Exploring the Benefits, Challenges, and Future Directions of Drupal's Certified Partner Programs and Global Community Initiatives

Jitka Pilar  serves as the Fundraising & Membership Manager at the Drupal Association and she has been with the organization for more than two years.  Originally from the Czech Republic and Germany, Jitka moved to the United States in 2009 after earning degrees in Economics and International Relations. During her career she held fundraising roles at global nonprofit organizations such as the American Red Cross and PATH. She currently resides in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Drupal stands out as a robust and versatile content management system, powering websites for some of the world's most prestigious organizations. At the heart of Drupal's thriving ecosystem is the Drupal Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering and supporting the community that drives this innovative platform. Today, we are excited to share insights from a key figure within the Drupal Association, Jitka Pilar, who serves as the Fundraising & Membership Manager. 

Jitka Pilar’s journey to the Drupal Association is as diverse as it is inspiring. Originally from the Czech Republic and Germany, Jitka relocated to the United States in 2009, bringing with her an impressive academic background in Economics and International Relations. Before joining the Drupal Association, Jitka served in various fundraising roles at global nonprofit organizations such as the American Red Cross and PATH. At the Drupal Association, Jitka plays a pivotal role in managing partner relationships within  the Drupal Certified and Organization Membership programs, while also supporting the individual membership initiatives that empower developers around the globe.

In this interview, we delve into Jitka's unique perspective on the benefits and challenges of being a Drupal partner, the strategic goals of the Drupal Association’s membership programs, and the initiatives in place to expand Drupal’s reach across different industries and regions. Jitka sheds light on the critical balance between supporting corporate partners and individual members, and how this synergy fosters a vibrant and sustainable Drupal community. 

We also explore the Drupal Association's efforts in organizing DrupalCon and other key events, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community activities, and the strategies being implemented to rejuvenate and expand local Drupal communities worldwide. Join us as we uncover the invaluable contributions of Jitka Pilar to the Drupal ecosystem and gain deeper insights into the dynamic world of Drupal.

What are some of the key benefits for companies that are becoming Drupal-certified or supporting partners? What benefits are they extracting out of this partnership?

Jitka Pilar: I would actually dissect the benefits into sections. The biggest benefit here is demonstrating proficiency in the Drupal universe. As a Drupal-certified partner, the company shows its support for the Drupal community and invests in the collective success of Drupal. This also sets them apart from competitors. When submitting a bid for a job, they can say, "We are members and Drupal-certified partners of the Drupal Association," which fosters this entire ecosystem. The biggest advantage is demonstrating commitment to Drupal and the Drupal community, translating into a company that cares.

What are some of the challenges and opportunities that you see for Drupal in the current tech landscape? How is it evolving with technologies like Vision AI and blockchain?

Jitka Pilar: I don’t have a technical background, so I’m not even going to attempt to talk about technological challenges. From a market perspective, the challenge we see is to grow the number of Drupal sites and increase the visibility of Drupal. Most government and higher tech sites run on Drupal, but many Fortune 500 companies also use it. How many people are aware of it? 

What are the primary goals of the Drupal Certified program and Organization membership?

The primary goal is to grow the number of Drupal Certified Partners. This program highlights companies that not only care about Drupal being used on many sites but also give back and support the Drupal community. For the Drupal Association’s fundraising team, the major goal is to grow the number of companies that want to support the community.

How does Drupal balance the needs of individual members and corporate partners? Are there different programs?

Jitka Pilar: Absolutely different programs. For corporate partners, the programs focus on alliances and better market standing. For individual memberships, the focus is on individuals (developers and other Drupal professionals) in the community. These professionals invest in Drupal mainly because they want it to succeed and oftentimes, they found a career in it. The individual membership program recognizes members who support Drupal personally.

Are there any strategies that the Drupal Association is implementing to increase the adoption of Drupal across different industries?

Jitka Pilar: We aim for Drupal to be used in all industries. For many reasons, Drupal is widely used in certain industries, such as government, higher education, and the nonprofit sector. Marketing Drupal outside the typical industries is the next big project for the various very engaged marketing groups in the Drupal community.

What role does the Drupal Association play in organizing DrupalCon and other Drupal events?

Jitka Pilar: DrupalCon North America is organized and fully executed by the Drupal Association. Of course, we would not be able to put together such a complex conference without a cadre of engaged volunteers and leaders serving on various committees as well as our logistics partners. DrupalCons organized outside of North America are fully volunteer-lead. The Drupal Association is involved as we want to ensure the organizing volunteers feel supported.

DrupalCamps and MeetUps are put together by volunteers in their specific geographic markets. We completely stay out - the power of the Drupal community comes from these grass root activities. If anyone is thinking about organizing a local event, I strongly recommend getting in touch with the Events Organizer Working Group. 

What initiatives are in place to support Drupal’s global community, especially in regions where it’s less established?

Jitka Pilar: Local communities are some of the most important groups in the Drupal ecosystem. Our Programs Manager, Joi Garrett, is leading the Local Associations Initiative, one of our first direct outreach campaigns to the local associations. This initiative is still in early stages (conducting interviews and learning about the specific market and community needs), but we are confident this is the direction and the Drupal Association will be able to serve our communities better. 

Which regions are currently a focus where Drupal is less prevalent?

Jitka Pilar: We haven’t targeted specific regions yet, but I’m happy to see more outreach and collaboration emerging from Drupal communities outside of North America and Europe.  

How does the Drupal Association collaborate with other open source projects or foundations?

Jitka Pilar: We are assessing open source conferences held around the globe to ensure Drupal is represented. For example, several of Drupal partners attended the WebSummit last year in collaboration to promote the Drupal project. Additionally, we are actively making professional connections with other open source platforms. 

Do you have any parting thoughts or anything else you would like to share?

Jitka Pilar: Thank you so much for your time putting together this thoughtful interview. My parting thoughts revolve around the Drupal community - the bottom line is that Drupal is strong because of dedicated individuals who invest their time and treasure.