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In the digital age, your business’s website is like a handshake. It’s one of the first things stakeholders notice and will strongly influence their first impression of your organization. The best corporate and portfolio websites showcase what the organization does. To make a positive first impression, there are essential website elements that your nonprofit organization website should have.
As nonprofit organizations are often dependent on the support of donors and volunteers, putting together a well-built and inspiring website to alert others to your cause is absolutely vital. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of five elements absolutely every successful nonprofit organization’s website must have.
Board of Trustees Page
When an individual or business is looking to work with or provide funding to a nonprofit organization, they’ll generally review the Board of Trustees. Placing a brief bio that outlines the varied backgrounds, roles and expertise of your board members on the website will give stakeholders confidence in your vision. Steer clear of corporate jargon and humanize your organization by including a personal quote from each Trustee or even injecting a little humor.
Mission Statement
Statistics show that the most important thing potential donors want to know before donating is what your organization’s values are. Your mission statement should be a clear and inspiring description of your organization’s purpose in addition and act as a call-to-action. Keep it concise – the top 20 nonprofit organizations in the US average mission statements of just 9.5 words. For maximum impact, incorporate your mission statement into your organization’s logo.
Information For Donors
With online resources now considered up to 20% more useful than direct mail with relation to influencing donors, donor information needs to be at the forefront of your small business website design. This includes information about how to donate and how the donations will be used. If stakeholders feel your website is not transparent enough about where their donation is going, they may believe your organization is, at best, ineffectual and, at worst, a scam.
The most important element of this page, however, is a link to your donation page itself. By putting a streamlined donation process in place (such as an e-commerce checkout), you’ll limit the risk of donors abandoning the process halfway.
Volunteering/Career Opportunities
Nonprofit organizations rely on the generosity and involvement of the community. Your nonprofit website should be volunteer friendly. By creating a page that lists volunteering and career opportunities, you’ll be able to attract like-minded and passionate individuals who share your vision. Allowing visitors to store their details for future projects will ensure you have an invaluable database of ready and willing volunteers to assist when an opportunity becomes available.
Testimonials
The only thing better than telling donors where their donations are going is to show them. By prominently displaying testimonials from recipients of your organization’s charitable ventures, you’ll give stakeholders a real representation of their dollars at work. This is one of the most effective ways to promote a website to potential donors.
Quotes are great, but images are better. Accompany your testimonials with captivating pictures of your organization’s efforts at work. Chose imagery that emphasizes your core values. For example, if your organization supports children in poverty with schooling, showcase photographs of students who’ve received assistance thriving in the classroom. Your testimonials should tell a story.
By simply adding these five elements to your nonprofit website, you’ll put your organization in the best position to attract and keep the attention of stakeholders.
