The Best Way To Make A Nonprofit Website

Creating a nonprofit website is much like creating any other website. However, there are a few small differences in terms of targeting audiences and distributing information. Instead of selling a product or service, you are selling a cause.

This requires a slightly different spin on your approach, as targeting potential supporters and donators is broader than catering to a specific audience.

At BaseKit, we are constantly developing our web design software and have the perfect template to get your nonprofit website started.

So whether you’re part of a charity or need sponsoring to jump out of an aeroplane, we have all the tools you need to build your website. Here are a few tips to make the most from your worthy cause…

A clear purpose

As a nonprofit organisation, we’re sure you’ll have your own targets and aims. The clearer you are about what your organisation is setting out to do, the clearer it will come across on your site! This is really important for a nonprofit organisation because if you want to gain subscribers and supporters then you need to make your cause worthy and something that people are going to want to invest their time and money in.

Many organisations are unheard of and it needs to be clear from the start what your organisation represents e.g. if you’re an animal charity then have a large picture of animals on your homepage. Adding a by-line underneath your company name or logo will also ensure that visitors get a good idea about your cause at a quick glance and this will determine whether they stay on your site.

Registering and subscribing

Having a form on your homepage means your visitor can instantly sign up and subscribe without having to leave the homepage. Make the form short and sweet. An e-mail address and name should be required to make subscribing hassle-free.

Donations

Most sites will need a donations page which is no doubt an important aspect for a nonprofit organisation. Therefore, you want to make it as easy as possible for visitors to be able to donate and continue donating. Why make it difficult for them? A good way of doing this is by providing a link from your homepage that takes the user straight to your donation page. Maybe even have a couple of links – one at the top and one at the bottom of the page. This link needs to be clear and bold.

Once the visitor has been navigated to your donation page, you want the next stage of the process to remain simple and straight-forward. Don’t have them messing around with lengthy forms and masses of information. A simple form with a name, e-mail address and payment details should be enough.

Content and Images

Your content needs to be engaging and informative and above all, positive. Include all the good work that has been done so far and set out your goals and achievements of what you want to achieve for the future.

Having different sections will make your site a lot easier to navigate. Create an individual section for volunteers. Include images of volunteers and the work that is being done making it look as appealing and rewarding as possible. From this, make it easy for your visitor to find out more about how to volunteer and sign up.

Use statistics including how much money you have raised so far and how much you still need to raise. Using facts and figures will enhance the aims of your organisation and also allow visitors to gage the scale of your organisation and how much needs to be done.

Using rhetorical questions like ‘How could you help?’ directly addresses the visitor and also places them in a situation. This will prompt them to think beyond the content.

Using plenty of images is important as there will be so much information on your pages, the text will need to be broken down to make it easier to read. It is essential to get a good balance of both.

Set up a news section

Having a news section is vital for your website. Visitors that have either subscribed or are yet to do so will want to know where their support has gone or is going. The news page which is updated with developments will ensure that users feel a sense of achievement and as if they have truly contributed to your cause. This will make them feel positive about continuing to subscribe.

Remember to show your appreciation by thanking your supporters at the end of each update to show that they really do count in the success of the organisation.

Contact

On the contact page, consider having a small profile on everybody behind the organisation with a picture and description. This will make the website seem a lot more personal and highlight the fact that there are real people working behind the scenes. Include a range of contact details to make it easy for visitors to approach you with queries. Visitors will be much more willing to subscribe if they feel they can connect to the cause on a personal level.

The best way to make a nonprofit website