How to Create a Website for a Nonprofit Organization (Step-by-Step Guide)
Your website is your nonprofit’s digital front door. It’s where donors decide whether to give, volunteers decide whether to sign up, and partners decide whether to collaborate. Yet many nonprofits still rely on outdated, hard-to-navigate websites—or worse, none at all.
The good news? You don’t need a huge budget or a tech team to build a site that works. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to create a nonprofit website step by step, the tools you can use (including free or discounted options), and what to include to convert visitors into supporters.
Step 1: Define Your Website’s Purpose
Before you pick a platform, ask: What do we want the website to achieve?
Common nonprofit goals:
Collect online donations.
Recruit volunteers.
Share stories of impact.
Increase awareness and credibility.
Example: A food bank might focus its homepage on “Donate” and “Volunteer” CTAs, while an advocacy group might highlight education resources.
Step 2: Choose a Platform (Free & Paid Options)
You don’t need to code your own site—website builders make it simple.
Free / Low-Cost Options
WordPress.com (Free plan): Great for blogging, but limited design/customisation without upgrades.
Wix (Free plan + TechSoup discount): Drag-and-drop builder, but free plan shows Wix ads.
Google Sites: Free, but too basic for donations and branding.
Best Paid Options (with Nonprofit Discounts)
WordPress.org (Self-hosted): Flexible, scalable, but requires hosting ($5–10/month).
Squarespace: Professional templates; nonprofits can often request 20–50% discounts.
Weebly (by Square): Beginner-friendly, integrates with e-commerce.
If donations are a priority, use Donorbox, Givebutter, or Fundraise Up—all integrate easily with WordPress and Squarespace.
Step 3: Secure Your Domain and Hosting
Buy a domain (yourname.org is best) through Namecheap, Google Domains, or your platform.
Hosting (if using WordPress.org): Bluehost, SiteGround, or DreamHost (free hosting for nonprofits).
💡 Pro tip: Keep your domain short, memorable, and easy to spell.
Step 4: Design Your Website
Key pages every nonprofit site should include:
Homepage: Clear mission statement + donation CTA.
About Us: Your story, team, and impact.
Programs/Services: Show what you do and who you serve.
Get Involved: Volunteer opportunities, events, advocacy actions.
Donate Page: Optimised for conversion (mobile-friendly, suggested amounts, recurring options).
Blog/Updates: Share impact stories and boost SEO.
Example: Charity: Water’s site is clean, visual, and donation-focused, raising trust and credibility.
Step 5: Add Donation & Signup Features
Use tools like Donorbox or PayPal Giving Fund for donation processing.
Add email sign-up forms (Mailchimp offers a free plan for up to 500 contacts).
Optimise your donation page with recurring gift options—recurring donors give 42% more annually (Nonprofit Source).
Step 6: Optimise for SEO and Accessibility
Your site won’t help if nobody finds it.
Use keywords like “donate to [cause]” or “volunteer in [city].”
Write descriptive meta titles and descriptions for each page.
Add ALT text to all images.
Ensure mobile optimisation (over 60% of nonprofit traffic is mobile).
Bonus: Register for Google Ad Grants — eligible nonprofits get $10,000/month in free search ads.
Step 7: Launch and Promote
Once live, share your website everywhere:
Add it to social bios.
Promote via email newsletters.
Announce at events and in press releases.
Encourage donors to share it with their networks.
A strong nonprofit website doesn’t just look good—it builds trust and drives action. By following these steps and using the right tools, you can create a site that turns visitors into donors, volunteers, and advocates.
Remember: your website is your nonprofit’s most valuable digital asset. Treat it like the investment it is.
At Socials Runway Marketing, we build donor-friendly websites for nonprofits that inspire trust and increase giving.
Need support? Book a free strategy call and we’ll help you map your website from start to finish.
