Your website plays an essential role in executing any nonprofit organization’s mission. From raising awareness for a cause, to reaching donors, and recruiting volunteers, a strong, user-friendly website is key to having a positive impact on the communities you serve. It’s important to understand some of the most common challenges nonprofits are facing when it comes to maximizing their web presence and practical ways organizations can overcome them.
Challenge: My website isn’t accessible for a wide range of audiences.
When reaching a broad audience is central to your nonprofit’s goals, making sure that your website abides by accessibility standards is one of the first steps your organization should take. The best place to start is by familiarizing yourself with the latest Website Accessibility Standards, which provide details on things to consider when it comes to the colors, fonts, and graphics you are using. But there are also plenty of free resources, such as SiteImprove’s web compliance checker, that provide a quick review of your website and offers recommendations on how you can improve your site.
Challenge: I’m concerned about the security of my website.
Cybersecurity threats are more prevalent than ever, so nonprofits need to take necessary precautions to make sure they are protecting themselves and the users that are visiting their websites. That’s why The Global Cyber Alliance and Public Interest Registry, the people behind the .ORG domain, have partnered to create the GCA Cybersecurity Toolkit for Mission-based Organizations. This set of free tools, guidance, and training is designed to help organizations take key cybersecurity steps and be more secure.
Challenge: How can my organization streamline our donor experience?
Making the donor experience easy and user-friendly is critical for any nonprofit organization, especially as we enter the end-of-year season of giving. Luckily, there are a variety of tools you can use to improve this experience on your site. If your website is powered by WordPress, their GiveWP plugin offers various customizable donation forms that allow you to accept donations directly on your website. Paypal also allows you to customize and embed a donation button, which only takes a few minutes to set up. For more integrated fundraising campaigns, you can also turn to Classy, which makes it easy for nonprofits to connect with existing donors on an ongoing basis and reach new ones.
Challenge: Our organization needs to create more content for our website and social media, but we don’t have the resources to do so.
Creating a consistent stream of quality digital and social media content is a common struggle for many nonprofits. However, there are many resources that make creating content less time-consuming and easier than it once was. Canva offers its premium services to nonprofits free of charge. All you need to do is apply on their website, and once accepted into the program, you can start creating web graphics, social media content, and other collateral materials in no time. They even allow you to input your organization’s own branding and have thousands of templates that are designed to reach donors and other key audiences. It is also easy and helpful to create a content calendar to manage your website and social content and ensure that you are reaching the right audiences at the right times.
For any nonprofit, optimizing your website is not just important when first starting up, but it’s an ongoing endeavor that can significantly impact your user’s experience and involvement in your cause. By leveraging these tools and many others, you can create a more effective online presence. Investing time into these tools will not just improve your website’s functionality, but can also set you up for long-term success in bringing your mission to life.
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