You need a good website
No matter the size of charity, you need a website
Having a strong online presence is no longer optional for charities—it is essential. A well-designed website can do more than just inform; it can inspire action, foster trust, and drive donations. For charities, every visitor counts, and your website has the potential to turn interest into involvement. This guide explores expert charity web design tips to help your organisation create a website that engages supporters, drives donations, and enhances visibility. Whether you’re planning a major redesign or fine-tuning your current site, these strategies will empower your non-profit to achieve its goals.
Why?
Effective web design is critical for charities
For charities and non-profits, a website serves a dual purpose—it promotes your mission while making it easy for supporters to engage, whether through donations, volunteering, or sharing your cause. That said, great charity web design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a seamless experience that speaks to both heart and mind.
With a growing emphasis on digital engagement, a compelling website increases credibility, attracts new donors, and strengthens relationships with existing supporters. To create real impact, design choices should align with the unique needs of charities.
What's needed on a charity site?
Understanding the needs of non-profits in web design
Charities face unique challenges when it comes to their online presence. Unlike ecommerce or corporate websites, charity websites are not selling products—they’re building connections, driving action, and educating audiences.
To address these needs, here’s what your charity website must provide:
A clear mission statement
Visitors should immediately understand what your charity stands for and the causes it supports.
Transparent donation pathways
It must be easy, quick, and secure for supporters to donate via your website
Mobile responsiveness
With a significant proportion of users accessing websites via mobile devices, having a mobile-friendly design is non-negotiable
Engaging storytelling elements
Emotional connection inspires action, making visuals and stories vital to securing support
Top tips for web design
Top charity web design tips for success
Ensure clear and intuitive donation pathways
Donating should be simple, fast, and secure. Use clearly labelled buttons strategically placed on your website to guide users to donate. Consider adding CTA phrases such as “Donate Now” or “Support Our Cause” that stand out on the page.
Additionally, multiple payment methods should be provided to cater to donor preferences. This increases the likelihood of conversion and removes barriers.
Prioritise mobile responsiveness
Research shows that over 50% of website traffic globally comes from mobile devices. To ensure you don’t lose potential donors, your charity website must provide a flawless mobile experience.
- Use responsive design to ensure your site adapts to different screen sizes.
- Regularly test your site on mobile devices for usability and loading speed.
Incorporate compelling visuals and storytelling
People connect with stories, and for charities, storytelling is the key to sparking emotional engagement. Use striking imagery, videos featuring beneficiaries, and heartfelt content to humanise your mission.
Create a dedicated “Stories” section where you showcase the real-life impact of your work. Testimonials, before-and-after transformations, and statistics presented in visually creative ways, like infographics, can further enrich the experience.
Use SEO to enhance visibility
A beautifully designed website has no value if it isn’t visible to your audience. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) helps ensure your site ranks highly on search engines, increasing non-paid traffic.
Finding the right charity web design partner
A charity-focused web design partner understands your mission and how to translate it into both compelling visuals and seamless functionality. Here’s what to look for when choosing a charity web design agency:
SUCCESS STORY
A spotlight on successful charity web design
One standout example of impactful charity web design comes from the Cancer Prevention Research Trust, redesigned by Xanthos Digital. Before their website overhaul, CPRT faced challenges such as poor navigation, limited donation options, and difficulty reaching new donors.
Here’s a summary of what was achieved post-redesign:
- A highly responsive, user-friendly WordPress site.
- Integrated PayPal payment gateway for secure and easy donations.
- Clear navigation menus and added links to social media.
- SEO optimisation, which increased organic search traffic by 514%.
- Blog content covering cancer prevention topics to draw and educate their audience.
Results
Transform your charity’s impact today
Your charity’s website is often the first impression for potential donors, volunteers, and supporters. By improving its design, usability, and visibility, you can make your mission more accessible, inspiring, and effective.
To help charities like yours shine online, Xanthos Digital is hosting a competition where you can win a free website.
Enter today, and for the winner, our expert charity web designers will create a professional, engaging website that boosts donations and builds trust with supporters.
