Screenshots of other organizations’ sites only tell you so much. You see a big photo and a Donate button, but not why the pages were arranged that way or what the board argued about before launch. This guide describes a strong small nonprofit website the way a planner would, page by page, so you can apply the reasoning to your own mission.
It assumes a small to mid-size organization: a few programs, some volunteers, a board, donors who give online and in person, and a staff member who already has too much to do.
Who visits, and what each is looking for
Four groups arrive with different questions. People who need your services want to know if they qualify and how to begin. Donors want to know what their gift does and whether the organization is run carefully. Volunteers want to know what shifts exist and what they would actually do. Partners, funders and journalists want facts about leadership, history and reach that the organization chooses to publish. A good site gives each group a path from the homepage within one tap.
The homepage, section by section
- ✓Mission in one sentence — plain words about who you serve and how, placed above any slogan
- ✓Three doors — separate buttons for get help, give and volunteer so visitors self-sort
- ✓One current story — a short, permission-cleared account of a program in action
- ✓Upcoming dates — the next event or drive, with an obvious date so stale items stand out
- ✓Footer facts — legal name, the location you serve and links to governance documents
The inner pages and what each does
The About page tells the founding story briefly, then lists the board and key staff with roles. Each program gets its own page answering who it serves, what happens, eligibility, schedule and how to start. A Get Involved page lists volunteer roles with time commitment and a short sign-up form that asks only what the coordinator needs. The Donate page explains, in a sentence or two, what gifts fund, then hands off to your donation platform. An Events page holds dated listings. A Contact page lists the right inbox for each kind of question.
A Governance or Transparency page is optional but persuasive: annual reports, financial statements or filings the board chooses to share, and the name of the organization exactly as registered.
Mistakes that weaken nonprofit sites
- ✓A donate page with no context — givers hesitate when the page only shows a payment box
- ✓Programs hidden in one long page — people looking for help cannot find their program
- ✓Volunteer forms that ask too much — request contact details and availability, not life histories
- ✓Expired events left up — a summer drive still listed in December suggests nobody is watching
- ✓Photos of people without permission — get written consent, especially for children and clients
Decisions your team should make first
Decide which donation platform you will use, since its fees and donor records stay with that provider; we connect it or help you set one up. Decide who receives volunteer and contact form messages and how quickly they reply. Decide what governance information the board is comfortable publishing. Decide whether you need the site in Spanish as well as English, and who approves the translation of program details.
How this maps to a plan
A small nonprofit with one or two programs can fit the Launch Website at $399 for up to 5 pages. Most organizations with several programs, events and a governance page fit Business Plus at $989 for up to 20 pages. Website Care at $30/month includes a monthly allowance of small edits, which suits swapping an event or updating a program schedule.
What to expect, honestly
- ✓We do not process donations — we connect the donation tool you choose, and its fees and donor data stay with that provider
- ✓We do not give tax or legal advice — receipt wording and disclosures should come from your advisors
- ✓We do not build volunteer or donor accounts — forms and links to your existing tools only
One example of what your site could look like
This is one sample we designed. Yours is built around your business, your photos and your words, and we have more examples if you want to compare directions.
What it costs
Websites are priced one-time by size, plus Website Care at $30/month for hosting, HTTPS, backups, weekly checks and A/B testing. Every package includes a consultation, mobile-friendly design, copy we write for you, a contact form, essential search setup and 10 revision rounds. Monthly SEO is an optional add-on when you are ready for it.
Optional add-ons, billed separately
The prices above are for your website. These two are separate monthly products you can add now or later. Neither is part of the website price.
Monthly SEO, from $50/month: new pages published on your site every month. See Monthly SEO →
Business Spotlight, from $30/month: articles about your business, labeled as paid, published on The Company Chronicle. See Business Spotlight →
How it works
1. Consultation
We learn your services, customers and goals, in English or Spanish.
2. We write and design
We draft the words and build the site around your business.
3. 10 revision rounds
You review and request changes until it is right.
4. Launch and care
We launch, then Website Care keeps it hosted, backed up, checked weekly and A/B tested.
Keep reading
How a nonprofit donation page works · What a nonprofit website should include · Websites with volunteer sign-up · Website mistakes nonprofits make
