Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park
Website, social media management, graphic design and event photography for a non-profit park partner.
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The Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park is the primary non-profit philanthropic partner of Mammoth Cave National Park, providing support for Park programs and activities.
To better serve the park through the donor contributions that provide supportive funding, FOMC was in need of a working and up-to-date website and to improve their minimal social media presence. They also needed assistance promoting the annual Mammoth-on. The event is now their most successful fundraiser, with its highest attendance ever in 2022.
Over the course of four years, my work evolved beyond the original scope of providing the design and development of a website. I was not only their webmaster, I also provided social media management, photography and public relations. Ongoing website maintenance kept the website updated with new content, code improvements, SEO enhancements and evolving legal compliance. I increased social media engagement and overall revenue by leading the non-profit to modernize revenue growth through digital marketing and automated member database solutions.
The first task was to backup their old website and brainstorm the design and development of their new website. This process included collaboration and feedback from interested parties. Their website was specifically created to provide legitimacy, encourage donations and enhance visitor experience through a detailed guide for the park.
The photography from my Mammoth Cave archive was utilized for the website and and social media as well as regularly taking new images as needed. I attended events at Mammoth Cave, both to acquire content for website and social media as well as to provide a show of support by someone from Friends of Mammoth Cave.
I created graphics for a variety of needs. Everything from the website and newsletters to social media and events such as the Mammoth-on.
I handled the design and publishing of multiple email newsletters distributed to a subscriber list I grew to over 800 subscribers. My photography as well as graphics were a key component.
The Mammoth-on is a triathlon event where participants cave, hike and bike.
To promote the event, I wrote several articles which were published in local magazines, as well as scheduled a local television interview for the Executive Director, Rick DuBose. Graphics and flyers were designed and distributed on social media and printed for local display.
To better manage attendees, I helped to increase revenue though the setup and maintenance of an online ticket portal, complete with an attendee waiver and t-shirt selection.
During the event, I provided photography which was able to be utilized for the website, social media and to promote next year’s event.
Social media posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (now known as X) were handled, as well as promptly responding to messages and comments.
I provided public relations through writing and distribution of press releases to local media, as well as some outreach nationwide. Press Releases distributed by Mammoth Cave National Park were also published on the blog, with credit to the source.
SERVICES: Photography, website design and development, ongoing maintenance, social media management, graphic design, press releases, customer service, public relations, articles & interviews.
IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION
Soul Gaze Photography did not design and does not maintain mammothfriends.org. In March of 2023, the domain and website (friendsofmammothcave.org) was replaced by the new Executive Director without warning. My website is visible in the screenshots above and I have paid to archive it.
I served on the board in 2019, 2020 and 2022. I had to step down in 2021 due to federal employee restrictions while serving a season as a national park ranger. I was restored in November 2022 and told during a board meeting I’d be webmaster for 2023. The Executive Director began serving in January of 2023. In March, I was removed from the board when let go as webmaster by certified letter. As of this post, I remain unsure why.