A website is the digital home for your nonprofit organization. It’s a place where your supporters can consistently get reliable information directly from the source and is the starting point for building credibility and trust with your audience.

Regardless of whether it’s for-profit or nonprofit, a strategic website needs to consider the specific needs and goals of the organization. So here are 8 features that every nonprofit website should incorporate.

1. Clear Mission & Impact Statement On Homepage

The first essential of a nonprofit website is a homepage that clearly communicates what you do. This might seem like a no-brainer, but your visitors should know your vision from the second they land on your page. Use concise and compelling language to demonstrate your purpose and inspire your visitors to support it.

2. Streamlined & Integrated Donation Tools

Make it easy for visitors to donate and support your cause with streamlined and integrated donation tools. Your website should include a clear “donate” page that integrates effortlessly with whichever fundraising platform you’re using. Include prominent buttons and forms across your website so that the donation experience feels connected (rather than disjointed and transactional).

3. Engaging Content

Show, don’t tell. Share compelling stories, images, and videos that demonstrate the impact of your nonprofit’s work. Emotions drive donations and action, so every nonprofit should regularly update their website with engaging success stories and news.

4. Transparent Impact Metrics

For those who are on the opposite side of the spectrum, it’s also important to showcase transparent impact metrics. Having clear measurements for the work that you do shows accountability and builds trust with your donors. Demonstrate your nonprofit’s impact by sharing key metrics, such as the number of people served, funds raised, or projects completed through engaging visuals like infographics and progress bars.

5. Financial Transparency

Building off that idea, a nonprofit website should always include financial reports. Donors want to know how their money is being spent and whether or not it’s actually creating impact. Provide key insights through annual reports that summarize assets, liabilities, and net assets. 

6. Volunteer & Engagement Opportunities

Nonprofit organizations often prioritize their donations but in today’s day and age where more and more people are looking to get involved with missions that align with their own values, providing clear volunteer and engagement opportunities gives interested visitors a chance to create meaning in more than a monetary way. Include volunteer sign-up forms and highlight events across your website whenever appropriate.

7. Mobile-Friendly Design

Here’s a surprising stat: as of 2022, mobile visits generate over 60% of all website traffic. When creating a nonprofit website, it’s important to streamline the experience so that users can actually focus on the content that’s being showcased. A lot of drag and drop website builders have outdated mobile integrations that are clunky and poorly formatted. Opt for something like Squarespace or ShowIt to make mobile-friendly responsive design a priority.

Here’s Why ShowIt Is The Best Platform For Responsive Design

8. Social Media Links & Clear Communication Pages

Make it easy for visitors to get in touch and stay connected. Include your nonprofit’s social media links in the website’s sidebar or footer and list them in your newsletters and email signatures too. Make sure that your contact page is clearly visible with important details such as email, phone number, and physical address (if available). 

Remember, these are just a few essential features for your nonprofit website. A strategic website needs to be designed specifically for your organization’s needs. Regularly assess and update your pages to ensure that they remain relevant, user-friendly, and aligned with your organization’s goals and if you need any support, feel free to reach out directly!