How to Upgrade Your Nonprofit Website

Have you ever wondered how your community center could reach more members, even when operating under limited time and funds?

Websites for nonprofit organizations serve as powerful digital platforms for consistently sharing your mission. A well-crafted online presence does more than provide basic contact details. It communicates your message, showcases member impact, and encourages community engagement, all without additional daily effort from your team.

Your website isn’t a static brochure. A well-designed, modern website is an online platform that helps you communicate your mission more effectively and reach new members. Think of it as a dynamic, ongoing conversation with your community that informs, involves, and inspires.

While you might be comfortable with your current website, settling for “good enough” could mean missing out on increased community engagement. Let’s explore how an outdated website impacts your community and look at what you need to upgrade your website experience.

You wouldn’t ask your members to settle for subpar programming. So why settle for an outdated website?

Studies show that 38% of people will stop engaging with a website if the content or layout is unattractive. 88% of online consumers are less likely to return to a site after a bad experience. A modern, user-friendly website can be your most effective tool for communication, fundraising, and community outreach.

With limited funds and staff, you might feel like a modern website is beyond reach. But can you afford to miss out on potential donors, volunteers, and broader community engagement? Even small updates can make a world of difference and enhance how you connect with the community you serve.

Every aspect of a website for nonprofit organizations, from accessibility to consistent branding, shapes your online success and community engagement. Here are 11 nonprofit website features every nonprofit website should have to support members:

1. Your Mission

Share your values front and center. This instantly communicates what you stand for and draws in members, volunteers, and donors who connect with your mission.

2. User-Friendly Navigation

Simplicity is key. Your website should be easy to navigate on any platform (especially mobile) so visitors find what they’re looking for without frustration. Roughly 8 in 10 customers will stop engaging with content that doesn’t display well on their device. A clean layout reduces bounce rates, encouraging people to explore your site more deeply and learn more about your mission.

3. Contact Information

You’d be surprised how many organizations bury this essential detail. When you’re building a website for nonprofit organizations, make sure your contact information is readily available, ideally on every page. Direct avenues for communication build trust with your audience and make it easier for them to engage with you.

4. Newsletter Signup

Capture visitor information with an option to sign up for your newsletter. Newsletters are an ongoing dialogue that reinforces your mission. Use them as a tool to keep your community updated and engaged over time.

5. Online Donations

Establish an easily accessible option for online donations. A donation page is crucial for sustaining your operations and increasing your reach. Daxko’s team has seen monthly donations increase by as much as 46.6% with a well-executed online strategy. Streamlined donation processes often lead to larger, more frequent contributions.

6. Impact Stories

There’s no better way to demonstrate the positive change you create than by showcasing community impact stories. Share these authentic accounts through images and blogs to demonstrate the personal impact your programming has on community members. You may attract newcomers who seek similar experiences.

7. Security Measures

Data security is a major concern for all community members and donors. Data reports indicate that the average financial impact of a data breach on smaller organizations can be over $3 million. When you build a website for nonprofits, implement secure payment options to build trust with your members and lower the risk of fraud.

Including an SSL (secure sockets layer) certificate on your website also adds credibility and builds trust. An SSL certificate ensures the data sent between users and your website is encrypted. Third parties can’t intercept it. This extra layer of security protects passwords, credit card information, and personal details.

Both of these security measures show members you’re putting their safety first!

8. Event & Program Calendar

Community centers are hubs of activity. A comprehensive calendar of upcoming events keeps your community informed and engaged. Accurate and timely event information prevents confusion and fosters better participation. Give members quick and easy access to your event calendar so they always know what’s coming up.

9. Online Membership Joins & Registrations

Supercharge the impact of your online calendar with online membership joins, program, and camp registrations. Don’t create unnecessary barriers for visitors who are interested in signing up for a membership or registering for a class. That will discourage them from following through. Give them the option to register and pay online so they can sign up as soon as they’re interested.

10. Community Photos

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Use this space to convey the spirit of your community through visuals like photos of volunteers in action and past events. High-quality imagery can evoke emotions, pulling people closer to your cause.

11. Social Media Links

Include clickable icons for each social media platform you’re active on and link them directly to your profiles. Social media platforms offer another avenue for community engagement. They provide an easy way for members to share your content and broaden your reach far beyond your immediate circle.

Some nonprofit social media campaigns have even seen increases in campaign engagement as high as 2,000%. Smart social media use can expand your community, and make an impressive difference in metrics like member retention and donations.

Starting the redesign process for your nonprofit’s website might feel like a daunting task, especially with limited resources and time. The following step-by-step approach can make this transformation manageable, even for a small team:

1. Audit Your Current Site

Before making any changes, take stock of what you already have. Identify the elements that work well and those that need improvement. Consider using free auditing tools to gather data on website performance. A tool like Lighthouse is a great place to start.

2. Set Clear Objectives

Knowing what you want to achieve with a website redesign helps align your team and resources. Whether it’s increasing donations, boosting member engagement, or enhancing the visitor experience, your objectives should guide the redesign process.

3. Create a Budget

Modernizing a website does involve financial investment. It’s important to outline a budget that includes both the initial build and implementation, and maintenance costs. Understanding your financial limits will help you make informed decisions during the process.

4. Find the Right Partner

The right partner can make all the difference during a website redesign. They should make every step of the process easier for you, from designing the actual website updates to supporting your staff as you implement changes. Use your budget and objectives as a guide to find a partner aligned with your goals.

5. Consult Your Stakeholders

Before finalizing changes, get feedback from your community stakeholders through methods like surveys and direct consultations. Input from your community can provide invaluable insights into what improvements will make the most impact.

6. Implement Changes Gradually

You don’t have to roll out all the changes at once. Phased implementation allows your team and community to adjust to the new website gradually. Plus, you can monitor results in real-time and adjust as needed.

7. Monitor and Adjust

After the launch, keep an eye on how your website performs against the set objectives. Use metrics like visitor engagement, page views, and conversion rates to make informed decisions on any further improvements.

At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Rhode Island, every day is an opportunity to engage and inspire young minds. With two clubhouses serving more than 3,200 kids across Northern Rhode Island, these Boys & Girls Clubs have a significant impact on the families they serve year-round.

However, the website they were using to connect with those families was far from inspiring. A dated design and frustrating user experience created friction for parents trying to register their kids online.

By redesigning their website with Daxko, they’ve made it much easier for families to access the programming they need. Within just 30 days of its launch, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Rhode Island experienced a dramatic increase in engagement. Read the full story and learn how they did it here.