Bester Community of Hope

The South End of Hagerstown, Maryland, faces complex challenges — from high poverty rates to health disparities and the highest rates of child removal in the state due to abuse or neglect. In 2013, San Mar Family and Community Services launched Bester Community of Hope (BCH) to bring together community organizations, businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies around a shared vision: making the neighborhood a place where children are safer, families are stronger, and community support is within reach.

An initiative dedicated to a culture of unconditional care, BCH works to build relationships, promote collective impact, and empower families through prevention and early intervention efforts.

What They Needed

As a newly established initiative, Bester Community of Hope needed more than a typical nonprofit website. They required a flexible online platform that could serve as a community hub, helping families connect with local resources, organizations, and each other. The website also needed to support collaboration among partner agencies, highlight programs and events, and promote engagement across multiple channels.

With a broad mission and evolving needs, BCH looked for a solution that would:

Be easy for staff and volunteers to manage and update, even with limited technical skills
Encourage community involvement and online dialogue through forums, blogs, and moderated discussions
Integrate event promotion, online registration, and volunteer opportunities
Provide tools for fundraising, donations, and private board communication
Include analytics and reporting to help BCH track site engagement and visitor interests
Ensure accessibility and mobile responsiveness for a diverse audience
Support the initiative’s growth with scalable content and features over time

What We Delivered

DatAchieve Digital provided Bester Community of Hope with a custom WordPress website built for flexibility, accessibility, and engagement. Working closely with BCH leadership and partners, we delivered a site that serves both as a digital resource center and a community-building tool:

Responsive Design & User-Friendly Navigation — A clean, intuitive interface accessible on any device
Content Management System — Empowering staff to publish updates, manage resources, and maintain the site with ease
Community Engagement Tools — Integrated blog, moderated message boards, and social sharing features
Event Calendar & Registration — Promoting community events with online registration and PayPal payment integration
Secure Donation Platform — Encouraging community support with online giving tools
Private Staff/Board Portal — Providing a secure space for sharing internal resources and communication
Multimedia Integration — Supporting video, image galleries, and downloadable resources for community education
Search Optimization & Analytics — Enhancing visibility with search-friendly content and real-time insights through Google Analytics
Ongoing Hosting & Support — Ensuring BCH’s website remains updated, secure, and performing at its best

Today, the Bester Community of Hope website is more than a digital presence — it’s a vital part of the community’s collaborative effort to cultivate hope and well-being for children, families, and neighborhoods in Hagerstown’s South End.

More Than a Website