Enhanced Non-Profit Website Design and Development Tips Overview

Non-profit and charity organizations are popular types of non-profit businesses, focused on assisting specific target audiences and their needs. According to Statista, only in the US, the number of non-profit organizations reach 2 million in 2023. Great missions and big dreams of changing millions’ lives for the better are great motivations to run a non-profit organization. But how can you stand out from the crowd to gain more volunteers, donations, and members?

Key Non-profit Website  Features 

The website is one of the tools with which you can share your ideas and make your foundation noticeable to gain more leads, followers, and members. The core features of the non-profit website are connected to your organization’s value and brand positioning, as well as the core activities: fundraising and sharing help and support with people who need it.

To reflect the values and the core idea of your non-profit organization, you can use the following features:

1. A clear and compelling mission statement plus storytelling. Clearly articulate your organization’s purpose and values. In storytelling, please share stories that highlight the difference your organization makes. Use visuals (photos, videos) to enhance the narrative.
2. Show the core team and the team leader. People like to know who they are going to work with.
3. Create user-friendly navigation and ensure all the key pages are easy to reach.
4. Mobile optimization and speed are crucial. If you are in the process of developing your website, it’s a good idea to consider this from the very beginning. If you have already launched and run your charity organization’s website, please check its speed on Page Speed Insights from Google and test your website on mobile devices.
5. Secure donation gateway or platform connection: Offer multiple payment options and clear donation tiers. It’s about trust and your fundraising results. Be sure your website is secure, and check for malware and phishing software regularly.  
6. Volunteer Opportunities: Provide information about volunteer roles and how to get involved.
7. Contact Information: Make it easy for people to get in touch with you. Telephone, email, and online chatbots -are must-haves nowadays. 

Engagement Features: Make Your Charity Organization Website Interactive and Interesting 

1. Blog: Share news, updates, and insights regularly to keep visitors engaged.
2. Social Media Integration: Omnichannel communications are important, as users spend a lot of time on social media platforms every day. Motivate your website visitors to sign up for your social accounts.
3. Upcoming Events and Reports from Recent Occasions: Promote upcoming events and encourage attendance, volunteering, and fundraising. Make a photo report about the events that have already taken place.
4. Newsletter and Updates Signup: Build an email list for targeted communication.
5. Interactive Elements: Consider quizzes, polls, or surveys to gather feedback, and attract attention.

Transparency and Trust

• Financial Transparency: Clearly communicate how donations are used. Share reports, and goals for each fundraising activity.
• Impact Reports: Showcase your organization’s achievements and outcomes in the short and long term.
• Testimonials: Share positive feedback from beneficiaries and supporters. Videos and podcasts are more valuable than text.
• Privacy Policy: Clearly outline how you handle personal information and protect users’ sensitive data.

Charity Website for Free: Pros and Cons

However, while it’s very attractive to have a website for free, it’s important to consider all the pros and cons for your charity’s future success and online presence.

Pros of a Free Charity Website 

• Practically, zero costs: no upfront investment is required.

• Quick setup: free platforms offer user-friendly interfaces to create your website in a few clicks, as well as a simple interface to add content and key pages (About Us, Our Team, etc).
• Basic features are already included: contact forms, donation buttons, and galleries with event photos are often included.

Cons of a Free Charity Website

• Limited customization: design options might be restricted, and you can face low brand identity potential.
• Annoying advertising: some free platforms may display ads and have some lead-generating forms. Aside from grabbing attention from your content, it can also be insecure and annoying for your users.
• Website performance issues: free platforms can experience slow speeds, a lot of unuseful code, or technical difficulties.
• Storage limits: you will quickly reach limits on the amount of content and traffic your website can handle.
• Domain name limitations: sometimes you may not have full control over your domain name.
• Lack of scalability and flexibility: adding new features, and integrating donation platforms can be hard, labour-intensive, or sometimes even impossible.

To consider if the free website is suitable for your non-profit organization, you can contact our experts to check the features you would like to add and the strategy to develop and grow your website.

Saving Tips: How to Save Costs While Building Your Non-Profit Website

Usually, our clients start with a simple, basic version of their website and develop features step by step while growing their business. In the case of a charity organization, you can look for funding to develop and launch your website:

• from governmental institutions;
• different charity foundations;
• take donations for website development and improvements.

Also, you can check out the following saving tips:

1. Use DIY website builders, like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.org, to create a basic website without hiring a developer. WordPress is highly recommended, as this CMS will give you a lot of options to grow and develop your website in the future.
2. Use pictures from your events and life-style images of your target audience.
3. Volunteer help and assistance: engage with volunteers to cover some tasks. Yes, it can be time-consuming, but it’s for free.
4. Develop a road map for your website’s development, and after launch, add new features one by one. In this case, you will have the opportunity to raise money for each feature, which will be easier and faster than raising the entire cost of a complicated website.

Charity Website WordPress Theme: How to Choose the Best Theme for Your Goals

To make the right choice of the WP theme for your non-profit website, please consider the following:

• The theme should have a responsive design (mobile and desktops, also check the tablet versions, as for the senior target audience, it’s one of the main devices).
• It’s a good point if the theme has these features, following your organization’s non-profit nature: donation integration, volunteers’ membership management, an event calendar, a blog, and clear SEO features.
• Also, to avoid website speed issues in the future, check the websites mentioned as examples and built on the same theme in Google Speed Insight. If the speed is lower than 75–80%, it’s better to search for another one.

Regulations on Charity and Non-Profit Websites in North America

Before setting up your charity organization’s website, you need to check what the regulations are at this point in your location: country, state, or province. However, non-profit organizations can be non-registered, to run Google Ads, Google My Business, and some other lead-generating activities, you need to provide proof of your legal status. 

Canada Non-Profit Websites Regulations

The best option is to have a professional consultation with an appropriate paralegal or lawyer in your field. However, key regulations common to all non-profit and charitable organizations in Canada are mentioned below:

• Sign the Protection and Electronic Documents Act ( PIPEDA ) in order to prove you can handle sensitive data and personal information.
• Registered charities must comply with CRA regulations, including financial reporting and disclosure requirements. This information should be accessible on the website. The website should match Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) compliance and requirements.
• The website as well as the organization should also match transparency, donor privacy, accuracy, and compliance (relevant federal, provincial, and territorial laws) recommended for nonprofit websites in your location.

USA Non-Profit Websites Regulations

In the USA, it’s also crucial to have a law firm that will provide you with all the details and best practices. Also, it’s recommended to contact your legal counsel. Non-profit websites and activities in the USA are regulated by the following laws and institutions:

• Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Nonprofits must comply with IRS regulations regarding tax-exempt status, financial reporting, and public disclosure requirements.
• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC): enforces consumer protection laws, including truth in advertising, fundraising solicitations, data privacy, and some other requirements.
• Charitable Solicitation Laws: many states in the USA have specific laws governing how charities can solicit donations. This includes website content and disclosures.
• Consumer Protection Laws: state laws may also offer additional protections for consumers and donors.  
• Data Privacy Laws: some states have comprehensive data privacy laws that are on top of federal regulations.

Final Thoughts

Creating an effective non-profit website isn’t a big issue if you have a great value proposition and will find the right technical partner. Considering features, design, development stages, and cost-saving strategies, don’t hesitate to ask for consultations from web development experts.

At IDL WEB Inc. we believe that a non-profit website is more than just a digital presence for your organization. A website is a tool for engagement, fundraising, promotion, communications, community activities, and an important part of brand strategy. Invest your time and resources into website development, and share your ideas that reflect your organization’s values and your target audience.