Website design for nonprofits is essential. It’s where supporters donate, learn more about your cause, meet your team, empathize with your mission and story, and much more!
A strategic, beautiful website design for nonprofits makes supporters feel your team cares about offering a positive experience — and, most important, builds trust. Without these aspects, people today will not invest their time or money in your website.
Reasons to invest in your nonprofit’s website design include:
- Building trust
- Increasing donations and engagement
- Sharing your story
- Expanding your reach
- Attracting young people
- Improving mobile optimization
Stick with us, because we’re going to dive into the 10 reasons why your nonprofit can benefit from a well-designed website. Read on!
Why web design should be at the top of your nonprofit’s to-do list
We get it. Having a brilliantly designed website may not always be on your priorities list, but think of it this way: Your nonprofit’s website is a long-term investment rather than a “cost.” Not only will you be investing in your organization’s future, but you will also be investing in its longevity.
Plus, having a functioning and well-designed website is one of the most critical aspects of an organization today.
Yet, it’s not just about having a beautiful website. Determining a design that reflects your supporter’s wants and needs, tells a story, is responsive, and has clear calls to action is the way to go.
#1: To educate your prospects
Picture this: A potential supporter hears about your organization and wants to learn more. What do you think their next step will be? Here’s a hint: They will search for you online and expect to find your website.
But if your website is difficult to find, looks outdated, or doesn’t exist, you’ll lose your prospect’s attention immediately.
Beyond design, your website is there to raise awareness about your cause, educate people about your organization, and, most importantly, show them where they can find and support you!
#2: To build trust
Supporters need to trust your nonprofit before they consider pulling out their wallets and making a donation.
For nonprofits, the very first thing that visitors will consider is if you’re trustworthy enough. After all, they’re not able to meet your team in person or see what happens behind the scenes, so your website helps build trust in your organization.
Outdated, unattractive websites present a red flag to your visitors and potential donors, young or old. And unfortunately, many nonprofits still put off updating their websites, deeply hurting their reputations online.
You don’t want this.
Think briefly about some of the best-known nonprofit organizations in the world. Have you checked out their websites? Not only are they beautifully designed, but they continue to be updated and maintained to spread awareness and generate impact about their cause. Their websites are functional, responsive, and easy to navigate.
This is what you want!
#3: Because outdated websites speak poorly of the people behind an organization
One of the most important aspects — if not the most important — of a nonprofit organization is the people behind it.
An outdated, unappealing website not only seems questionable and hurts your organization’s reputation, but it also outshines all the hard, honest work you’ve put into it.
Furthermore, donors who believe in your cause and want to contribute might find it hard to donate due to inadequate responsiveness and navigation. An antiquated website also reflects what your organization is investing in and contributes to the thought that your organization is unsuccessful — causing potential donors to flee.
#4: To increase your donations
Enthusiastic donors expect to make quick and easy donations online.
For this reason, investing in a website that supports easy donating, online payment methods, and a user-friendly experience is your one-way ticket to increasing your donations!
Providing seamless donation methods for your visitors should be top of mind when designing your site. Any snags or poor design that your donors encounter can lead them to reconsider donating.
Pro tip: Did you know that 45% of worldwide donors enroll in monthly donation programs? Consider offering monthly plans to make donating easier for your supporters!
#5: To tell your story
Your website is the perfect place to share your story and passion for your cause. It’s a platform not only to secure donations but to highlight your growth and progress, share how many people you’ve helped, and further connect with your visitors.
Heartwarming storytelling combined with responsive design raises awareness, generates empathy, and enables your visitors to understand the importance of your cause.
As you design your website, include your mission, success stories, and clear calls to action — and wear your heart on your sleeve! People want to learn more about you and the people behind your organization.
#6: To expand your reach on search engines
If you want to be discovered by new supporters, you must first be found by search engines — which is why it’s imperative to have an updated, functional website to expand your reach.
A beautiful website goes a long way, but one that is user-friendly, practical, and fast-loading helps search engines rank your website higher. On the other hand, search engines cannot identify outdated, poorly designed websites.
#7: To share your message and make an impact
Throughout this article, we have covered how building trust is essential and how an unappealing site can hurt your reputation.
Once you’re building trust with attractive design and responsiveness, your nonprofit’s website needs to make an impact. A well-designed website that reflects your organization’s personality, mission, and beliefs is a surefire way to cultivate a better first impression, get your message across, and compel visitors to take action!
#8: To generate more conversions
You’d be surprised how powerful of a tool a website truly is. First off, visitors and supporters expect to land on your website to engage with your cause. But websites are digital spaces where you do more than share your story and educate your visitors.
Websites exist to support a goal and purpose.
Generally, this purpose is to generate conversions that directly correlate with your organization’s goals. Whether you need to increase donations, attract volunteers, or promote your next event, your website is there to help you accomplish your goals.
When designing your website, pay extra attention to the actions you need your visitors to take. Whether you need them to subscribe, leave a donation, or sign up for an event, your website’s pages need to convince them to respond to your calls to action.
#9: To make your website available on mobile
Back in the day, people would find you in their local newspaper, magazines, or other printed media. About 10 to 15 years ago, people would still get their information at home, using desktop computers. But now people have shifted to engaging with businesses and organizations through their mobile devices.
Your organization should have a responsive website design for mobile visitors.
Still, many nonprofit websites translate poorly to smaller screens, which results in missed opportunities.
If you want to reach as many people as possible, optimizing your website for mobile is a must.
#10: To reach younger people
Gen Z donors have become more involved in their communities and are actively looking to volunteer and donate to organizations they trust. While older generations donate more blindly, younger generations actively stand behind causes and invest their time and money in them.
But what happens when younger people reach your site? Well, for one, they will have higher expectations. They hope for seamless navigation because, for them, this is a given. If your website fails to meet their expectations, they will quickly find another organization that offers a better user experience.
Here’s a list of what younger generations expect from your website:
- Fast loading time
- Modern design
- Seamless user experience
- Makes donations quick and easy
Bonus: Nonprofit websites we love (and why we love them)
Adopt a Love Story
Why we love it:
- Fast-loading
- Powerful simplicity
- Includes a short video that helps visitors understand their story
- Clear-cut, friendly navigation
- Educational
- Easy to donate
Why we love it:
- Clearly states its Who, Why, and What statements
- Includes a blog for news and updates
- Easy-to-use Donate buttons and navigation
- Dropdown menus are transparent and responsive
Why we love it:
- Beautiful, conscious design and images
- Storytelling through design
- Clear upcoming events, education, and news
- Creative framework
- Responsive sliders that offer the latest information
- Easy to contribute
Why we love it:
- Impactful video images for storytelling
- Invites visitors to learn more before donating
- Each section of the website has a purpose
- Clean and responsive
Why we love it:
- A unique approach
- Enables users to share their name and email
- Experience-oriented
In conclusion
Having a well-designed website for your nonprofit is a significant long-term investment that can help you grow exponentially! From expanding your reach on the internet to connecting with younger generations on mobile to sharing your impactful story to receiving donations — having a website is a must.
Looking for a professionally designed website that ticks all the boxes? We’re here to help you. Let’s connect.
