Building Reteti Elephant Sanctuary’s Adoption Platform with No-Code Automation
CLIENT: RETETI ELEPHANT SANCTUARY
PROJECT: CUSTOM-BUILT DIGITAL ADOPTION PLATFORM
IMPACT: CREATED A MAJOR NEW REVENUE STREAM, DRIVING ALMOST 60% OF TOTAL DIGITAL INCOME
Background
When I began working with Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, one of the first things I wanted to bring to life was an elephant adoption programme. There was no digital platform to manage sign-ups, payments, personalised certificates, or donor engagement. Launching one was critical to unlocking new revenue streams and reaching supporters worldwide.
Traditional development options would have required complex custom code, multiple contractors, and significant budget, creating a barrier to getting the programme live.
Challenge
Reteti Elephant Sanctuary needed a system that could:
Launch quickly without relying on costly external agencies
Integrate seamlessly with existing tools and workflows
Handle complex adoption scenarios – gifts, recurring vs one-off adoptions, and donor tracking
Provide a smooth supporter journey from sign-up to certificate delivery
Be owned and managed in-house without requiring developer intervention
Solution
I designed and built the adoption platform entirely in-house using existing platforms connected through Make (formerly Integromat). This no-code approach allowed us to build a completely custom solution.
The automation flow connected:
Website: & Payment Processing: Captured supporter details at sign-up
CRM Integration: Created live donor records with unique adoption IDs
Dynamic Document Generation: Produced personalised adoption certificates and welcome packs
Email Automation: Instantly sent supporters their certificate and tailored thank-you email
Results
Fast launch: The first iteration was built and deployed in a month
Major revenue growth: The adoption programme became more than 60% of Reteti’s total digital revenue
Full in-house control: The team could update, expand, and customise the platform without technical bottlenecks
Scalable supporter experience: Automated personalised communications for thousands of adopters worldwide
Why It Matters
This project proved that with the right strategy and no-code automation tools like Make, NGOs can build powerful, fully custom digital platforms, tailored to suit their needs. The approach is flexible, scalable, and endlessly adaptable, meaning future fundraising products, campaigns, and supporter experiences can be spun up quickly, and at low cost.
Key Takeaway
While automation is generally about efficiency, it’s real value lies in it’s ability to unlock new possibilities. For Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, it opened the door to a sustainable, high-performing revenue stream that continues to grow, all built with tools the team can own and adapt for years to come.