Does Your Nonprofit Really Need a Website?

I get this question often, usually from founders who have a Facebook page and a lot of heart but not much budget. The honest answer is yes. If you plan to apply for grants, accept donations, or partner with other organizations, you need a website.

Social media is useful. But it is not a substitute for a site you own and control.

Why social media alone isn't enough

• You don't own it. Platforms change their rules, limit your reach, or suspend accounts with little warning. Years of posts can disappear.

• It looks informal to funders. A grant application that lists a Facebook page as the organization's website raises a flag.

• Information gets buried. Your mission, board, and programs end up scattered across months of posts. Nobody scrolls that far.

• Some people aren't on it. Many foundation staff, corporate giving officers, and older donors don't use the platforms you post on.

What a nonprofit website must include

A good nonprofit website does not need to be large. It needs to answer the questions a funder, donor, or volunteer will ask. At minimum:

1. Home page with your mission statement in one or two sentences and a clear next step (Donate, Volunteer, or Contact Us)

2. About page with your history, the community you serve, and why your organization exists

3. Programs page that describes each program, who it serves, and what results it produces

4. Leadership page listing your board of directors and key staff by name

5. Donate page with a secure online giving option

6. Contact page with an organization email address, phone number, and mailing address

7. Your 501(c)(3) status, stated plainly, with your EIN, so donors know their gift may be tax-deductible

If you have them, add photos from your programs, a short impact summary, your most recent annual report, and an events calendar.

What to avoid

• Stock photos only. Real photos of your programs and volunteers build more trust than polished images of strangers. Get signed photo releases first.

• Outdated content. An events page still promoting a 2024 fundraiser tells visitors nobody is minding the store.

• Long blocks of text. Visitors scan. Use short paragraphs, headings, and clear buttons.

• No mobile version. Most people will see your site on a phone. Check how it looks there before you publish.

• A personal email address. Use an email that matches your domain (for example, info@yourorganization.org). It costs little and looks far more professional.

What it costs

Costs vary depending on whether you build it yourself or hire help. Website builders like Wix and Squarespace offer monthly plans, and you'll pay a small yearly fee for your domain name. Many nonprofits qualify for discounted or donated software through programs like Google for Nonprofits and TechSoup, so check those before you pay full price.

The bigger cost is usually time. A site that is set up correctly from the start, with clear structure and content, is easier to keep current.

Keep it current

A website is not a one-time project. Assign one person, staff or volunteer, to review it once a month. Update program details, post upcoming events, remove anything that has passed, and add new photos. A small, current site will always do more for you than a large, stale one.

The bottom line

Your website is often the first place a funder or donor meets your organization. It should tell them, quickly and clearly, who you are, what you do, who leads you, and how to support the work.

Ready to build or refresh your nonprofit's website? All Things Business offers website design built specifically for nonprofits, with the pages funders expect to see. Book a free consultation at atbizstl.com/services or call 314-397-1815.