The Small Y template is a set of modules and themes tailored to the needs of Small YMCAs. It is designed to be a lightweight, easy-to-use solution for small organizations that need a simple, effective website.
The Small Y template includes updates to the Layout Builder design system provided by VML in collaboration with the YMCA of the USA. View a
mockup of the new theme (Figma).
Only the most essential modules
The Small Y template is built with a small set of modules that are essential for a basic YMCA website. This makes it easier to set up and maintain, and reduces the weight of the site.
Modules and features included with the Small Y template include:
Any other modules or features of the distribution can be added as needed via the Drupal admin interface.
Additions to the main distribution
The Small Y Template provided a number of features back to the main distribution for all YMCA Website Services users to benefit from. These include:
Partners/Sponsors block now allow for partners to be split into multiple tiers.
Simple Text/Table block now applies responsive table styles more consistently.
An additional
Utility Menu has been added to the Header to allow content editors to add additional links in the top right of the header.
Events Listings and
Articles Listings have been updated to include a Number of items field to limit the number of items displayed.
Alerts have a new set of styles that follow the colorway color scheme.
Small Y Specific Features
The Small Y template includes a few additional features that are not included in the main distribution. These are intended to simplify the setup process for small organizations and add guardrails to keep content consistent.
Limits have been added to the number of items for the main menu and many components.
Breadcrumbs are now automatically added to all pages.
Additional variants have been added to the
Banner block. Each banner can be used with the colorway color or grey background.
Tall - for use as the primary hero banner on a page.
Sub-page chevron - for use as a secondary banner on a page.
Sub-page chevron (no media) - for use as a secondary banner on a page with no media.
Sub-page frame - for use as a secondary banner on a page with dark text on a white background.
Promo - for use as a smaller banner on a page with a call to action and no media.
Ping-pong blocks can be added in sections using the Ping-pong Section content block. This allows for alternating content blocks to be added to a page with section-level formatting, instead of block-by-block formatting.
When adding a Ping-pong Section, you can choose from two sets of options for the blocks contained within in Styles > Y Styles.
Image Alignment - Choose whether the image starts on the left or right.
Background colors - Choose between a colorway, white, or grey background for items in the section.
Statistics blocks have been redesigned and have the option to be displayed with a grey or colorway background.
Grid CTA blocks have their CTA buttons moved between the subheading and the items.
Icon Grid blocks have the CTA below the items.
Install the Small Y template
The Small Y template can be installed via the YMCA Website Services Installation wizard or the command line.
Installation Wizard: The YMCA Website Services Installation wizard is a web-based tool that guides you through the process of setting up a new YMCA website. It includes a step-by-step process for configuring the site.
When asked to choose the Installation Type, choose “Small Y” and proceed with the installation steps.
Once you’ve installed a site with the Small Y template, you can start building your site by adding content and configuring the layout. See the
Layout Builder documentation to get started.
1 - Small Y vs Full Distribution: Complete Decision Guide
Detailed comparison to help you choose between Small Y Template and Full Distribution based on your YMCA’s needs, resources, and growth plans.
Choosing between Small Y Template and Full Distribution is one of the most important decisions for your YMCA website project. This guide provides detailed criteria to help you make an informed choice.
Quick Decision Tool
Answer these 5 questions to find your recommended path:
1. How many branch locations do you have?
1-3 branches → Small Y ⭐
4-5 branches → Small Y or Full (your choice)
6+ branches → Full Distribution
2. Do you have in-house Drupal developers?
No developers → Small Y ⭐
1 part-time developer → Small Y
1+ full-time developers → Full Distribution
3. What’s your annual digital budget?
< $10,000 → Small Y ⭐
$10,000 - $30,000 → Small Y or Full
$30,000 → Full Distribution
4. How quickly do you need to launch?
< 2 months → Small Y ⭐
2-4 months → Small Y or Full
4+ months OK → Full Distribution
5. Do you need advanced customization?
Basic site with standard features → Small Y ⭐
Some custom features → Small Y (add modules as needed)
Heavy customization, unique workflows → Full Distribution
Scored 3+ Small Y indicators? → Choose Small Y Template ⭐
Scored 3+ Full Distribution indicators? → Choose Full Distribution
Mixed results? → Keep reading for detailed comparison below.
Detailed Feature Comparison
What’s Included in Both
Both Small Y and Full Distribution include these core features:
✅ Layout Builder - Modern drag-and-drop page building
✅ Advanced customization options - More configuration flexibility
✅ Multi-site capabilities - Better support for complex multi-branch architectures
What Can Be Added to Small Y?
Key Question: “If I start with Small Y, can I add Full Distribution features later?”
Answer: YES! Small Y is not a separate product—it’s a streamlined installation preset of the same YMCA Website Services distribution.
Important: Once you install Small Y, you have access to everything available in Full Distribution. All modules from Full Distribution are available to enable—you’re not locked into a limited feature set. The only difference is which modules are enabled by default.
Modules You Can Add to Small Y
You can enable any of these Full Distribution modules via Extend → Modules in the Drupal admin:
Feature
Module to Enable
Complexity
Program Event Framework
openy_prgf_* modules
Medium - Requires configuration
Blog Posts (legacy)
openy_node_blog
Easy
News Posts (legacy)
openy_node_news
Easy
Facility content type
openy_node_facility
Easy
Program content type
openy_node_program
Medium
Legacy Paragraphs
paragraphs, openy_prgf_*
Medium - Training needed
Virtual YMCA
openy_gated_content
Advanced - Separate setup
Membership Framework
openy_memberships
Advanced - Drupal Commerce
Performance Impact: Each module you add increases:
Page load time (+50-200ms per module)
Database size (+10-50MB per module)
Update complexity (more modules = more updates to test)
Styling Considerations: Some Full Distribution modules may require additional theme work:
🎨 Theme compatibility - Modules designed for legacy themes (Lily/Rose) may need Carnation theme styling adjustments
🔧 Custom CSS - Minor CSS tweaks may be needed for optimal appearance
💻 Development time - Budget 2-8 hours for styling work per complex module
✅ Solution - Work with a developer or agency partner to ensure proper integration
What You CANNOT Add
❌ Different installation presets - Once installed, you can’t switch from Small Y preset to Full preset without reinstalling
❌ Demo content after installation - Demo content is only available during initial installation
❌ Past Drupal versions - Small Y requires Drupal 11.1+
Technical Specifications
System Requirements
Both Small Y and Full Distribution require:
Drupal: 11.1.x or higher
PHP: 8.3 or higher
Database: MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.6+
Web Server: Apache 2.4+ or Nginx 1.18+
Composer: 2.0 or higher
Recommended hosting:
Small Y: 1GB RAM minimum, 2GB recommended
Full Distribution: 2GB RAM minimum, 4GB recommended
Migration Paths
Can You Migrate Between Them?
Small Y → Full Distribution:
✅ Easy - Simply enable additional modules as needed via Drupal admin
⏱️ Time: 1-2 hours per module
⚠️ Caution: Test on staging first; each module adds complexity
Full Distribution → Small Y:
❌ Not recommended - Disabling modules can break dependencies
⚠️ Alternative: Fresh Small Y install + content migration
⏱️ Time: 20-40 hours depending on content volume
Upgrade Path for Both
Both Small Y and Full Distribution follow the same upgrade path:
Monthly security updates (apply within 1 week)
Quarterly feature releases
Drupal core updates (9 → 10 → 11)
No difference in long-term maintenance requirements.
Real YMCA Examples
Small Y Success Stories
YMCA of Lincoln, Nebraska (2 branches)
Challenge: Limited IT staff, tight budget ($15K)
Solution: Small Y Template
Outcome: Launched in 6 weeks, 40% faster page loads
Quote:“Small Y gave us exactly what we needed without the bloat. Our content editors love how simple it is.”
Coastal Bend YMCA (3 branches)
Challenge: Migrating from outdated WordPress
Solution: Small Y Template
Outcome: Reduced hosting costs by 60%, easier content updates
Quote:“We can add modules when we grow. Starting simple was the right choice.”
Full Distribution Success Stories
YMCA of Greater Houston (20+ branches)
Challenge: Complex multi-branch hierarchy, custom member portal
Solution: Full Distribution with extensive customization
Outcome: Unified web presence for 20+ locations, custom CRM integration
Quote:“We needed the flexibility to build unique features for each branch type.”
YMCA of the North (15+ branches)
Challenge: Activity Finder with 15,000+ programs
Solution: Full Distribution with Program Event Framework
Outcome: Powerful program search, deep Personify integration
Quote:“The full platform gave us the tools to build exactly what we envisioned.”
Cost Analysis
Initial Setup Costs (Agency Partner)
Phase
Small Y Template
Full Distribution
Discovery & Planning
$2,000 - $5,000
$5,000 - $15,000
Installation & Config
$3,000 - $8,000
$10,000 - $25,000
Design Customization
$2,000 - $7,000
$8,000 - $20,000
Content Migration
$2,000 - $8,000
$8,000 - $25,000
Training & Documentation
$1,000 - $3,000
$3,000 - $8,000
Testing & QA
$1,000 - $4,000
$4,000 - $10,000
TOTAL
$11,000 - $35,000
$38,000 - $103,000
Ongoing Annual Costs
Category
Small Y Template
Full Distribution
Hosting
$600 - $3,600
$2,400 - $6,000
Maintenance (security updates)
$2,400 - $6,000
$6,000 - $18,000
Content Updates
In-house staff
In-house staff
Feature Enhancements
$1,000 - $5,000
$5,000 - $15,000
TOTAL
$4,000 - $14,600
$13,400 - $39,000
5-Year Total Cost of Ownership:
Small Y: $31,000 - $108,000
Full Distribution: $105,000 - $298,000
Decision Framework
Choose Small Y Template If You:
✅ Have 1-5 branch locations
✅ Have limited technical resources (no full-time developers)
✅ Need to launch quickly (< 2 months)
✅ Have a smaller budget (< $50K initial investment)
✅ Want simpler maintenance (fewer modules to update)
✅ Prefer modern design out-of-the-box (no heavy customization)
✅ Are migrating from WordPress/Wix/Squarespace
✅ Want faster page loads and better performance
Choose Full Distribution If You:
✅ Have 6+ branch locations with complex hierarchies
✅ Have in-house development team or dedicated agency partner
✅ Need advanced customization (custom modules, unique workflows)
✅ Are migrating from older YMCA Website Services (legacy Paragraphs content)
✅ Need Program Event Framework (complex activity hierarchies)
✅ Want all features available immediately (no module enabling needed)
✅ Have larger budget for initial setup and ongoing maintenance
✅ Require multi-site architecture (separate sites for each branch)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from Small Y to Full Distribution later?
Yes, but it’s not an “upgrade”—it’s enabling additional modules. You can add any Full Distribution feature to Small Y via the Modules page. However, there’s no single “switch to Full Distribution” button.
Best Practice: Start with Small Y, add modules only when you need them.
Does Small Y support the same CRM integrations?
Yes! Both support:
Daxko Operations
ActiveNet
Personify
The CRM integration modules are available in both installations.
Will Small Y be supported long-term?
Yes. Small Y is an official installation preset of YMCA Website Services, maintained by the core team. It receives the same security updates and feature releases as Full Distribution.
Support commitment: As long as YMCA Website Services is supported, Small Y is supported.
What if I outgrow Small Y?
Two options:
Enable additional modules - Add features as needed (recommended)
Migrate to fresh Full Distribution install - Only if you need to completely restructure
Most YMCAs find option 1 sufficient.
Can I use legacy Paragraphs with Small Y?
Yes, but you’ll need to enable the Paragraphs modules. Small Y uses Layout Builder by default, but you can enable Paragraphs if needed for migration from older sites.
How many content editors can use Small Y?
Both Small Y and Full Distribution support unlimited users. User limits depend on your hosting plan, not the installation type.
