and core OI brand to support and build traction for each other.
Our approach
Our approach to this project is structured in three phases, all building towards a site that carries the full breadth of One Institute’s history and programs, and gives audiences a clear path to both.
Discovery sorts out what carries forward from the current site and how the archive and the programs fit together. Design and the build then turn that into reusable templates and content blocks the team can manage and keep expanding.
Project phases
- 1 Kickoff, scoping & discovery
- 2 Design & content creation
- 3 Development, QA, training & launch
Kickoff, scoping & discovery
Connect and align on expectations, timeline, and ways of working.
Mangrove leads structured discovery sessions with project stakeholders to understand your mission, goals, audiences, and key challenges.
We assess your current content and technical landscape while defining site structure (sitemap & wireframes) and project priorities.
We deliver a Creative Strategy presentation and a comprehensive Project Plan — including a Creative & Technical Brief, refined scope, and updated timeline.
Client expectations
Prepare for and participate in discovery, provide required back-end access, and collaborate through timely feedback, approvals, and ongoing engagement.
Design & content creation
Shape how your site looks, feels, and communicates.
Mangrove establishes a clear visual direction through moodboards, then creates responsive mockups of key pages to define the overall look and feel.
We develop a flexible system of custom content blocks and page templates to support scalable, consistent page building.
In parallel, messaging and content structure are refined to ensure alignment between story, design, and user needs.
Client expectations
Provide sample content and collaborate with Mangrove through timely feedback, approvals, and asset procurement as needed.
Development, QA, training & launch
Mangrove develops a flexible, editable website based on the approved design system, using custom blocks and content types, and integrating core functionality and analytics.
Content is integrated and the site is tested for performance, accessibility, and overall quality.
Training and documentation are provided ahead of Client QA to support effective review and content management.
Following launch, Mangrove provides a post-launch warranty, with optional digital partnership tiers to support ongoing improvements and site evolution.
Client expectations
Provide finalized content at the start of development, support launch readiness, and participate in QA through timely, consolidated feedback.
Thoughtful execution at every step
Working with Mangrove means a process that is structured, collaborative, and designed to support your team.
Clarity at every step
Clear timelines, defined roles, and thoughtful facilitation keep the project moving forward with confidence — no guesswork or chasing updates.
Strategic, not just tactical
We don't just execute — we help guide decisions, prioritize what matters, and keep the project aligned with your goals.
Designed to reduce your load
From working with content partners to managing feedback and approvals, we structure the work to make participation straightforward and efficient for your team.
Proactive and responsive
We anticipate needs, surface risks early, and stay responsive so nothing stalls or gets stuck.
A partner you can count on
Our team brings deep, focused expertise in their craft, and the experience to know how the pieces fit together.
Discovery, first
We take the time to understand your audiences, content, and how your site works, so we have a clear foundation for everything that follows.
Design with depth
Our designers are visual problem-solvers who translate your brand into a flexible digital system that feels intuitive to use and holds up over time.
Content that connects
The storytellers we partner with craft messaging that resonates with real people and works with the ways they find and engage with your site.
Technology, purposefully applied
Our developers are as fluent in strategy as they are in code, so every technical decision serves your goals, not just the build.
A result that performs and evolves
A backend built for you
Your website backend is intuitive and designed around how you actually work, so updating content is straightforward, not technical.
Custom and curated
Every component is thoughtfully designed to reflect your organization's voice and goals — a cohesive experience that supports your story.
Modular flexibility that lasts
Reuse, adapt, and expand components over time without starting from scratch — your site grows with you.
Scalable, reliable technology
Modern tools keep your site secure, stable, and ready for what's next — whatever that looks like for your organization.
Project details
Investment options
Tier 1 · Foundation
A complete website with a refreshed design, built on the existing brand to accessibility and AEO/SEO best practices. The Circa Festival is integrated into the core site for cohesion and ease of management.
$30,000 to $40,000
Tier 2 · Extended
Everything in Foundation, with added blocks and content types. More of the site gets its own block styles, so fewer sections reuse an existing one.
$45,000 to $55,000
Tier 3 · Robust
Everything in Extended, with a larger site and more blocks. Includes a Full AEO/SEO audit with its findings implemented, and 3 months of AEO/SEO support.
$60,000 to $70,000
Investment options
| Tier 1 · Foundation | Tier 2 · Extended | Tier 3 · Robust | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research & discovery | Discovery & strategic audit | Discovery & strategic audit | Extended discovery & strategic audit |
| IA & content | Sitemap & wireframes · content outlines for 8 to 10 pages | Sitemap & wireframes · content outlines for 15–20 pages* | Sitemap & wireframes · content outlines for 20–25 pages* |
| Design & development | Design system on the existing brand · Circa Festival integrated · 3 design proofs (2 revision rounds) · 8 to 10 blocks & 3 to 4 content types (CPTs*) | All of Tier 1, plus 16 to 20 blocks & 6 to 7 content types (CPTs*) | All of Tier 2, plus 20 to 25 blocks & 7 to 9 content types (CPTs*) |
| Accessibility | Best practices | WCAG Level A at launch | WCAG Level AA + manual testing |
| Search & analytics | AEO/SEO best practices · GA4/GTM setup | All of Tier 1, plus a Core AEO/SEO audit · implementation of findings · content guidance | All of Tier 2, plus a Full AEO/SEO audit · implementation of findings · content guidance · 3 months of AEO/SEO support |
| Training & handoff | User manual & training · 30-day warranty | All of Tier 1, plus extended training | All of Tier 2, plus a 60-day warranty |
| Investment | $30,000 to $40,000 | $45,000 to $55,000 | $60,000 to $70,000 |
*Final counts confirmed during the technical strategy phase. Copywriting is available as an optional add-on.
Phase 2 options
Optional add-ons to Phase 1.
Option
Interactive timeline
The new organization and movement timeline as an interactive experience with archival imagery. Phase 1 launches it as a standard page with images.
Option
AIDS Monument alignment
Shared design and cross-promotion so the STORIES: The AIDS Monument site reads as a One Institute project, with About and Board pages consolidated.
Option
Archive experience
A browsable archive feature built around ONE Archives imagery, including the ONE Magazine covers and the USC digital archive.
Option
Simple online store
A simple Shopify store, for example for 75th anniversary merchandise. Scoped and priced separately.
Choosing a tier
How do I choose a tier? Is Tier 1 enough?
We only put forth options that will satisfy the project requirements. Tier 1 is a complete, launch-ready website.
Higher tiers tend to add design depth, a higher accessibility standard and additional features or search scopes. Additional blocks and features can always be added in the future.
If you are unsure which tier fits, let's talk it through.
Are the blocks and content types in each tier enough?
Yes. We size the blocks and content types to the site's content and functionality, so every section has a home. We never put forward a set that would leave the site incomplete.
With a smaller set of blocks and post types, some pages or sections will reuse an existing layout vs expanding the design to include new elements. Regardless, the site will absolutely feel like a clear design and infrastructure upgrade.
Using blocks to build pages
As part of the site architecture deliverables, we recommend block types based on what best fits the site's content and functionality needs. These flexible blocks can be chosen and reordered for any given page.
Pricing option clarification
Blocks (section layouts)
Blocks are the page layouts we design once and reuse across the site. Pages are built by stacking blocks, and your team can add new pages the same way.
The number of blocks sets how many distinct layout styles we design, not how many pages the site can hold.
Content types (CPTs)
Content types, also called custom post types or CPTs, are templates for content that repeats, such as news posts, events, case studies or team members.
Content types typically share a template and set of custom fields. Content types can also be categorized, tagged, and filtered. Content types are often displayed on a site as a list, grid or featured section, in addition to having their own index page.
Design revisions
We gather feedback early, at the mood board stage. We then build a homepage mockup from that feedback and refine it through revisions.
Proofs and revision rounds for each tier are listed in the investment options table. The design system and the blocks are built out from the approved homepage.
Pricing option clarification (cont.)
Content migration
Content volume and migration needs are confirmed during the technical strategy phase, and scope can be adjusted then. We are continually developing new ways to migrate content more effectively.
If additional migration support is needed beyond what's outlined, it can be scoped as an add-on. Our training also supports your team in taking a more hands-on approach, if preferred.
Accessibility standards
Every site is built with accessibility best practices. Higher tiers test and remediate to WCAG Level A or AA before launch, and Tier 3 adds manual testing by one of our trusted partners.
Post-launch, we offer accessibility compliance monitoring as part of our digital partnerships.
AEO/SEO audit and implementation
A comprehensive search audit covering technical structure, content, and AI discoverability. Findings become directives we implement as part of the build.
These audits also include clear direction on what content to create, informed by current search research and your competitive landscape.
For this proposal, Core and Full AEO/SEO audits are scoped in the investment tiers and delivered with partner support as needed.
When can we start?
Once your project is fully confirmed, we'll schedule a start date and outline what comes next. We'll continue to refine the timeline together during Phase 1.
The timeline may shift if signing or start is delayed, or if our capacity changes after this proposal.
Project timeline
We estimate approximately 6 months from start to finish. Our estimated timelines are honest and are based on decades of experience: they account for holidays, realistic client preparation and content-creation time, a 2–3 day turnaround for client feedback, and our own working weeks. If this feels long, let's talk. We are open to discussing a V1/V2 launch or other creative solutions to uplevel your existing digital presence sooner.
We are currently scheduling new projects in early November 2026. We schedule projects on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sample project timeline
| Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | Month 2 | Month 3 | Month 4 | Month 5 | Month 6 | Month 7 | |
| Phase 1: Kick-off, scoping & delivery | |||||||
| Phase 2: Design & content creation | |||||||
| Phase 3: Development, QA, training & launch | |||||||
| Phase 4: Warranty, post-launch |
Built into every site
Accessibility
We use a combination of digital tools and optional manual testing to support compliance with current WCAG Level A or AA guidelines. Accessibility is considered throughout design and development.
Good accessibility and good search start in the same place. The clean, well-structured markup that serves a screen reader is the same foundation that search engines and AI answer tools rely on.
GTM/GA + search readiness
Google Analytics and GTM installed and configured, with tracking set up per your marketing team's or our analytics specialist's directives. We also install and configure an SEO plugin or equivalent tooling.
Our sites are built with clean schema, semantic structure, and search best practices, giving the site a clean technical baseline that any additional search work can build on. At launch we re-index the site and manage redirects and 404s to protect existing rankings.
Security & privacy
Our baseline security protocols meet current ISO 27001 A.9, A.12.4, A.13.1, and GDPR compliance. Our digital partnership tiers add user authentication, firewall & malware protection, activity logging, and SSL.
We make data-privacy recommendations based on your project's requirements (e.g. GDPR and CCPA), including third-party services where appropriate.
Content management system
We recommend WordPress for websites that need to be highly customized with more complex content types, API integrations, plugins and marketing scripts. WordPress is great for marketing or content managers that need to quickly and flexibly create dynamic content from a tailored back end.
A core advantage to using WordPress is that it is 100% open source and highly customizable, giving us more control as developers to build advanced functionality and customized editing experiences for clients.
WordPress CMS & hosting
Why WordPress?
A WordPress site is 100% owned and managed by the client — versus files living on a proprietary third-party platform.
Accessibility can be built directly into the user experience, and conformance to WCAG guidelines can be better controlled.
Website hosting
WordPress is free, but maintaining a site involves hosting, ongoing maintenance, and potential plugin fees.
We typically build on our WPEngine hosting account. We recommend WPEngine and a small handful of other WP-specific hosts for their attention to performance, security and scalability.
The benefit
Each partnership tier includes proactive stewardship and strategic guidance to optimize performance and support long-term progress.
Your website becomes a dependable asset that evolves alongside your impact.
If none of our partnership tiers suit your needs, our partner organizations offer smaller website management options.
Ongoing partnership & support
Mangrove offers ongoing digital partnerships that help organizations maintain, improve, and evolve their websites over time. We provide security updates, performance monitoring, and strategic enhancements that compound quarterly.
Through strategic planning, we help you focus on what matters next and deliver meaningful improvements throughout each quarter. Your website grows stronger and more capable, adapting to your organization's changing needs.
Case studies
WEBSITE
Inspiring a city to care for wildlife
The San Francisco Zoo & Gardens is home to more than 2,000 animals across 100 acres of oceanfront gardens, where the public comes to connect with and learn about animals. Having outgrown a site more than a decade old, the Zoo wanted a platform worthy of the keepers, veterinarians and staff who care for them every day. We rebuilt it in WordPress. Cut-out animal photography and custom animation carry the joy and wonder of a day at the Zoo. A wide variety of blocks and content types gives the team an accessible site it can manage with ease.
WEBSITE
Enriching lives through outstanding dance
For 85 years, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) has been driven by a passion for teaching, creating and performing outstanding dance. As one of Canada’s premier dance companies and an internationally acclaimed school, the RWB sought to elevate its digital presence to reflect the same creativity and technical excellence that define its widely celebrated performances. To meet the RWB’s need for a modern, user-friendly website, we chose to implement a WordPress solution for its flexibility, robust plugins, WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility compliance, and scalability.
Testimonial
“We really appreciated everyone’s support and guidance for this project. It took a lot of stress off our shoulders knowing Mangrove was there with us. Thank you for bringing us in on your process and getting us where we needed to be. We couldn’t have done this without you.”
Nicole Regnier
Creative Strategist · Royal Winnipeg Ballet
IDENTITY + WEBSITE
Promoting the art of the moving image
The Winnipeg Film Group and Dave Barber Cinematheque foster an independent filmmaking community, enabling creators to learn, connect, and present their work globally. On the brink of its 50th anniversary, WFG partnered with us to refresh its brand identity and enhance its digital presence. This included two reimagined logos, a cohesive brand strategy, and two custom WordPress sites—one for WFG and one for DBC— with Shopify integration. Build to WCAG 2.1 Level A compliance, and designed with easy updates in mind, these platforms reflect the edgy yet inclusive ethos of WFG and DBC, boosting community engagement and enhancing operational efficiency.
WEBSITE
Exploring 300 years of economic inequities
Is Our Economy Fair is a project of the Take on Wall Street campaign. TOWS was created in 2016 to address the predatory economic power of big banks and billionaires, and to build a financial system that works for everyone. Today, their organization is a coalition of over 50 groups hosted by Americans for Financial Reform. We brought their powerful content, slides, imagery and teaching models into the digital world by building an interactive information-rich website.
Testimonial
“Mangrove was among the most flexible and accommodating partners I’d worked with in decades.
The microsite generated three times the web traffic our home site had, and everyone described it as phenomenal. [Participants] didn’t have this kind of response when we were doing the program in person. In other words, this project helped us elevate our profile. On top of that, the site also had gravity — people felt like they were truly moving through a gallery online.
Overall, the value that we gained out of this project was astounding. The website was gorgeous, and we achieved a level of complexity and sophistication that was phenomenal.”
Ericka Taylor
Popular Education Manager · Take on Wall Street
Want a closer look?
Visit our website to explore more of our work, expertise, and approach to building websites that last.
References
Paulo Vergara, Exec. VP of Marketing and Development, SF Zoo
Project type: Website / Email: PauloV@sfzoo.org · 415.753.7286
Wil Kristin, Senior Director, Strategic Communications, Beneficial State Foundation
Project type: Website / Email: wkristin@beneficialstate.org
Jill Hollosi, Marketing Programs and Brand Manager, Assiniboine Credit Union
Project type: Website / Email: JHollosi@acu.ca
Ericka Taylor, Co-Executive Director, Americans for Financial Reform
Project type: Website / Email: ericka@ourfinancialsecurity.org
Mary DeNardo, Director of Communications, Prospect Sierra
Project type: Website / Email: mdenardo@prospectsierra.org
Conor Curtis, Head of Communications, Sierra Club Canada
Project type: Website / Email: conorc@sierraclub.ca
About Mangrove
Mangrove is a woman-owned website design and development company with a diverse and talented team distributed around the globe. We have headquarters in both the United States and Canada.
As a Certified B Corp, we are committed to meeting the highest standards of social and environmental impact. We are also a certified Women's Business Enterprise (WBENC) and a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB).
We are technologists and designers, equally.
Our work bridges human-centered UX with deep technical expertise to create intuitive, robust digital experiences. We bring a values-driven perspective to building thoughtful, inclusive technology.
This approach allows us to create sustainable design systems and websites that last.
Clarity first
We believe good digital work starts with getting clear. When information is organized and grounded in real thinking, teams can make better decisions and focus on what matters.
Designed with care
We approach our work with intention, creating experiences that are accessible, inclusive, and grounded in the values our clients bring to their work.
Built to grow
We take a long-term view. The systems we build are flexible, maintainable, and designed to evolve, so your site continues to support you over time.
A few clients
Our team
Maiya Holliday
Founder & CEO
Maiya is a creative leader focused on digital solutions that drive organizational impact. She founded Mangrove in 2009 to empower changemakers to do their best work. With over 15 years solving complex technology challenges for mission-driven organizations, she pairs deep technical expertise with strategic vision to build platforms that amplify reach and engagement.
Chae Clark
Dev Enablement + Sr. Tech Strategist
Chloe Ross-Rogerson
Sr. Account Manager
Ada Marcelino
Account Manager
Our team
Andrew Boardman
Design Advisor
Karen Niedzwiecki
Sr. Art Director + UX Lead
Senka Ibrahimpašić
Sr. Developer
Aykan Burçak
Sr. Developer
Jonathan Denni
Dev Ops Manager
Cristina Mayol
Developer
Shelby Neville
Designer
Dan Acuña Moreno
Developer
Lindsay Moore
Marketing + BusDev Coordinator
Our practice
Diversity is our strength
Given the tech industry's well-known diversity gap, we are passionate about widening career opportunities for people who identify as Black, Indigenous, non-Black people of color, women, non-binary, LGBTQIA+, disabled, or any other underrepresented group.
We are committed to working with designers and developers from diverse backgrounds, bringing broader perspectives, deeper empathy, and more innovative solutions to every project.
Design for equality
We utilize best practices in design based on many years of UX research and web development practice.
Our design team works with universal design principles in mind to ensure that our products can be perceived and operated by most people, including those with diverse and divergent backgrounds and abilities. The web is made for everyone. Our mandate is to help bring that to fruition.
Our practice
Our Use of AI
Mangrove uses AI thoughtfully to support our team's creativity and effectiveness. Our approach is guided by principles of intentional use, client benefit, transparency, human oversight, and responsible data practices.
We use AI for tasks like transcription, research, and development, always with a human in the loop. We do not use client data to train AI models and aim for transparency around AI use where appropriate.
We build for the long-term
A core objective for every client engagement is to create a website that lasts. A sustainable and durable website requires long-term thinking and planning, which is done up front and before we ever touch design or code.
For us, extensibility is non-negotiable. Modular components, smart infrastructure and backend usability are fixtures in our practice. We want every client to see deep, lasting value in their digital investments.
Next steps
Thank you
We would love to work collaboratively with you to build an impactful site that will catalyze your growth and success. Thank you for your consideration.
If the outlined scope and budget look good to you and you're interested in moving ahead, just let us know as soon as possible so we can lock in the timeline and budget.
If you'd prefer to chat further before moving forward, we are more than happy to do so! Schedule a time to chat.
Next steps
Moving forward, our next steps would be:
1
Scope of work
Create a detailed SOW to confirm scope, project timing, and budget.
2
Agreement
Prepare your contract and deposit invoice to send with the finalized SOW.
3
Kickoff
Schedule an official kickoff call with key stakeholders to align on goals and next steps.
4
Scheduling
Confirm your ideal meeting schedule and communication rhythm for the project.
