NEWS

Nonprofit organisations are engaged in remarkable efforts, assisting individuals while allocating their resources to raise awareness about specific issues. However charities and other non-profit organisations rely on the generosity and support of the public in order to thrive. Websites are a huge part of making this possible.

Every charity and nonprofit organisation should have a website. There are nearly 170,000 registered charities based in the UK, an estimated 20,000 not-for-profit organisations with charitable status that are not registered. In the digital age, the importance of an effective online presence can’t be overstated.

A well-crafted website serves as a nonprofit’s digital storefront and the cornerstone of an organisation’s digital presence. An extremely useful tool for a charity, a website can be employed to help boost fundraising efforts, inform and engage potential donors, supporters and volunteers, and effectively convey their mission and goals to inspire positive action.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the key benefits of a well-designed website for charities and non-profits. We’ll show why charities should see their website as a powerful tool that can have a transformative impact, including encouraging more donations, promoting events and memberships, and amplifying social impact more widely.

Transform your non-profit’s journey with a user-centric website experience

1. Tell Your Story

One of the most rewarding benefits of a great nonprofit website is that it can help you clearly and effectively communicate important information about your organisation. You will have the opportunity to include various elements such as your mission statement, vision, community impact, and more. Utilise the blog section of your website to keep your audience informed about ongoing projects, share stories of your assistance to others, or discuss recent news and events. This serves as an ideal platform to educate supporters on how they can participate and, most importantly, contribute financially. Consolidating all this information in a single location will greatly enhance your organisation’s growth.

2. Expand your reach

The internet provides individuals with the ability to obtain information on a wide range of topics at any time. This accessibility benefits not only individuals and businesses but also non-profit organisations. Increasing your online presence can significantly enhance your outreach.

Establishing a website is an effective strategy to broaden your audience and ensure that more people are informed about the valuable work you are undertaking. Additionally, building an email list and utilising social media platforms can further amplify your reach to a wider audience.

3. Create a lasting impression

A website serves as an excellent platform to establish a strong online presence and ensure that people are aware of your brand identity and objectives. It provides an opportunity to showcase your mission statement, core values, team members, and significant statistics related to your cause.

The impression you convey can motivate individuals to engage with your cause and offer their support over time. It is essential that the website is produced and designed with professionalism to maintain the integrity of your message. 

4. Stay connected

Your website can double as a newsroom carrying the latest updates, blog posts, event calendars, and social media links. Keep your audience engaged and informed about your activities while maintaining ongoing communication via e-newsletters or email sign-ups.. 

5. Achieve conversions

Non-profit organisations should prioritise increasing their conversion rates. Establishing a dedicated website for your organisation serves as an effective means to enhance visibility and expand the reach of your initiatives. Conversions, whether in the form of donations or volunteer sign-ups, are essential for sustaining the vitality of your non-profit, regardless of the challenges faced.

9 core features for every nonprofit website

1. Responsive web design

Responsive design is vital in today’s digital landscape. The proliferation of mobile and other web devices means it’s now critical that charities and non-profits take steps to ensure their website is adaptable and delivers a positive user experience across a multitude of devices. Around 60% of web traffic now comes from mobile devices. By implementing responsive design on your charity’s website, you guarantee that your site and its content remain accessible and optimised for a diverse array of devices and screen sizes, thereby enhancing engagement with your organisation. 

2. Superior user experiences

User Experience (UX) incorporates how a user interacts with and experiences a website, particularly focusing on ease of use and utility. The objective is to improve ease of use, readability, functionality, and accessibility. Effective user experience design plays a significant role in determining user satisfaction and generating optimum user engagement, and is an essential element of any successful website design.

3. Intuitive navigation and website structure

Don’t bury your content in a website navigation structure that is many layers deep. It is essential that all pages, including blog posts, are accessible within two to three clicks from the homepage. Simplicity in navigation is crucial. A well-structured website with easy-to-locate menus and logical page hierarchies makes it easier for visitors to find the information they are looking for, be it events, real-life stories, donation forms, or volunteer opportunities.

4. Search functionality

Effective search functionality is essential for nonprofit websites, as it allows users to quickly and easily find the information they need. To improve your website’s search functionality, it’s important to understand what users are searching for and how they’re searching for it. Use tools such as Google Analytics to determine what search terms are most popular on your website.

5. Content is king

The adage “Content is King” is especially relevant when discussing why charities need an effective website. High-quality, engaging content not only informs visitors but also connects with them emotionally, persuading them to support your cause. One of the most effective ways to engage website visitors is through compelling storytelling. Sharing real-life stories of how the charity has made a difference in people’s lives can significantly boost emotional engagement. 

It is essential to deliver informative content that educates visitors regarding the charity’s mission, the relevant issues, and the effects of contributions. This educational content must be presented in a clear and authoritative manner, with regular updates to ensure it accurately represents the latest developments in the field and the charity’s continuous initiatives.

6. Clear calls to action (CTAs)

Each page of a charity’s website must feature a distinct and compelling call to action. Whether it is “Donate Now,” “Email Sign Up,” or “Learn More,” these calls to action should be prominently displayed and strategically positioned to attract the user’s focus. Employing bright colours that contrast with the surrounding elements of the page can enhance the visibility of these buttons or links.

7. Facilitating Online Donations

A crucial element of nonprofit website design is the simplification of the donation process. An effectively optimised donation page that includes secure payment methods facilitates easy contributions from donors. The likelihood of successfully completing a donation increases with fewer clicks and steps involved. Additionally, nonprofits may contemplate providing various donation tiers and showcasing the impact of each contribution to motivate larger donations.

8. Social media profiles and sharing buttons

Encourage users to connect with your organisation on social media by providing links to your social media channels. The inclusion of social media icons not only facilitates user engagement but also aids search engines in recognising the relationship between your website and other online information sources related to your organisation. This practice can influence the search results that users encounter when they search for your organisation’s name.

9. Data and analytics

Moving behind the scenes, make sure you are collecting valuable information about how visitors are finding your website, which pages they are visiting, and what actions they are taking. Google Analytics is the most common free option for collecting website data, and it is easy to integrate with all leading website builders and content management systems.

To conclude

A professionally crafted and thoughtfully designed website offers numerous advantages for charities and non-profit organisations. It creates a distinctive and user-friendly online environment that facilitates community building, enhances connections, and promotes deeper engagement. An effective website enhances the trust and credibility of an organisation, increases its visibility, and aids in attracting and retaining volunteers and supporters.

At JC Creative, we’re proud to have worked with a range of different charities and non-profits to develop brand identities and website designs optimised to support their goals. Whether you’re looking to maximise donations, educate people and raise more awareness about your cause, or help engage and recruit more volunteers and supporters, we will work with you to optimise your website to better serve your mission and engage your target audiences more effectively.

Contact us today to book a free website design consultation at at jake@jccreativesolutions.co.uk or call us on 07968 112871.