# Development

Website development for non-profits: a guide to building an effective online presence

Red Rocket TeamNov 11, 20244 min read

Building an online presence for charities is necessary, as it is one of the most effective ways to raise awareness of current issues and raise donations to help. You may be surprised that, according to statistics, the charity industry has been declining since 2022. Modern people are more into websites that can bring financial gain. Don't think that developing such a website won't require effort and wasted time. If you are aiming to create an online platform that will attract people, grab their attention, you must try your best during the development and prototyping phase.

Even if you already have a ready-made website for a non-profit organization, our article can help you see the reasons to do a redesign to attract more users. Here, we've gathered a lot of useful information to help nonprofit online platform owners.

Nuances and subtleties of non-profit websites

Actually, the main difference between non-commercial websites and all other types can be easily understood based on the title. They are not focused on doing business and making a profit from online activities. That is why non-profit website development differs from the creation of other types of Internet resources.

We have collected a few features and nuances that you should know about non-profit websites:

1. Focus on the mission

The primary focus of nonprofit websites is to inform and engage users in support of an important social mission. It can be different and depends on the particular site. For example, protecting the environment, helping people, advocacy, or another important mission.

2. Transparency and accountability

Non-profit organizations often publish activity reports, financial documents, project results, and statistics to demonstrate their transparency and earn the trust of their audience. Visitors want to see where their donations are going and what results are being achieved through their support.

3. Supporting and informing

The main goal of these sites is not to sell the user products or services. They are different in that they are more involved in informing and supporting users.

On the other hand, all the above facts do not mean that a non-commercial site cannot have profits. For example, such sites often advertise or receive donations. Most of the profits of such companies are used for missions or charity.

Building a structure for a successful non-profit website

Obviously, when you think about creating a website of any type, you need to analyze a lot of factors and make a plan. One of the first things you should think about is what the structure of the website will look like. For example, an e-commerce site contains a home page, product categories, product cards, shopping cart, and so on. However, what about non-profit website features to include?

The structure should be logically consistent

A logical structure of a non-profit website helps users easily navigate and understand the organization's mission. Each section should be organized in such a way that it is intuitive and consistent from page to page. It's important to keep audience needs in mind by presenting information by level of importance - for example, major projects first, then details about opportunities to get involved, and only then less important aspects. We have a real example of a structure for a non-profit online platform:

(01)
Home page.
(02)
About us.
(03)
Our projects (programs).
(04)
How to help.
(05)
Current news.
(06)
Reporting.

This structure not only simplifies navigation, but also allows users to quickly find important pages, increasing engagement and trust in the website.

Make finding relevant pages an easy process

One of the key aspects of a successful non-profit website is the ability to quickly find the sections you need. Clear navigation, a functional search bar and clear categories will help visitors quickly navigate to the content they're interested in, whether it's a donation section or current projects. We recommend making a search bar within the site so people can find the information they need quickly and easily.

Digital marketing for non-profits also includes placing internal and external links. Internal links will help users navigate more quickly and clearly within the website, while external links will make your platform more authoritative.

Implementing donation ways

Of course, one of the most important parts of a non-profit website structure is a page where people can donate money or other things. Such a page should be second in the hierarchy after the homepage. That's why you need to think about what donation methods will be available for users.

Pay attention to the “About Us” section

If we consider sites that are focused on generating profit from sales, then for them the “About us” page is of little importance. In the case of non-profit websites, it is very important for users to find out as much information about the organization as possible. That's why you should do a good job on this page telling about you. It should contain a description of the organization, the history of its creation, goals, mission, and of course statistics.

6 tips for non-profit organization website development

Now you know more about what the structure of your non-profit website should look like. But that's far from the end of the whole process. Next, you'll face technical development issues, creating a design, and working to promote your platform on the internet. We've gathered a lot of non-profit website design tips and advice for you on technical development and digital marketing.

1. Understand what the website is for

Before you begin development, it is important to clearly define the goals of the nonprofit website. Ask yourself and your colleagues questions such as:

What is the purpose of your future website?

How will it benefit the community?

Are you going to solicit donations?

Understanding the end goal helps determine the structure, content, and core features. For example, a donation solicitation site should focus on easy access to payment features, while an educational site may focus more on a blog, research materials, and useful courses.

2. Unique domain

A unique domain helps a nonprofit organization's website stand out and be easily remembered by visitors. The domain name should be simple, short, and associated with your mission or organization name. Avoid complicated words and numbers so users can easily remember and find you among millions of other sites. It's no secret that the age of a domain plays a big role in building the authority of a website in the eyes of search engines. Therefore, you can buy domains with a long history on special markets.

3. Creating a design

The next recommendation is related to the visual appeal of the web resource. Affordable website design for non-profit organizations should be both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Adhere to minimalism so that information is easily perceived and visitors are not distracted by redundant elements.

Do you want to learn more about website design tips? Check out a selection of 2024 design trends that will help make your website more memorable and modern for users.

4. Call-to-action buttons

Call-to-action elements should be part of any website, whether profit-oriented or non-profit. Clear and prominent call-to-action (CTA) buttons are essential for user engagement. Here are great options for such buttons that you can implement on different pages of your site:

"Learn more"

"Join a charitable program"

"Donate"

Use contrasting colors and large fonts to make them eye-catching. Place CTAs in key areas of the website, for example, on the homepage.

5. Search engine optimization for a non-profit platform

SEO is an important aspect of any website, including nonprofit organizations. Optimizing a website increases its visibility in search engines, attracting new audiences. Use keywords related to your mission so that people looking for information in your field can easily find the website. Pay attention to optimizing your titles, descriptions, and meta tags. You also need to work on increasing website speed. As you can understand, SEO for non-profit websites is an important element of the work of marketers and webmasters.

6. Don't forget about mobile optimization

A mobile version of the website is important because most users now access the Internet from mobile devices. The website should adapt to different screens so that the information is easy to read and users can quickly navigate through the pages. We recommend using a mobile first design approach where the layout for the smartphone and tablet versions is created first. Going from small to large allows you to include all the necessary features and make the design attractive.

Final thoughts

The process of creating a non-profit website may be different from developing other types of platforms. In this case, you need to put a stronger emphasis on pages with your mission, charitable programs, useful information, and of course donation buttons. For non-profit websites, the best way to promote is search engine optimization, so you need to spend more time on technical processes to ensure that your website meets Google's current requirements.

Certainly, a big part of non-profit website development is the process of designing the structure of the website. You can come up with it yourself, but it can be helpful to see how popular organizations do it. For example, a great example of what a non-profit website structure should look like is the international company UNICEF. Their website contains all the elements that will be of interest to ordinary users who need help and benefactors.

Frequently asked questions

What are websites for non-profit organizations?

Websites for non-profit organizations are web resources created to support and promote social, cultural, environmental or educational missions. Unlike commercial websites, their purpose is not to make a profit, but to draw attention to important issues, find volunteers and partners, and collect donations.

What are some examples of popular non-profit websites?

Some popular examples of non-profit websites include Charity: Water, which raises funds to provide clean water to people around the world, and World Wildlife Fund, which aims to protect nature and wildlife. You may have also heard of Amnesty International or Feeding America, an organization that fights hunger in the US.

Should you do SEO for non-profit websites?

Yes, SEO is an important tool for non-profit websites because it helps increase visibility in search engines and attract more people interested in supporting or participating in projects. Optimization allows the target audience to find the site more easily, especially if they are looking for information about a specific topic, such as “helping children” or “environmental projects.”

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