Adapter helps mission-driven organizations turn complex ideas into reliable, easy-to-use digital tools.
We produce purpose-built software that fits your organization, instead of forcing your organization to fit the software. That could mean advancing to a modern platform or strengthening and evolving what you already have. Our portfolio leans heavily toward projects in the Washington, DC area but extends to select clients elsewhere.
What We Build
- High-end, content- and data-rich websites
- Back-office and line-of-business applications
- Custom, bespoke web-based software
How We Help
We support nonprofit organizations, from think tanks and foundations to advocacy organizations and membership associations.
- A lead technical partner for new platform builds
- A modernization partner for aging systems
- An extension of internal IT, communications, or operations teams
Selected Work
Websites & Apps
Saul Zaentz Fund Application Platform v2.0
The Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund Platform is a fellowship application and evaluation system that helps the fund identify and support…
ATTIC Enhance (private beta)
ATTIC /Enhance is an AI-powered product marketing tool that turns a single product photo into polished listing content and curated…
School Year App
A suite of communication tools (e.g., website CMS, email marketing, directory) to help bilingual and multilingual schools provide equitable and…
NWA WIC Share
We took over the hosting, maintenance and minor development of this WordPress website from another agency. The WIC Share portal…
Oyster-Adams Bilingual School
Dual language (Spanish-English) website for the Oyster-Adams Bilingual School of Washington, DC.
Technical Capabilities
Languages, Frameworks, and Platforms
Modern Application Development
- React and TypeScript for robust, maintainable front-end applications
- Remix and React Router for scalable, performance-focused architecture
- Structured APIs and clean data modeling
- Secure authentication and role-based access systems
- Complex workflow systems (multi-step applications, review panels, evaluations)
- Membership platforms and CRM-adjacent systems
- Reporting dashboards and analytics tools
Website Development, Modernization and Legacy System Support
- PHP-based application development
- WordPress website and custom plugin development
- LAMP stack architecture (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP)
- Custom CMS implementations and enhancements
- Database optimization and query performance tuning
- Refactoring and incremental modernization of existing platforms
- Long-term maintenance and infrastructure stewardship
Experience
Clients & Partners
America’s Promise Alliance
American Institutes for Research
American University
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Calvert Foundation
Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
Center for Implementing Technology in Education
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Charles Lewis, Best-Selling Author
Chicago Public Schools
Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
Committee for Economic Development
Council for a Strong America
Economic Policy Institute
Fund for Independence in Journalism
Grace Children’s Foundation
Johns Hopkins University
K-8 Access Center
Madura Microfinance
National Association of State Boards of Education
National Center for Technology Innovation
National Center on Response to Intervention
National Center on Student Progress Monitoring
National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth
National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth
National Endowment for Democracy
National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At Risk
National High School Center
National Reporting System for Adult Education
National WIC Association
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration
Pew Charitable Trusts
Sammy Slate Productions
Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund
Scimergent
Social Science Data Analysis Network
TeachNow
Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health
U.S. Department of Education
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
U.S. Department of State
Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of DC
Gallery
Examples
The National Association of State Boards of Education
Nonprofit Organization | Education Policy | Alexandria, VA
WordPress website using a custom theme and new information architecture. Site migrated from a 2,000+ page legacy website.
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Investigating Power
Nonprofit University | Journalism, Civil Rights, Public Policy | Washington, DC
A modern, responsive WordPress website. Custom theme with advanced YouTube integration and interactive timeline feature.
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ATTIC
Start Up | Furniture, Home Decor and Fashion | Major US Cities and International Markets
One-of-a-kind search platform used to index half a million products from thousands of small, independent stores. ATTIC is an internal product initiative (aka "a passion project") exploring new retail discovery tools.
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The WIC Research, Policy and Practice Hub
Nonprofit Organization | Public Health, Health Care Policy | Washington, DC
WordPress + Angular website utilizing the WP REST API for a powerful and advanced search over thousands of resources.
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Counter Cholesterol
Nonprofit Organization | Public Health and Advocacy Campaign | Washington, DC
A dual-language website with custom medical facility map / geo search integration.
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The Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy
Nonprofit Think Tank | Economic and Fiscal Policy | Washington, DC
A mobile-friendly WordPress website migrated from a legacy Movable Type CMS.
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935 Lies
Book / Author | Journalism, Public Policy | Washington, DC
A mobile-friendly website for a book by best-selling author Charles Lewis.
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Tarek Anandan
UI/UX Engineer, Developer
Tarek Anandan has worked in the web technologies field since 1999, as both a frontend and backend developer. He has built, maintained and enhanced applications including public-facing websites, content management systems, custom analytics tools, and a variety of interactive, visualization-based resources. With training in economics and public policy, he offers a unique combination of technology expertise and substantive knowledge that informs and drives his guidance for organizations in the policy world.
Francisco Serrano
Full Stack Developer and Engineer
Francisco Serrano has been a web and application developer for over 15 years. He has worked on projects ranging from small applications to full website development for brands such as Dove, Unilever, Sony, MTV, Duracell, American Express, and Gillette. He has strong front-end and back-end expertise in JavaScript, flat and relational database architecture, PHP programming, system administration, and CMS framework integration.