Your nonprofit website is often the first place people learn about your organization. It shapes whether they donate, volunteer, or share your cause. Getting it right matters more than ever.
The best nonprofit websites do more than look good. They build trust, inspire action, and make giving easy. They tell your story in a way that connects with visitors emotionally.
After years of building websites for nonprofits, we’ve identified 10 features that separate great sites from forgettable ones. Here’s what your nonprofit website needs to succeed.
1. Visible Donation Buttons
Every nonprofit needs money to create change. Your donation process should be simple, secure, and impossible to miss.
Place a donate button in your header. It should appear on every page. When someone feels inspired to give, they shouldn’t hunt for the option.
Your donation page needs these elements:
- Suggested donation amounts ($25, $50, $100, $250)
- Custom amount option for flexible giving
- Recurring donation setup (monthly, quarterly, annual)
- Multiple payment methods (credit cards, PayPal)
- Clear explanation of how donations are used
- Immediate confirmation and thank you
Security matters too. Donors need confidence their payment information is safe. Use SSL encryption and display trust badges. Quality nonprofit themes include PayPal and Stripe integration for secure processing.
2. Mobile-Friendly Design
Over half of web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your nonprofit website doesn’t work on phones, you’re losing supporters.
Mobile-friendly means more than just fitting on a small screen. The site should be easy to navigate with thumbs. Buttons need to be large enough to tap. Text should be readable without zooming.
Test your site on different devices. Google’s mobile-friendly test gives you a quick assessment. Fix any issues it identifies.
Responsive design adapts automatically to screen size. All WPlook nonprofit themes are fully responsive. Your site looks professional whether visitors use desktop, tablet, or phone.
Don’t forget about donation forms. If giving is difficult on mobile, people will abandon the process. Mobile-optimized checkout is essential.
3. Team and Board Biographies
People give to people, not organizations. Showing the humans behind your mission builds trust and connection.
Create an About page that introduces your team. Include photos, roles, and brief biographies. Share what drew each person to your cause.
For board members, highlight their professional backgrounds. Respected names add credibility. Donors feel confident their money goes to a well-governed organization.
Consider including:
- Executive director and key staff
- Board of directors with credentials
- Founders and their original vision
- Long-term volunteers who embody your mission
- Advisory board or notable supporters
Themes like Benevolence include dedicated team sections. You can showcase staff with photos, titles, and social links in attractive layouts.
4. News and Blog Section
Regular updates prove your nonprofit is active and engaged. An outdated website suggests an inactive organization.
Your blog serves multiple purposes. It shares your impact stories. It improves search engine rankings. It gives supporters reasons to return.
Good nonprofit blog content includes:
- Success stories from people you’ve helped
- Program updates and milestones reached
- Event recaps with photos
- Industry news relevant to your cause
- Volunteer spotlights and appreciation
- Calls to action tied to current needs
Post at least monthly. More often is better if you have the content. Short, focused posts perform better than long, rambling ones.
Place your blog link prominently in the navigation. Visitors should find it easily. Fresh content keeps them engaged with your mission.
5. Volunteer Opportunities Page
Many supporters can’t give money but want to help with time. Make it easy for them to find volunteer opportunities.
Your volunteer page should answer key questions:
- What volunteer roles are available?
- How much time is required?
- What skills or training are needed?
- How do interested people sign up?
- What does the application process involve?
Include a simple contact form for volunteer inquiries. Respond quickly to keep enthusiasm high. First impressions matter with potential volunteers too.
Share photos of current volunteers in action. Show the community and camaraderie. People want to join something meaningful.
6. Program Descriptions
Visitors need to understand what your nonprofit actually does. Clear program descriptions connect your work to real outcomes.
For each program, explain:
- Who the program serves
- What activities or services it includes
- Where and when it takes place
- What results participants achieve
- How people can get involved or benefit
Use specific language. “We serve 500 meals weekly to homeless individuals” is stronger than “we help feed the hungry.” Numbers create credibility.
Include photos and videos showing programs in action. Visual evidence makes your impact real and tangible.
Themes like Charity include custom post types for programs. You can organize and display your work beautifully with built-in layouts.
7. Testimonials and Impact Stories
Stories move people more than statistics. Real testimonials from real people build emotional connections.
Collect stories from different perspectives:
- People your programs have helped
- Volunteers describing their experience
- Donors explaining why they give
- Partners praising your collaboration
- Staff sharing their passion for the work
Keep testimonials authentic. Real voices with some imperfection ring truer than polished marketing copy.
Include photos when possible. A face makes the story memorable. Video testimonials are even more powerful if you can create them.
Place testimonials strategically throughout your site. A quote on your donation page can inspire action. A story on your homepage can hook new visitors.
8. Email Newsletter Signup
Not everyone who visits will donate immediately. Email captures interested people so you can nurture the relationship.
Make your signup compelling. “Subscribe to our newsletter” is boring. Try something that promises value:
- “Join 5,000 supporters making a difference”
- “Get monthly impact updates delivered to your inbox”
- “Stay connected with our community of changemakers”
- “Be the first to know about volunteer opportunities”
Place signup forms in multiple locations. The footer works for people who scroll. A popup or slide-in catches attention earlier.
Keep the form simple. Name and email are enough to start. You can gather more information later.
Then actually send valuable emails. Regular updates keep your nonprofit top of mind. When people are ready to give, they’ll think of you.
9. Social Media Integration
Your website and social media should work together. Each drives traffic to the other and expands your reach.
Display social media icons prominently. Link to your active profiles. Don’t link to platforms you’ve abandoned.
Add share buttons to your content. When visitors read an inspiring story, make sharing easy. Their networks become your potential supporters.
Consider embedding social feeds on your site. A Twitter feed shows you’re active. Instagram photos add visual interest. Just make sure these load quickly.
Choose platforms that match your audience. Facebook works for many nonprofits. LinkedIn suits professional organizations. Instagram excels for visual causes. Focus where your supporters gather.
10. Quality Content Throughout
Every word on your nonprofit website matters. Quality content builds trust, explains your mission, and inspires action.
Write clearly and simply. Avoid jargon that insiders understand but visitors don’t. Short sentences and paragraphs work best online.
Focus on benefits, not just features. Don’t just describe what you do. Explain what difference it makes. Connect activities to outcomes.
Use high-quality images. Blurry or generic photos hurt credibility. Real photos of your work are always better than stock images.
Keep content current. Review your site regularly. Remove outdated information. Update statistics annually. Nothing damages trust faster than stale content.
Bringing It All Together
Building a nonprofit website with all these features sounds overwhelming. The good news? You don’t have to start from scratch.
WPlook Nonprofit WordPress Themes include these features built in. You get donation systems, team pages, event calendars, and more. The themes are designed specifically for organizations like yours.
Consider themes like:
- Benevolence – Perfect for churches and religious organizations
- Charity – Ideal for fundraising-focused nonprofits
- Charity Life – Great for campaign-driven organizations
- Charitas – Versatile option for any cause
Each theme handles the technical details so you can focus on your mission. They’re mobile-friendly, fast-loading, and easy to customize without coding knowledge.
Start Building Your Nonprofit Website
Your nonprofit deserves a website that works as hard as you do. The 10 features above aren’t optional extras. They’re essentials that separate effective sites from ineffective ones.
Start with what matters most for your organization. If donations are your priority, nail that first. If volunteers drive your work, perfect that experience.
Then add the other features over time. Every improvement helps your mission reach more people and create more impact.
Ready to create or redesign your nonprofit website? We’re here to help. Browse nonprofit themes or contact us with questions about building the perfect site for your organization.
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