Case Study: Managed Website Services for McCormick Institute for Early Childhood Leadership

Client:  McCormick Institute for Early Childhood Leadership
Industry: Nonprofit
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Website: https://www.mccormickinstitute.nl.edu/

The McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University is an innovative nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating the early childhood education profession. Through its four pillars—Early Childhood Leadership, Innovative Solutions to Prepare the Profession, Applied Research, and Community and Policy Engagement—the Institute works to expand access, equity, and innovation in the field.

Why They Came to EnlightWorks

The McCormick Institute was in a period of exciting transformation, launching a new brand identity distinct from the legacy McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership. Their leadership recognized the need for a modern, user-friendly website to support this transition and better represent the Institute’s expanded mission. They also sought to:

• Improve SEO performance to increase visibility within the early childhood education community.
• Establish a digital foundation that could grow with the Institute as its programs and initiatives expand.
• Transfer content from the former McCormick Center website while enhancing functionality and user experience.

The Solution

EnlightWorks provided comprehensive Managed Website and IT Services tailored to the Institute’s needs:

Website Design & Development

• Created a visually appealing, modern, and responsive website to reflect the McCormick Institute’s new identity.
• Migrated content from the old McCormick Center website to the new domain (mccormickinstitute.nl.edu).
• Implemented features to meet accessibility standards, including English/Spanish language options.
• Integrated interactive components such as event calendars, podcast hosting capabilities, and contact and subscription forms.

Managed IT Services & Ongoing Support
As part of our comprehensive Managed IT Services package, EnlightWorks provides:

• Unlimited Website Updates: Ongoing content and functionality updates to ensure the site remains accurate, engaging, and aligned with the Institute’s evolving programs.
• Ongoing SEO Management: Continuous search engine optimization to improve visibility and rankings for keywords relevant to the early childhood education profession.
• Ongoing Consultation: Strategic advice and expert guidance to support the Institute’s long-term growth, branding, and digital marketing efforts.
• Ongoing Accessibility Support: Proactive accessibility monitoring and improvements to ensure the website meets ADA standards and provides an inclusive user experience for all visitors.

Brand Development Support

• Collaborated closely with the McCormick Institute to ensure alignment with their updated branding and mission.
• Assisted in solidifying their digital presence as a trusted, authoritative resource in early childhood education.

Results

Although the project is ongoing, the collaboration has already produced measurable positive outcomes:

• New Brand Identity Online
  The McCormick Institute now has a professional, polished website that clearly distinguishes its work and mission from the legacy McCormick Center site.
• Improved Functionality & User Experience
  The website meets modern accessibility and usability standards, ensuring information is accessible to a wide range of users, including donors, educators, and policymakers.
• Enhanced SEO & Visibility
  Ongoing SEO efforts are improving the Institute’s visibility in search results, increasing awareness among key audiences.
• Streamlined Communication & Growth Potential
  The EnlightWorks project management portal provides clarity and ease for the Institute’s small team, supporting ongoing website improvements as the organization grows.
• Reliable IT & Website Support
  With unlimited updates, accessibility support, SEO management, and strategic consultation built into their service plan, the McCormick Institute can confidently focus on its mission, knowing their website and digital presence are in expert hands.

In Summary

EnlightWorks is proud to support the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood in establishing a modern, scalable online presence that reflects its mission and positions the organization for long-term success. Through web development, SEO strategy, Managed IT Services, and ongoing support, we are helping the Institute expand access, equity, and innovation for the early childhood profession.