As a nonprofit, your website is crucial to your success. With 5.16 billion internet users worldwide, your online presence is one of the most valuable tools at your disposal when it comes to reaching potential donors.
Designing your website with concise and compelling copy, user-centric design, and top-tier functionality will help you make the most out of your online presence, maximizing your potential reach and appealing to more and more visitors. In this article, we will explore the top four elements of any successful nonprofit website design.
#1: Focus on User Experience
When it comes to nonprofit website design, a combination of UX and UI expertise is crucial. User experience, or UX, refers to how visitors interact with your site. It can impact how users think and feel about your organization, from both a rational standpoint and an emotional one. As you employ UX design, you will need to anticipate the needs of visitors to your site so that you can make their experience enjoyable and frustration-free.
Another important element of nonprofit website design is UI, or user interface. UI revolves around your site’s appearance and functionality – for instance, using colors, visuals, typography, and intuitive layouts in order to maximize engagement and satisfaction. Most importantly, you’ll want your site to be easy to navigate.
#2: Put Fundraising at the Forefront
Successful fundraising undergirds the sustainability of every nonprofit, so it is crucial to make sure your donors can easily contribute to your cause. That means that your donation form or page should be accessible from every point on the site. You wouldn’t want a potential donor to get lost or frustrated trying to navigate their way back to that page.
Our rule of thumb? No matter where a visitor is on the site, they should be able to get to the donation form in just one click. Highlighting your call to action and promoting recurring giving are two excellent ways to put fundraising efforts at the forefront of your web design project.
#3: Build Trust and Credibility
According to recent studies, 48% of people determine the credibility of a nonprofit based on its website design. In other words, it’s important to get the design element of your site right. As any nonprofit stakeholders know, trust and credibility are two of the most important factors that potential donors will consider as they decide where to spend their money.
It can be challenging to convince strangers to donate money over the internet – even to a worthwhile cause like yours! But for many nonprofits, an inspiring website that highlights the organization’s brand and identity can help overcome that hurdle. So how do you make that happen?
Make it simple for visitors to contact you. Include pictures of your successes and a history of your organization’s achievements. Lean on concise, clean copy to sell your mission and your message. When you work with an experienced nonprofit web developer like Think Design, we’ll make sure you’re on the right track.
#4: Prioritize Accessibility
All organizations should prioritize accessibility, but as a nonprofit organization, it’s even more important to ensure that your site is inclusive to all visitors. Web accessibility refers to the process of developing and designing websites that people with disabilities can use.
There are many benefits to improving accessibility on your nonprofit’s website. In addition to promoting inclusion, taking measures to ensure accessibility can help you expand your audience while you build a more positive brand image.
Choose NYC’s #1 Full-Service Nonprofit Web Developer
Want to make your nonprofit web design dreams a reality? At Think Design, we have been working with nonprofits of many sizes for over 20 years. Based in New York City, our nonprofit web design offerings are tailored to the needs of organizations that improve the quality of life in their communities.
Whether your nonprofit is focused on the arts, social justice, or community services, we have the insight and experience to provide digital design and web development that’s optimized specifically for your mission. Get in touch with us today to learn more.