5 Signs Your Nonprofit’s Website is Costing You Donations
Your nonprofit website is one of the most powerful tools you have for communicating your mission, inspiring support, and securing funding. But if your website isn’t doing those things effectively, it may actually be holding you back.
Many charities and mission-driven organisations rely on websites that were rushed, designed without strategy, or haven’t been updated in years. Over time, this can lead to confusion, frustration, and missed opportunities for connection and giving.
If donations, engagement, or enquiries have slowed down, your nonprofit website may be part of the problem. Below, we’ll look at the main warning signs — and what to do to fix them.
If you realise your organisation needs support improving your site, I specialise in Website Design for Nonprofits that inspires action and builds trust.
1. Visitors Can’t Immediately Understand What You Do
When someone arrives on your homepage, they should be able to answer these questions within seconds:
Who does your organisation support?
What change are you creating?
Why does it matter?
If your message is unclear or hidden under too much text then visitors will simply leave.
Example of clear, quick messaging:
We support young people experiencing homelessness in [area] by providing safe accommodation, personalised support, and long-term opportunities.
Clear. Emotional. Meaningful.
2. Your Donation Page Is Hard to Find or Hard to Use
This is one of the biggest causes of lost donations.
Ask yourself:
Is “Donate” clearly visible at the top of every page?
Does the button stand out?
Does the donation form take less than 60 seconds to complete?
The best nonprofit website design makes giving easy, quick and emotional.
Fixes That Increase Funding:
Place a Donate button in the top navigation
Use a contrasting colour
Reduce form steps
Show real impact (e.g., “£25 provides school supplies for one child”)
If your donate button is hidden or your form is complicated, supporters will simply stop halfway through.
3. Your Website Isn’t Telling Stories
Stories turn interest into action. Supporters want to see:
The faces behind your mission
Real examples of change
Voices of people impacted
The best nonprofit websites weave storytelling throughout, not just in an “About” page. You can start with:
One personal impact story on the homepage
Real photos instead of stock images
Short quotes from beneficiaries or volunteers
Videos to help emotive storytelling
If you’d like inspiration, you’ll find storytelling examples in my Nonprofit Website Portfolio.
4. Your Website Looks Outdated or Inconsistent
This one’s sensitive, but important.
A website that looks outdated, cluttered, or difficult to navigate can unintentionally communicate:
Lack of clarity
Lack of organisation
Lack of trustworthiness
Potential supporters need to feel confident that your organisation uses funding responsibly.
A modern, clean website helps build that trust instantly.
If you’re using a nonprofit website builder (like Squarespace), simplicity is your best friend.
If your site needs a more strategic refresh, that’s where a web designer can help. Visit Website Design for Nonprofits for a quick price on website designs.
5. There’s No Clear Call to Action
If your website doesn’t tell visitors what to do next, they’ll do nothing.
Every page should point toward one meaningful action for example:
Donate
Join the mailing list
Volunteer
Attend an event
Book a call (for partnership-based organisations)
Your calls to action should be clear, emotional and repeated throughout the site in variations
Example CTAs that inspire action:
Make a Difference Today
Join Our Community
Support the Work
Tip: Avoid passive phrases like Learn More, they're too vague.
Strong nonprofit websites usually share these key features:
| Feature | Why it Matters |
|---|---|
| Clear mission statement | Helps visitors quickly understand purpose |
| Real photography and stories | Builds trust and emotional connection |
| Simple navigation | Reduces confusion and frustration |
| Clear calls to action | Encourages meaningful next steps |
| Accessible, mobile-friendly design | Makes the site usable for everyone |
Nonprofit Website Examples to Inspire You
Looking at what works is a great way to refine your own approach. Browse the website portfolio to see how other nonprofits bring clarity, trust, and storytelling into their designs.
FAQs about nonprofit websites:
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A good nonprofit website clearly communicates the mission, uses storytelling to create emotional impact, and makes donating simple and intuitive.
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Not necessarily. Platforms like Squarespace and WordPress work well what matters is clarity, accessibility, and user experience.
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Use a clear donation button, share real stories of impact, show where funding goes, and keep the donation process quick and mobile-friendly. Download my FREE website planning guide for more tips
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You can view real nonprofit website examples in the portfolio for layout ideas, messaging structure, and storytelling inspiration.
Ready to Transform Your Nonprofit Website?
Your nonprofit’s mission deserves a website that moves people to action.
I specialise in nonprofit website design that blends strategic messaging, accessible layouts, and emotional storytelling to build trust and inspire giving.
To get a guide price visit Website Design for Nonprofits → Or book a free Website Clarity Call (no obligation, genuinely helpful)
I hope you found this article useful in your website journey! Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about charity and nonprofit web design.
You might also be interested in these additional articles:
The Best Charity Donation Websites
Nonprofit web design best practices
Choosing the right domain for your charity or nonprofit
Is Squarespace good for nonprofits?
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