Just because you offer not-for-profit services doesn’t mean you do not have a viable cause that you wish to raise awareness. This might be additional funding through the form of donations, volunteer hours by generous individuals, or even increasing the profile of your mission so that you gain broader support for your goals.
As you review website design and step into the modern era of communication, there are some key attributes you want your new platform to include. For a nonprofit organisation in Australia, especially those associated with NDIS, creating a website that effectively conveys your mission is not just a good starting point but a necessity.
Our team at Web 105 is going to run through some of the best practices to consider when designing a website that resonates with your audience and advances your cause.
Always Start by Defining Your Cause
Before we get into the details of how you can review your website design and development, we must emphasise one critical point: you have to define your cause. From the moment your target audience lands on the site, it needs to immediately understand the who, what, how, when, and where of your mission goals.
Defining your cause clearly ensures that every design choice, every piece of content, and every interaction resonates with your mission. Impact statements, vision and mission, and compelling narratives are essential to communicate why your organisation matters.
If you don’t know these yet, be sure to outline them in detail before seeking NDIS funding. It will go a long way to smoothing out the steps you’ll take to a successful future. Here are some additional tips to help you along the way.
Tips for NFP Design with a Cause
1 – Engage with a Compelling Story
Stories have the power to connect emotionally with website visitors. Building a relationship with your visitors cultivates trust in your community. You do this by sharing testimonials, success stories, and narratives highlighting the people and communities you’ve helped.
This personal touch can be the difference between passive browsing and active engagement. When you have that kind of interaction, you are able to leverage power toward your movement in the form of highly loyal brand ambassadors willing to help you along the way.
2 – Keep Your UI/UX Simple
UI/UX stands for user interaction and user experience. Think of this as those worn pathways you see in public parks. While the park designer may have thought one path works well and laid down the pavement, the reality is often different, and visitors make their own walkways.
Your NFP website has to be the same. You want a landing page that logically makes sense to every single visitor who swings by. In many cases, less is more. A clutter-free design with intuitive secondary navigation ensures a seamless user experience, encouraging visitors to explore additional resources and understand your cause deeply.
3 – Brand Consistency is a Must
From your logo to the colour palette, consistent branding evokes trust. Ensure that your NFP website mirrors the same look and feel as your pamphlets, social media accounts, and other communication channels.
The goal here is “omnichannel marketing.” This means every single touchpoint your target audience has with your not-for-profit is the same. You are building trust by having everything look recognisable and have an emotional connection so that when they see your logo, brand, and even the domain name – they know it’s you!
4 – Make Everything Accessible and Inclusive
Being associated with NDIS in Australia means ensuring your website is accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. Alt-text for images, readable font sizes, and contrast ratios are just the starting points for inclusivity.
In many cases, this is a must-have anyway. A lot of NFPs serve specific groups with known disabilities that can make browsing the internet a bit challenging. You’re going to want to use an accessibility checker. There’s a fantastic resource from the Centre for Accessibility Australia that can help.
5 – Mobile Optimisation
With a majority of users accessing websites from mobile devices, it’s essential to ensure your site is mobile-friendly. Responsive design, quick loading times, and accessible features on mobile can enhance the experience for smartphone and tablet users.
You never know where your visitors are coming from. Maybe you have a massive donor on a plane that only has a few minutes to check your site via their phone or a target customer with a specialised iPad to review what you offer. In all cases, being mobile-ready is next to solid SEO practices.
6 – Funnel Visitors to CTAs
Effective CTAs (Call-to-Action) guide your visitors towards desired actions, be it donating, volunteering, or signing up for newsletters. Position them strategically to maximise their visibility and impact.
There is a trick in the ecommerce world known as “sales funnels.” This is the idea that your website has a broad reach that slowly narrows down to specific actions on your landing pages. Maybe you are targeting users 20-45 years of age with deafness to join your organisation. There should be clear buttons on your site for signing up for your service in logical places.
7 – Leverage User-Centric Design
Think from the perspective of your audience. User testing and feedback are invaluable. Regularly updating content, emphasising search engine optimisation, and ensuring a user-friendly design enhances the overall experience for your audience.
If it helps, ask for feedback. There is nothing wrong with assembling a crew of 20-30 volunteers to assess your NFPs website before you go live. They will find things you’ve probably never thought of before and can help you iron out issues long before you launch.
Conclusion
Creating a website for a not-for-profit organisation goes beyond aesthetics. It’s about establishing a meaningful connection with your audience, effectively conveying your mission, and spurring them to action.
Our team at Web 105 has years of experience working directly with government organisations, healthcare providers, and not-for-profits all over Australia. We know how to craft a highly engaging website that fulfills all the tips we’ve provided in this post, as well as a much-needed personal touch to make you stand out. Contact us today, and let’s get started!
FAQs
What should a nonprofit website look like?
A nonprofit website should be clear, user-friendly, and mission-driven. Incorporating impact statements, a clear call to action, and authentic visuals can make it stand out. In all cases, be sure to lean into an emotional connection.
Can a nonprofit website have ads?
Yes, but with caution. Ads can provide an additional revenue stream, but they must align with the organisation’s values and not distract from the primary mission. Remember, you want to build trust, and ads may get in the way of that connection.
Can a nonprofit have a .com website?
Absolutely! While many nonprofits opt for .org due to its association with organisations, there’s no restriction against having a .com domain. The key is ensuring the content reflects your nonprofit’s mission and values. If anything, you may want to purchase all suggested domain endings with your host to be sure you’re 100% covered.