Best Nonprofit Web Design: A Complete Guide

The best nonprofit web design is within your control

If you are a nonprofit organization, the best digital tool that you can have is your website. More than social media, your website must become the tool where you educate the public about your services, tell funders and donors why they should support you, and most importantly, explain how your organization supports the people, places, or causes that your mission is about. Your nonprofit website is more important than your social media because it is the only digital asset where you have full control. You don’t control the whims of social platforms or the algorithms of Google. You only have control over two digital elements: your email list and your website. So, how can you make your website the best nonprofit web design? Let’s break it down. **Note: Some organizations are prolific social media content creators.  Typically, this is the exception rather than the rule.  We are talking about our experience and what we have learned after 15 years of designing powerful, organization-enhancing websites.

The Power of Analytics in Nonprofit Web Design

At We Are Immediate, we customize every website based on your mission, marketing goals, and data-driven insights. Tools like Google Analytics, HotJar, and Mouseflow help nonprofits understand how visitors use their site—what pages they visit, where they click, and where they drop off. This information allows you to design smarter. For example:

• If users drop off on the donation page, it may need better storytelling.
• If visitors spend time on your About Us page, you can expand with more impact stats or success stories.
• Analytics is the secret ingredient behind the best nonprofit web design.

The Must-Have Sections for Every Nonprofit Website

1. Homepage: Your First Impression

Your homepage is the gateway to your organization. It must communicate who you are, what you do, and how people can get involved within seconds.

• Best practices:A clear headline or value statement.
• Impact-driven visuals (photos or video).
• Prominent calls to action (Donate, Volunteer, Contact).
• Navigation:  Typical users find what they want from your navigation – so make that their user journey- easy to find the exact content they need, the minute they hit your drop-down

Examples we love:  Community Partners International, Morris Museum,  Mobile Market Coalition

2. Programs & Services

Donors, funders, and community members want to know what you do. Create a dedicated landing page listing all programs, plus detail pages for each. Each program detail page should include: Not only does this help users, but it also improves SEO by giving Google more content to index.

• Description of the service.
• Who benefits from the service.
• Measurable outcomes.
• Case studies or testimonials.
• Easy links to get involved.

Examples we love:  CCLR, NYSTEC, CPINTL

3. About Us: Building Trust

Your About Us page should go beyond a generic mission statement. It’s a chance to build credibility and showcase impact. The best nonprofit web design makes this page engaging, authentic, and unique.  You can be inspired by other types of companies for great examples of About Us pages.

What to include:

• Mission and values.
• History of the organization.
• Key statistics and achievements.
• Leadership team profiles and success stories.

4. Team Bios: Faces Behind the Mission

Don’t skip this section. Funders and grant makers often look at who’s leading the organization. Strong team bios build trust.

Tips for bios:

• Include professional expertise.
• Add a personal story or connection to the cause.
• Use approachable photos

5. Success Stories: Showing Impact

Nothing convinces donors like seeing the difference you make. Success stories can be told through text, photos, or video testimonials. Example: Instead of simply saying “We provided 5,000 meals,” highlight an individual story of how one family was impacted. This creates an emotional connection.

6. Get Involved Page

Your “Get Involved” section is essential for engagement. Clearly outline:

• Volunteer opportunities.
• Ways to donate.
• Other participation (sponsorships, internships, memberships).

The best nonprofit web design ensures that taking action is effortless.

7. News or Blog: Staying Active

A blog or news section builds credibility and boosts SEO. Even posting once per month helps. If you don’t have a person who writes specifically for your organization, write key points that you want to talk about, pop it into ChatGPT.  After the output, rewrite in your voice **Yes, I wrote this first and SEO optimized it in ChatGPT.  I am not ashamed to admit.  We have tools. USE THEM!!

Topic ideas:

• Event recaps.
• New initiatives.
• Community spotlights.
• Opinion pieces on issues related to your mission.
• Testimonials
• Press releases

8. Donation Page: Inspire Giving

A donation page should never just be a form. Storytelling is what drives conversions.

• Best practices:Share a story that illustrates the need.
• Break down donation amounts (“$25 provides school supplies for a child”).
• Use photos or short videos.
• Keep the form simple and mobile-friendly.

9. Contact Us: Make It Easy

Visitors should never struggle to reach you. Have a clear contact page with a form, phone number, and email. Add smaller contact forms throughout the site—for donations, programs, and volunteer pages.

10. Search Functionality

Users expect websites to have a search bar. If they can’t find what they’re looking for quickly, they’ll leave.

11. Clear, robust navigation

If visitors can’t find information in one or two clicks, they’ll move on. Dropdowns should be intuitive and easy to use.

Design Principles for the Best Nonprofit Websites

Beyond content, the best nonprofit web design is built on strong design principles:

• Mobile-first design: More than 60% of traffic comes from mobile.
• Accessibility: Ensure inclusivity with alt text, strong color contrast, and keyboard navigation.
• Fast load speed: A slow website kills engagement.
• Consistent branding: Colors, fonts, and visuals should reflect your mission.
• Compelling visuals: Use authentic photos over stock images whenever possible.

Common Nonprofit Website Mistakes

Even well-meaning nonprofits often make mistakes that hurt their site performance. Avoid these:

1. Outdated blog posts (last update: 2019)
2. Donation pages without storytelling.
3. Complicated navigation.
4. No clear calls to action.
5. Overuse of downloadable PDFs instead of web pages.

Real-World Example: Riverstone Senior Life Services

When Riverstone Senior Life Services worked with We Are Immediate, they needed a website that highlighted their senior programs and made it easier for families to find resources.

The new site featured:

• Impact-driven storytelling.
• A clear “Get Help Now” button.
• Improved donation pages.
• Easy navigation.

The result? Increased inquiries, better engagement, and higher donations. This is the power of the best nonprofit web design in action.

Final Thoughts: Making Your Website Your Strongest Tool

Your nonprofit website should be more than just an online brochure. It should tell your story, highlight your impact, and inspire people to get involved. The best nonprofit web design combines strong content, smart design, and data-driven insights to achieve all of this.

If you’re ready to elevate your nonprofit’s website, We Are Immediate offers free consultations. With over 15 years of experience, we create websites that increase donations, boost visibility, and expand impact. Your mission deserves to be seen—and your website is the place to make it happen.