If you own a nonprofit organization, it is essential that you have a website that represents your organization’s mission statement, value, and overall brand. A website is an online base where people can learn more about your organization and the work you do.

Websites give a strong online presence and provide information to potential donors, volunteers, and other website visitors about what your nonprofit organization does and how they can help. However, creating great nonprofit websites can be challenging because these firms don’t operate like other commercial businesses.

In this article, we will discuss things your nonprofit website should have to make sure that it is effective and engaging for everyone who visits it.

Top Ten Features A Nonprofit Website Must Have

1. Mission Statement

Your organization’s mission statement is the foundation of what you do. It describes your fundamental purpose, and communicates the value your nonprofit organization delivers, what groups it serves, and how. Donorbox describes an organization’s mission statement as a succinct encapsulation of: “Why does your nonprofit organization exist?”

The best nonprofit organizations always display their mission statements on their websites, so that site visitors know what they stand for and what they’re trying to achieve.

A great example of this is the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s website, which prominently displays its mission statement on its mission page: “Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses..”

This is an excellent mission statement because it is clear, concise, and easy to remember. It also tells website visitors what the nonprofit organization does (granting wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions).

2. User-Friendly Designs

All great nonprofit websites have user-friendly designs that make it easy for website visitors to navigate and find the information they’re looking for. A good website should be mobile-friendly and have responsive designs that adjust to different screen sizes.

It should also have easy-to-use menus and clear calls-to-action buttons that tell website visitors what they should do next. A nonprofit website’s design should also be simple, clean, and organized in a way that is easy to understand since the goal is to make it easy for people to learn about your organization.

3. Volunteer Opportunities 

Volunteer opportunities are a great way for people to get involved with your nonprofit organization and help you achieve your mission. This means that your own nonprofit website should have a dedicated page that lists all the current volunteer opportunities available.

This page should include a brief description of each opportunity, the time commitment required, how to apply, and contact information for the person in charge of the volunteer program. The American Red Cross website is a great example of this, as it has a dedicated Volunteer Opportunities page that lists all the current opportunities available and provides detailed information about each one.

4. Donations Page

Nonprofit organizations seek donations to help them fund their programs and services. The donations show your ongoing support for the cause. All good nonprofit websites usually have a donations page that makes it easy for website visitors to donate to the organization.

The donation page should include a brief description of your organization’s work, how their donations will be used, and information about the donation process. It should also have a donation button that will direct visitors to what you would like them to do (i.e., “Donate Now”), as well as clear instructions on how to donate.

The donation page should also list the different ways people can donate (i.e., by credit card, PayPal, check, etc.) and the available different donation amounts. The donation page on the American Cancer Society website captures this adequately. The website’s homepage has three donate buttons, which all lead to the donation page and fundraising campaigns.

5. Updated Blog Content 

One way nonprofit organizations can engage supporters and help them stay up to date on their work is through a blog. A blog provides eye-catching content that is easy to share on social media and other websites.

The blog will be a part of the content management systems (CMS) of the organization’s website. This is why most nonprofit websites you see have an easily accessible blog with fresh, relevant content that is updated regularly.

This blog can be used to share newsworthy stories, educational resources, updates on the organization’s impact, or even articles related to the cause. Not only does this help keep supporters informed, but it also shows that the organization is active and engaged.

Also, you can encourage website visitors to sign up for your organization’s newsletter to receive updates on your work, invitations to events, and other opportunities to get involved.

6. Events Calendars

Another great way to engage supporters and get them involved is by sharing upcoming events on your nonprofit website. This could be anything from community programs or a fundraising dinner to a walk/run or awareness campaign.

Top nonprofit websites have an events calendar that is updated regularly with the organization’s upcoming events. This calendar should include the date, time, location, and a reminder of the upcoming events. It should also include a link to register or learn more about the event.

7. Testimonials

Sharing testimonials on your nonprofit website is a great way to show potential supporters the impact of your advocacy efforts. These could be written testimonials, video testimonials, or even quotes from happy customers/clients.

8. Social Media Links

Nonprofit organizations are beginning to understand the importance of social media in building relationships with supporters and pushing their organization’s mission to a better level. Social media brings an unlimited range of potential for nonprofits, which is why top nonprofit websites have social media links that are easily accessible.

Previously, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram were the common social media platforms that were most used. Now, many more social media platforms, such as Snapchat, Pinterest, and TikTok, bring different engagements and audiences. Nonprofit organizations now tap into these platforms to connect with potential supporters and be present on the social media platform(s) their target audience uses most.

These social media links should be placed in an easily accessible location on the website, such as the header or footer. The social media links on the website should also match the organization’s branding on its social media platforms.

9. Contact Information

A nonprofit website needs to include contact information so supporters can easily get in touch with the organization. This could be an email address, mailing address, phone number, or even a contact form.

Some nonprofit websites also have a live chat feature so supporters can get answers to their questions in real-time. This is a great way to provide customer service and improve the supporter experience on your website.

10. Search Function

A search function is a great way to improve the user experience on your website. This allows supporters to quickly and easily find the information they are looking for without having to click through different pages.

As a nonprofit website owner, having a search functionality offers an additional benefit of being able to view what terms curious visitors searched for. The search function can highlight opportunities to develop new content or make quality content more easily accessible from the homepage.

Having these features on your nonprofit website will give your organization the upper hand and help you reach and engage more supporters. Engaged supporters are more likely to donate, volunteer, and advocate for your organization, so it’s essential to make sure your nonprofit website is standard.

5 Of The Best Nonprofit Websites On The Web

Below we list some of the best nonprofit websites on the web

1. Joshua York Legacy Foundation 

The Joshua York Legacy Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing awareness and education about mental health, as well as providing support for those who are struggling with mental illness.

The website’s homepage features the organization’s mission, “To train as many Mental Health First Aid Instructors as possible,” as well as a donation button right beneath to make it easy for visitors to support the cause.

The website also has a frequently updated blog, which features educational articles about mental health, and updates on the foundation’s work.

2. Goodwill Industries Of Southwest Florida

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida strives to help those with disabilities or who face other disadvantages by providing free employment and career services. The website is designed to be appealing to both groups the organization serves: its constituents and donors.

For example, the static menu contains a direct link to “Careers at Goodwill” for those with disabilities or disadvantages who want to start the employment process. Additionally, on the right side of the menu is a button that says “Make a Donation.”

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida also has an interesting homepage that features statistics, a featured events section, and a live social media feed from the organization’s Facebook page.

3. The American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is one of the most well-known nonprofit organizations in the world. The organization’s website contains a lot of content, but it is still easy to navigate.

One of the first things you’ll see on the homepage is a large banner with a call to action to “Donate Now.” There are also banners below that feature CTA’s, such as CPR certification training.

Further down the page, there is content about the American Red Cross’s work, ways to get involved, and safety tips. The website also has a section devoted to volunteers.

4. THEN Center

The Center for Collaborative Study of Trauma, Health, Equity, and Neurobiology (THEN Center) strives to improve health and equality for all by exploring the direct link between trauma, disease chronicity, and health disparity.

THEN Center’s website is packed with educational tools to illustrate how trauma, chronic disease, and health disparity are connected. It also offers resources to help visitors understand how to prevent and heal traumatic experiences and combat discrimination.

THEN Center’s primary goal is to get people to subscribe to its newsletter, which is why there are large “Subscribe” buttons and footer fields.

5. The Humane Society

The Humane Society is one of the largest animal protection organizations in the world. The Humane Society’s website contains a lot of content, but it is still easy to navigate.

One of the first things you’ll see on the homepage is a large banner with the organization’s current goal. The website utilizes a lot of white space, which features CTA’s, such as taking action for animals or becoming a donor.

Further down the page, you can view the latest blog posts, learn about The Humane Society’s work and find out how to get involved.

Need A High-Quality Nonprofit Website?

If you are unsure where to start or need help developing a nonprofit website, we’re here to help!

Priceless Consulting LLC has worked with nonprofit organizations and can help you create a website that meets all of the standards mentioned in this article.

At Priceless Consulting LLC, we specialize in developing high-quality websites, and our web development team will work with you from the initial stages to launch and ensure your website is perfect.

Asides from web design and development, we also provide SEO services to help your nonprofit website rank higher in Google searches. If you are interested in learning more about how we can help develop a website for your organization, please get in touch with us today to get a quote.