If you aim to develop the best nonprofit website, it should consist of certain elements that facilitate the generation of awareness and foster a community of like-minded individuals. Nonprofit websites with high traffic tend to receive increased donations and support from their audience. Hence, what are the essential components to incorporate in a nonprofit website to achieve this goal?
Despite the numerous distinctions between for-profit and nonprofit websites, they do have some common best practices. Similar to a for-profit website, it is crucial to thoroughly plan and consider all aspects of your nonprofit website, encompassing branding and marketing strategies. Several effective practices utilized in nonprofit websites are also applicable when constructing a regular website.
What should a nonprofit website include?
When building a nonprofit website, it is important to consider that it should be slightly different from a standard for-profit business website. Although some best practices may overlap, there are specific elements that should always be included. In the following section, we will discuss the essential components that every top nonprofit website should possess.
Accessibility features
To ensure that everyone can access your website, accessibility features are crucial for nonprofit websites. However, implementing these features can be challenging since accessibility holds diverse interpretations for different individuals. For example, some may experience difficulty perceiving color variations on your website, while others may rely on screen readers to read the displayed text.
You can use accessibility tools to perform a scan of your website so that you can easily identify any accessibility issues. Building a great nonprofit website relies on making it accessible.
Easy-to-use design
When it comes to building the best nonprofit websites, it is essential to choose an easy-to-use design because websites can differ greatly in terms of simplicity and intuitiveness. Some websites are straightforward and user-friendly, while others are more complex and can make it challenging to find specific information.
When designing your nonprofit website, keep it simple. Showing dedication to your cause does not require a flashy website. Let your words speak for themselves and ensure easy access to necessary information, including the donation page. A user-friendly website increases the likelihood of donations.
Mobile-friendly features
In the past, the internet was exclusively used for computers, but that is no longer true.
Consider the overall size and layout of your website as the first step. Due to mobile phones being smaller, your website should be able to adjust according to the device accessing it. To achieve this, you can either design different versions of your website for various resolutions or utilize responsive web design that ensures adaptability to the user’s device.
Donation button
Now that you have completed the basics, it is essential to shift your attention to the donation button, which happens to be one of the most crucial elements on your nonprofit website. This button is utilized by individuals to contribute and support your organization financially.
To ensure easy accessibility, it is crucial that your donation button is both large and prominently displayed. It should be easily noticeable by individuals who visit your website and want to donate right away. One effective way to facilitate donations is by positioning the donation button near the top of your homepage. Additionally, selecting appropriate colors is vital, especially when catering to individuals with vision impairments.
Links to social media
Today, social media is a crucial aspect of the internet, which applies to nonprofit entities as well. Therefore, it is important to incorporate links to all the social media platforms established for your organization when constructing your nonprofit website.
You have the option to include social media links on your website without being intrusive. This can be done by placing the icon of each social media site next to your name on that specific site or by including the icons with a link to your profile. The key is to ensure easy access to your social media accounts.
Call-to-action
Ensure that a call-to-action is integrated into every page of your nonprofit website. This call-to-action serves as an incentive for individuals to learn more about your nonprofit and contribute in any way they can, which is crucial for the growth and success of your organization. Another option is to have a call-to-action incorporated into the website’s button or within the images used on the website.
