[Volunteer] Wordpress Developer

About the Opportunity

We are the team behind F.O.U.N.D. (foundtogether.org), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals who are in a "pause" (a stage where progress feels uncertain for dependent visa holders, caregivers, returning migrants, or those navigating life transitions). We build spaces for connection, growth, and renewal so people can restore their voice and direction at their own pace.

Right now, we are building out a modern, cutting-edge web platform to support our community and programs. Our current team has a talented UI designer and a fantastic React developer, but we have a major PHP-shaped hole in our roster.

We are looking for an experienced WordPress developer to join us pro bono to help architect the backend of our new site. This is a low-stress, flexible volunteer gig (about 5 to 15 hours a week) perfect for freelancers, agency owners, or part-time developers looking to build out their resume with a highly modern tech stack while giving back to a meaningful cause. The rest of us are doing this in our off-hours too! We are hoping to have this built by the end of the summer, but our ultimate deadline is simply before the end of the year.

The Tech Stack

We are building a JAMstack application using WordPress as a headless CMS (our database) with a React frontend, powered by Faust.js and hosted on WP Engine.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Owning the Backend: You will architect the WordPress backend, utilizing Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) and setting up the APIs (GraphQL/REST) to seamlessly serve data to our React frontend.
• Component-Based Architecture: We don’t do old-school, rigid page templates. You will help map out a backend that supports modern, component-based design and development.
• Collaborative Cross-Training: You will work hand-in-hand with our React developer. You’ll help teach her the intricacies of WordPress, and in exchange, she can help you level up your React skills.
• Pragmatic Problem Solving: You’ll help us make smart architectural decisions. We believe in using highly maintained, stable plugins from verified vendors for heavy lifting, and saving custom-built code for when we truly need something bespoke.

Who We Are Looking For

You are a developer who treats WordPress like the robust, serious application framework it is.

• You write modern PHP: You understand modern development practices, object-oriented code, and APIs.
• You know headless: You have experience building headless WordPress sites (even if it was just utilizing ACF to serve endpoints). Bonus points if you’ve built a WP/React site specifically on WP Engine or Pantheon!
• You are a pro at deployment: You are comfortable working in multiple development environments (Dev/Stage/Prod) with strict version control (Git).
• You evaluate tools critically: When you need a new feature, you know how to weigh the pros and cons of building it from scratch vs. utilizing an existing plugin (evaluating active users, bug reports, and vendor reliability).

Why Join Us?

This is a great opportunity to get hands-on experience with Faust.js, React, and headless WP Engine architecture in a collaborative, ego-free environment. It’s an incredible resume builder, a chance to work with a fun team that respects your time, and most importantly, an opportunity to use your skills to build a platform that helps unseen communities find their footing again.

How to Apply

If this sounds like your kind of side gig, we’d love to chat! Send us a quick note at join@foundtogether.org with:

1. A brief rundown of a headless project you’ve contributed to or APIs you love working with.
2. Your go-to process for deciding when to write a custom tool from scratch versus using an existing WordPress plugin.