Non-Profit Storytelling in 2026: Why Your Mission Needs a Human-in-the-loop

May 12, 2026/in Content Marketing, Internet Marketing, Marketing, Nonprofit Websites/by Gabriel Seiden

We are nearly halfway through 2026 and AI can crank out a grammatically spotless, emotionally calibrated donation appeal in about fifteen seconds. The catch? Donors can feel when something’s off — not always consciously, the way you can’t quite put your finger on why a conversation feels hollow, but the feeling is there. In a world drowning in synthetic text, genuine human voice has become your rarest asset.

What “Synthetic Empathy” Actually Lacks

Synthetic empathy is a term worth knowing.

It’s content that hits every emotional beat but has no real experience behind it. No actual volunteer who drove 45 minutes in the rain on a Tuesday night. No family you can call up and verify. Just a very convincing impression of what that story is supposed to sound like.

Your donors aren’t responding to patterns. They’re responding to the specific, the particular, the provably real.

The Human-in-the-Loop Framework

Think of AI as the sous chef — great at prep work, not the one writing the menu. The goal is to let AI handle logistics while your stories stay entirely in human hands.

One rule that’s worth adopting: never let an AI draft walk out the door without a “Human Last Mile” review. This isn’t just a spelling check. It’s the step where you add what AI will always miss — the name of the cross street, what the weather was like, a quote from a beneficiary in their actual words, not a cleaned-up version.

Video as Proof: The Asset AI Can’t Fake

Thirty seconds of your team on-site will do more for donor trust than ten polished blog posts. And here’s something counterintuitive: in 2026, high production value can actually trigger suspicion. The content people trust most is vertical, shot on a phone, imperfect — the kind of video that feels like a FaceTime call from the field. It looks human because it is human.

Radical Transparency as a Strategy

Donors today aren’t just looking for a moving story. They want evidence. When you share an impact update, consider linking to a simple “Real-Time Impact” page — a photo gallery, a dated outcome log, even just a counter. AI can’t create a live link to something verifiable and timestamped. That link becomes a quiet proof of authenticity.

The same logic applies to how you talk about AI itself. Consider putting an honest disclosure on your site — something like: “We use AI to reduce administrative overhead so more of your dollar reaches the field. Our stories are written by the people who actually live them.” That kind of transparency doesn’t make you look less credible. It makes you look more trustworthy than the organizations pretending they don’t use it at all.

Personalization vs. Automation: Know the Difference

AI can drop someone’s first name into an email. It can’t know that a donor showed up every year for five years, even when they were going through something hard.

Use AI to segment your lists and handle volume. But protect your human capacity for the moments that matter. If someone has been giving for half a decade and they get an obviously automated thank-you, that’s not neutral — it’s a small withdrawal from a trust account you’ve been building for years. Use the time AI saves you to make a phone call or write something by hand.

Give AI the Jobs It’s Actually Good At

Research summaries. Grant writing first drafts. Report formatting. These are exactly the kinds of tasks where speed matters more than soul. Delegate them confidently, and free your team up for the work that only a human can do: building the relationships that keep people giving

Non-Profits: Turning “One-Time Donors” into “Monthly Partners” via UX

April 29, 2026/in Marketing, Nonprofit Websites, UX/by Gabriel Seiden

Most non-profit websites are built to tell a story. That is vital – your mission depends on people feeling something when they arrive. But if that story ends with a clunky, multi-field donation form that has never been tested on a smartphone, the story is not doing its full job. Emotional engagement that doesn’t convert into action is, from a fundraising perspective, a missed opportunity with a measurable cost.

The Modern Donor’s Expectation

In 2026, donors — especially the younger sustainers every organization is working to cultivate — expect a near-instant giving experience. The standard has been set by Apple Pay, Venmo, and Amazon: one or two taps, no friction, immediate confirmation. Your donation form is being evaluated against that standard whether you intend it to be or not. When your website feels disorganized to navigate, potential monthly partners register a quiet but consequential impression: “If this is how they manage their website, how organized are their operations?”

Frictionless Giving: Strip the form

Every additional required field in a donation form is a documented, measurable source of donor drop-off. Research from Nonprofits Source consistently shows that reducing a donation form from seven fields to three can increase completion rates by 30% or more. The essential fields are first name, email, and payment — everything else can be gathered after the first gift is made.

For mobile users, digital wallet integrations — Apple Pay, Google Pay — eliminate form entry entirely. A donor who can complete a $25 per month commitment in two taps is dramatically more likely to become a sustaining partner than one navigating a desktop-era form on a phone screen.

The Impact Loop: Give Donors a Reason to Stay

Your website should not just ask for money — it should show a living record of what that money is accomplishing. A blog updated monthly with “Here is what your support made possible this quarter” builds more compounding donor trust than an annual report published once per year.

Monthly sustainers, in particular, need to feel the ongoing reality of their investment. A digital impact loop — visible, accessible, specific — reduces churn in the critical first ninety days by giving donors a continuous reason to maintain their commitment.

Speed as an Operational Signal

For a non-profit, a slow website carries a specific reputational cost. An organization asking for financial stewardship of community resources that cannot manage the basic competency of a fast, functional website is perceived — rightly or wrongly — as less trustworthy with larger responsibilities. A fast, modern, clean website signals efficient, high-impact operations. That signal is one of the most important conversion factors for recurring gifts.

The Thank-You Experience

The confirmation page or email a donor sees immediately after completing a recurring gift is one of the highest-leverage moments in the donor relationship. It should be warm, specific, immediate, and should set a clear expectation for what the donor will hear from you and when. Most organizations treat this as an afterthought. The ones that treat it as a first impression of the ongoing relationship retain their sustainers at dramatically higher rates.

What You Can Do Right Now (No Developer Needed)

Complete your own donation process on your smartphone, timing how long it takes and noting every point of friction. Have someone unfamiliar with your organization do the same.
Count the required fields in your main donation form. If there are more than five, identify which are necessary for processing versus which collect data for internal use that could be gathered later.
Publish a brief impact update within the next 30 days showing specifically how recent donations were used. Link to it from your donation confirmation email.
Test your donation page load time on a cellular connection. If it takes more than three seconds, investigate the cause.
Review your donation confirmation page and email. Rewrite them to feel warm and specific rather than generic and automated.

Where Connect4 Can Help

Redesign the mobile donation flow with a minimum-viable-fields approach, Apple Pay and Google Pay integration, and a conversion-optimized layout tested against your current form.
Implement a sustainer-focused email drip sequence triggered by the first recurring gift, designed to reduce churn in the first 90 days when cancellation risk is highest.
Build an automated impact loop page that pulls monthly blog posts and impact data into a dynamic, always-current “What Your Support Accomplished” experience.
Conduct A/B testing on donation form layouts, ask amounts, and suggested monthly giving levels to identify the configuration that maximizes both conversion rate and average gift size.
Implement Nonprofit Organization Schema Markup across your site so AI tools accurately represent your mission, programs, and giving options when users ask about supporting causes like yours.

SEO Hasn’t Died; It’s Just Grown Up

December 10, 2025/in Nonprofit Websites, SEO, Websites, Wordpress/by Gabriel Seiden

In 2026, your website is being judged by humans, classic search engines, and AI assistants (Google’s AI Overviews, Bing/Copilot, ChatGPT-style tools). The rules are shifting, but the small businesses and nonprofits that stick to fundamentals and adapt to AI will win.

Here’s a practical SEO Guide, written for managers—not techies.

What’s actually changed in search by 2026?

A few big shifts you need to know about:

AI Overviews & generative answers

Google’s AI Overviews (formerly SGE) are now widely rolled out and showing AI summaries at the top of many results.
Bing/Copilot and other AI search experiences do similar things, summarizing the web and showing a handful of cited sources.
Studies show these AI modes don’t completely kill clicks—people still click to real websites for local decisions (doctors, dentists, services, donations, etc.).

So: people may see an AI summary first, but they still click through when they’re about to spend money or trust someone with something important.

From “ranking” to “being referenced”

SEO experts are already talking about Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)—optimizing so your brand is mentioned inside AI answers, not just ranking as a blue link.

Companies are literally using tools to test “How often do chatbots mention my brand vs competitors?” and then adjusting their content to be quoted by AI models.

Content that wins in 2026

Research from top SEOs shows that what’s working best now is content AI can’t easily fake: first-hand experience, opinionated commentary, original data, and rich multimedia.

If your site is just generic fluff, AI can replace you. If you’re specific, local, and real, AI is forced to point back to you.

The non-negotiable basics (they still matter)

You can’t “AI hack” your way out of weak foundations. Before doing anything fancy, make sure:

Your site is technically sound
- Loads quickly on mobile and desktop.
- Uses HTTPS (padlock in the browser).
- Has clear navigation and working internal links.
- No “Page not found” disasters on key pages.
You cover the basics on every important page
- A clear page title that includes what you do and where (for locals).
- A descriptive meta description that reads like an ad: who you help, what problem you solve.
- Headings (H1, H2) that mirror the questions people actually ask.
- Alt text on images that describes what’s there (helps accessibility and SEO).
Your local presence is clean
- Google Business Profile fully set up, with the right categories, hours, phone, and website.
- Your Name, Address, Phone (NAP) consistent across directories.
- You routinely ask happy customers/clients for Google reviews and respond to them.

These are boring, but without them, nothing else in this post matters.

SEO in 2026 = optimizing for answers, not just pages

Think like this:

“When someone asks Google/Copilot/ChatGPT a question I should answer, how do I become the trusted source that gets cited?”

That mindset shapes everything below.

Understand and map intent

Search engines and AI systems are heavily tuned to user intent—what the person is really trying to accomplish.

For a small business or nonprofit, most of your important queries fall into:

Informational – “What are the signs of trauma in kids?”, “How does a food pantry work?”
Local / transactional – “affordable therapist near me”, “free legal clinic in [city]”
Trust-building – “[your nonprofit] impact”, “[your business] reviews”

For each service or program, list:

Questions people ask before they contact you.
Objections and fears.
Outcomes they hope for.

Those become your page sections, FAQs, and blog topics.

Create content that AI wants to quote

To show up inside AI answers, your content needs to be:

Clear and structured – questions as subheadings, short answers, bulleted lists.
Specific and local – mention city/region, who you serve, typical scenarios.
Backed by real experience – stories, case examples (anonymized), data, photos, short videos.

This makes it easier for AI to pull a neat chunk of your content into its answer and cite you.

How to use AI as your SEO sidekick (without getting lazy)

You don’t need an enterprise budget. With the right process, even a tiny team can use AI tools to punch above its weight.

Good uses of AI

1. Research & planning

Use AI tools to:

Brainstorm keyword themes and topic ideas.
Turn client emails, intake questions, and phone inquiries into FAQ topics.
Summarize competitor websites so you can see what they’re emphasizing.

Then sanity-check: “Does this match what we hear in real life?”

2. Drafting (but not final writing)

AI is excellent for:

Turning your bullet points into a structured outline.
Producing a first draft of a blog post, service page, or FAQ answer.
Generating variations of title tags and meta descriptions.

Your job is to beat the draft up:

Inject your actual stories, impact numbers, and local details.
Fix anything that sounds generic or wrong.
Add your organization’s voice and values.

If a paragraph could sit on any generic website, you haven’t edited enough.

3. On-page optimization

AI tools can help you:

Suggest internal links (“This page should link to your donation page and volunteer page.”).
Generate alt text for images (then you tweak it).
Identify missing sections (e.g., “You never addressed cost, time commitment, or who’s a good fit.”).

4. AI-era visibility (AEO & GEO)

You can literally ask AI tools how they see you:

“If someone in [city] asks for ‘low-cost trauma therapy,’ which local organizations do you recommend?”
“Who are the top nonprofit mental health providers in [city] and why?”

If you’re not mentioned, that’s a signal. Improve your:

Local SEO (Google Business Profile, reviews, local content).
Authority (case studies, partnerships, media mentions).
Clarity on your site about who you serve and what you’re known for.

Companies are already building products to simulate these prompts at scale and help brands show up inside AI answers.

5. Multimedia content

Brands like TUI (a major travel operator) are using AI to generate inspirational videos, content, translations, and chatbot scripts to show up where customers are browsing and asking questions.

You can use similar workflows (on a smaller scale):

Turn blog posts into short scripts and use AI video tools.
Auto-generate subtitles and translations.
Repurpose content into social snippets that AI-powered discovery (TikTok, YouTube, etc.) can surface.

Where AI should not replace humans

Strategy – Choosing what matters most for your mission or business.
Stories – Real client testimonials, staff perspectives, community impact.
Sensitive topics – Anything related to mental health, legal issues, medical advice, financial advice; AI drafts must be reviewed by qualified humans.
Data & claims – Any statistic must be verifiable; AI will happily hallucinate if you let it.

Use AI as a junior assistant, not as your spokesperson.

5. A simple 90-day SEO + AI plan for small orgs

You do NOT need to do everything at once. Here’s a realistic 3-month roadmap.

Month 1 – Fix the foundations

Audit your site basics:
- Are titles, meta descriptions, and H1 headings clear and unique?
- Do your main service/program pages load fast and work well on mobile?
Clean up your Google Business Profile and major directory listings.
Set up proper analytics and conversions (form fills, donations, contact clicks).
Collect 5–10 new Google reviews from real clients/supporters.

Month 2 – Build content that deserves to rank

Pick your top 2–3 services or programs.

For each one:

Make sure there’s a strong, up-to-date pillar page.
Add a FAQ section that answers real questions clients ask.
Publish 1–2 supporting blog posts:
- “How to choose the right [service] in [city]”
- “What to expect from your first [session / program / visit]”
Use AI to help draft, then heavily human-edit.

Add at least one impact story or case study per service: anonymous but detailed.

Month 3 – Layer in AI-era optimization

Now that basics + content exist:

Add structured data (schema)
At minimum:
- LocalBusiness / Organization schema.
- FAQ schema on key pages (so your Q&As can surface in search and AI overviews).
Test your presence in AI tools
- Ask Google, Bing/Copilot, and ChatGPT-style tools the questions your ideal visitor would ask.
- Note:
  - Are you showing up at all?
  - If not, who is—and what are they doing better?
Publish one “flagship” thought-leadership piece
- Something that AI cannot fake:
  - “What we learned serving 500 families in [city] this year”
  - “5 myths about [service] we see every week in our community”
- Include your own data, quotes, photos, maybe a short embedded video.
Automate what you can
- Use AI tools to:
  - Suggest internal links every time you publish.
  - Draft social posts promoting each new article.
  - Generate meta tags + alt text that you quickly review and approve.

6. Metrics that actually matter in 2026

Yes, rankings and traffic are still relevant, but with AI summaries in the mix, you need a wider lens.

Track:

Organic traffic & organic conversions
- Form submissions, phone calls, bookings, donations, sign-ups.
Brand searches
- Searches that include your name. If these go up, your overall visibility and reputation are growing.
Direct traffic
- People typing your URL after encountering you in AI tools, social, or offline.
Engagement on key pages
- Time on page, scroll depth, and internal clicks on your main service/program pages and donation/join pages.
AI visibility (manual for now)
- Quarterly, run a small set of test prompts in AI search tools.
- Screenshot where you’re mentioned, and track improvements over time.

7. Common mistakes to avoid

Publishing AI sludge
- 50 lifeless blog posts won’t beat 5 sharp, experience-rich ones.
Ignoring local SEO
- If you have a physical service area and your Google Business Profile is a mess, you’re leaving money (and impact) on the table.
Chasing every algorithm rumor
- Yes, Google rolls out spam and core updates constantly. Focus on quality and relevance, not hacks.
Treating SEO as a one-time project
- Your competitors, spam sites, and AI models are all evolving all the time. You don’t need to obsess daily, but you do need steady, quarterly maintenance.
Not connecting SEO to real outcomes
- If you can’t tie organic traffic to leads, appointments, donations, volunteers, or program participation, you’re flying blind.

8. Bottom line

For small businesses and nonprofits in 2026, SEO is no longer just “getting to page one.” It’s about becoming:

The trusted local answer to specific problems.
A recognizable name when people ask AI tools who to choose.
A source of real stories and data that algorithms can’t fabricate.

Get your basics tight, use AI as a force multiplier instead of a crutch, and build content that only you can publish. That combination is what will keep you visible—no matter how much search changes.

A Guide to Website Storytelling

February 17, 2025/in AI, Apps, audio equipment, Blogging, Content Marketing, DAC, ecommerce, Email Drip Campaigns, Email Marketing, Hosting, How To, Internet Marketing, Marketing, Nonprofit Websites, Small Business Websites, Website Redesign, Websites/by Gabriel Seiden

You know what I’ve noticed after years of working on website design with non-profits? The organizations that really connect with people aren’t just sharing facts and figures – they’re telling stories that stick with you. Let me share what I’ve learned about turning your website into a storytelling powerhouse.

The Building Blocks of Stories That Work

Think about the last story that really moved you. I bet it had a clear beginning that pulled you in, a middle that kept you hooked, and an ending that made you want to take action. That’s exactly what your non-profit’s story needs:

Start with the challenge you’re tackling
Share how you’re making a difference
Show the real impact on real people

Here’s the thing: people don’t just want to know what you do – they want to feel connected to why you do it. Share stories that are genuine, that make people feel something, and that show the human side of your work.

Bringing Your Stories to Life Online

Let’s get practical about putting these stories on your website:

Make Room for Stories That Matter Create a dedicated space for the stories of people you’ve helped. These could be standalone features on your homepage or a whole section dedicated to success stories.

Show, Don’t Just Tell A quick video of someone sharing how your organization changed their life? That’s pure gold. Add some well-shot photos or even a photo essay that walks people through someone’s journey. If you’ve got compelling statistics, turn them into eye-catching infographics.

Visual Storytelling That Packs a Punch

Good visuals can make or break your story. Here’s what works:

High-quality photos that capture real moments
Before-and-after comparisons that show clear impact
Simple infographics that make your data digestible
Short videos that bring your mission to life

Pro tip: Don’t underestimate the power of simple animated videos to explain complex issues. Sometimes a 60-second animation can convey what paragraphs of text can’t.

Getting People to Take Action

Here’s something crucial I’ve learned: even the most powerful story falls flat if people don’t know what to do next. After you’ve moved someone with your story:

Make it crystal clear how they can help
Show exactly what their donation can achieve
Give them easy ways to share your story
Offer different ways to stay connected

Keeping the Story Going

Think of your website as an ongoing conversation. Keep adding new stories, fresh perspectives, and current impacts. Your work is evolving – your storytelling should too.

Remember: The best stories aren’t just heard – they’re felt. When someone visits your website, they should leave not just understanding what you do, but feeling inspired to be part of your mission.

Keep checking back for more insights on making your non-profit’s digital presence more impactful. Your mission matters, and your stories deserve to be told well.

Building a Strong Online Presence

January 22, 2025/in Blogging, How To, Internet Marketing, Nonprofit Websites, Technology, Website Redesign, Websites, Wordpress/by Gabriel Seiden

A robust online presence is crucial for all organizations, non-profit and for-profit, to effectively reach their audience, engage supporters, and achieve their mission. This blog post explores the key elements of building a strong online presence for non-profits, focusing on creating a cohesive online strategy, utilizing social media, developing an engaging website, and integrating donation platforms, payment platforms, and volunteer sign-ups.

The Importance of a Cohesive Online Strategy

A cohesive online strategy ensures that all your digital efforts work together to support your organization’s goals. Here’s how to develop one:

Define Your Goals: Clearly outline what you want to achieve through your online presence (e.g., increase donations, raise awareness, recruit volunteers).
Identify Your Target Audience: Understand who you’re trying to reach and what platforms they use.
Create a Consistent Brand Voice: Develop guidelines for tone, messaging, and visual elements to use across all platforms.
Plan Your Content: Create a content calendar that aligns with your goals and resonates with your audience.
Measure and Adjust: Regularly analyze your online performance and adjust your strategy as needed.

Utilizing Social Media Effectively

Social media is a powerful tool for non-profits to connect with supporters and spread their message. Here are some tips:

Choose the Right Platforms: Focus on platforms where your target audience is most active.
Share Compelling Content: Mix informative posts about your cause with stories of impact and behind-the-scenes glimpses.
Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments, messages, and mentions promptly and authentically.
Use Visuals: Incorporate eye-catching images and videos to increase engagement.
Leverage Hashtags: Use relevant hashtags to increase visibility and join larger conversations.
Run Social Media Campaigns: Create targeted campaigns for fundraising, awareness, or volunteer recruitment.

Creating an Engaging Website

Your website is often the first point of contact for potential supporters. Make sure it’s engaging and effective:

Clear Mission Statement: Prominently display your organization’s mission and values.
User-Friendly Design: Ensure your site is easy to navigate and mobile-responsive.
Compelling Content: Share impactful stories, statistics, and updates about your work.
Strong Calls-to-Action: Make it easy for visitors to donate, volunteer, or sign up for newsletters.
Blog or News Section: Regularly update with relevant content to improve SEO and keep supporters informed.
Transparency: Include financial reports and impact metrics to build trust.

Integrating Donation Platforms and Volunteer Sign-Ups

Make it easy for supporters to contribute to your cause:

Streamlined Donation Process: Implement a user-friendly, secure online donation system.
Multiple Giving Options: Offer one-time and recurring donation options.
Mobile-Friendly Donations: Ensure your donation process works smoothly on mobile devices.
Transparent Fee Structure: Clearly communicate any transaction fees associated with donations.
Easy Volunteer Sign-Up: Create a simple process for interested individuals to register as volunteers.
Volunteer Management System: Implement a system to track and communicate with volunteers efficiently.
Showcase Opportunities: Clearly display current volunteer needs and upcoming events.

Conclusion

Building a strong online presence for your business is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and adaptation. By developing a cohesive strategy, effectively utilizing social media, creating an engaging website, and integrating user-friendly donation and volunteer systems, you can significantly enhance your organization’s reach and impact. Remember, the digital landscape is constantly evolving. Stay informed about new trends and technologies, and be willing to experiment with new approaches. Most importantly, always keep your mission at the forefront of your online efforts. By authentically sharing your story and impact, you can build a community of engaged supporters who will help drive your cause forward in the digital age.

25 Best Practices for Nonprofit Websites

December 20, 2017/in Nonprofit Websites, Website Redesign, Websites/by Gabriel Seiden

At Connect4 Consulting we specialize in websites for nonprofit organizations and small businesses. Nonprofit Websites have substantially different requirements than websites for businesses. Websites for non-profit organizations are essentially e-commerce sites with a single product – the donation box – or a single goal – growing engagement via subscriptions. The nonprofit website needs to clearly and convincingly communicate the problem, impact, and solution.

We look at many nonprofit websites each year and one thing is painfully clear: nonprofits and charitable organizations have a lot of catching up to do in terms of internet presence. For every truly great nonprofit website, there are at least a dozen other examples of what NOT to do. In this post we look at best practices for nonprofit websites.

Top 25 Best Practices for Nonprofit Websites

1. The Donate Button

Almost all nonprofit websites are trying to raise money online. With that goal, the donate button and the donation process is mission-critical. The donate button should be visible on every page of your site. Make it stand out by using a color that contrasts with the rest of your page.

Examples of Great Nonprofit Websites – The Donate Button

2. Problem

Don’t assume visitors already know what your organization is about. Prospective donors will find your site through organic search, referral links, and social media, and they may not be familiar with your nonprofit. You’ll need to clearly communicate the problem that your organization addresses. We recommend featuring a prominent link where visitors can learn more about the organization – including the problem you solve, who you help, and why it matters for visitors to get involved. Help visitors dive deeper into taking action by offering clear calls-to-action related to your organization’s core purpose.

Examples of Great Nonprofit Websites – The Problem

3. Solution

What is the solution that your nonprofit organization provides? The solution to the problem must be immediately visible and apparent to the website visitor. And the solution should lead directly to the impact statement.

Examples of Great Nonprofit Websites – The Solution

4. Impact

What is the immediate impact of your organization? As we discussed above, you should follow up the “problem” with your organization’s solution to that problem. Prove the efficacy of your solution by demonstrating impact through eye-catching infographics, statistics and stories.

Examples of Great Nonprofit Websites – The Impact

5. Transparency Is Important

According to a study in The Chronicle of Philanthropy,

1 in 3 Americans lack confidence in charities. In deciding where they will donate, 50% of survey respondents said it was “very important” for them to know that charities spend a low amount on salaries, administration, and fundraising; another 34% said it was “somewhat important.”

Anywhere you can put a number to something your nonprofit organization has done, you can better communicate your impact to a potential donor or sponsor. The more transparent your organization is about this, the more trust you will gain with your visitors.

Examples of Great Nonprofit Websites – Transparency

6. The Blog

Writing about your organization regularly is perfect for demonstrating impact, engaging supporters and sharing the work you’re doing with people new to your organization. Consumers want to be told a story. According to survey conducted by Adobe & research firm Edelman Berland, 73% agreed that brands should tell a unique story.

There are always opportunities to tell stories. It makes content so much more compelling when it is presented in the context of a story. Make sure your organization is taking advantage of the stories behind how your nonprofit began, why your cause matters, and who your organization is helping, and make sure that content is communicated on your website.

Not sure what to blog about? No problem! Here are some nonprofit blogging ideas for you:

• Letters from staff, volunteers or constituents in the field
• Photo essays from events or fieldwork
• Fact roundups on your specific cause or cause-sector
• News updates specific to your cause-sector or the region you’re working in
• Impact stories
• Behind-the-scenes videos or write-ups about your work
• Announcements about partnerships or matching grants
• Celebrate milestones and supporters

Examples of Great Nonprofit Websites – The Blog

7. Subscription Box

The subscription box is related to the blog in the sense that newsletters increase transparency, deepen engagement and keep people up-to-date with how their support is directly impacting your cause.

Encourage supporters to subscribe to your newsletter by including a clear call to action on your homepage. “Join us” seems to be a popular call-to-action.

Examples of Great Nonprofit Websites – The Subscription Box

8. Look Beyond the Home Page

It’s important to look beyond the home page. If you look at site analytics, you might even discover that more traffic enters your site from other pages than the home page.

The homepage is becoming less and less relevant. The home page still serves many functions. It represents your brand/organization, and in many cases it’s the first introduction to your brand for people who search for your organization by name or navigate directly to your URL.

But the home page is also the most unfocused page, because it has to consider the needs and motivations of every potential audience member, as well as introducing your organization and explaining why someone should care.

9. Resources Page

Have a Resources page accessible through your site’s top-level navigation where the public can find reliable, current information about issues central to your nonprofit’s cause. Keep this page updated and well maintained. If part of the value your nonprofit creates is from publishing resources, this is the place to host them.

Examples of Great Nonprofit Websites – The Resource Page

10. Members Only Page

There are quite a few reasons why you would have a members-only section set up on your nonprofit website. In some cases, this type of section may be needed for privacy and security reasons, preventing the release of confidential information.

In other scenarios, a members-only section might host exclusive resources, or a member directory for paying members of the organization. Just seeing the “Members-only” tab on your website is enough to entice some potential members to join your organization online, knowing they’ll get instant access to these things.

11. Campaign Landing Pages

Apply the same principles from your main website for your specific campaign microsites. For a campaign, make sure you add your campaign’s goal and campaign’s progress.

12. Optimize For Mobile

Mobile traffic now makes up 53% of all internet traffic. People today expect a great mobile experience. It’s imperative to make mobile content not just passable or functional, but truly seamless and easy.

At this point, this should go without saying. If your website is not mobile optimized, then you are really missing the boat – or at least a boatload of donors. Unfortunately, many nonprofit websites lag far behind on optimizing for mobile.

Your nonprofit organization should keep mobile in mind while designing to ensure that your site will translate well. Keep layouts vertical, use larger fonts and buttons, and avoid cramming too many elements onto the page.

If you’re unsure of whether or not an element will look good and be easy to use on mobile, remember: you can always take out your mobile device and check!

13. Intuitive Navigation

Well-planned and intuitive site architecture not only informs search engines of the importance of pages in rankings, but it is also important to user experience. Is it easy to find the expected information? What are the real goals of your nonprofit website? Does the architecture of your site support those goals?

Including a top or left side navigation bar that’s visible on every page of your website (minus your donation form).
Keeping all navigation titles between 1-3 words.
Avoiding jargon, elaborate words, or language that doesn’t clearly or accurately portray the content on the page it’s linking out to.
If they’re needed, sticking to only one level of drop-down menus.

14. Page Load Time Under 3 Seconds

Page load time is essential. By minimizing page load time (ideally less than 3 seconds), your organization will significantly increase the chances that the donors who click on your website will actually land there and stay long enough to look around.

If donors have to wait minutes (or even too many seconds), they’re likely to simply abandon the page. After all, visitors can easily turn to another site to access the information they want if it takes too long for your website to load. Check out your website page load speed by visiting GT Metrix.

Here are a few things you can do to help your website load as quickly as possible:

Resize and compress all images.
Minimize the number of scripts, plugins, and custom fonts used.
Opt for HTML and CSS over Flash Player.

15. Website Security

Most of the recent and high profile security breaches can be traced back to weak passwords and faulty website authentication.

If your nonprofit organization wants to maintain a secure website, it’s time you looked into more secure credentials, like two factor authentication and SSL encryption.

Having a secure website protects you and your donors’ information so that you can maintain your supporters’ trust.

16. Matching Gifts

One of the easiest ways to increase online donations is to offer matching gifts. After all, you’re essentially receiving two donations for the price of one!

The problem lies in the fact that many donors simply aren’t aware of the option to give a matching gift.

To add a matching gift tool to your website, you’ll first need to find a vendor (like Double the Donation!).

Ask your website developer if your website is compatible with a matching gift service. If so, it should be easy to embed the tool into your website with a simple piece of code. If not, you’ll need to work with a vendor who provides custom development options.

By adding a matching gift tool to your site, you ensure donors know about this option and give them the resources they need to follow up on submitting their gifts.

17. Nonprofit Website and Donor Database Integration

Between online donations, event registrations, membership signups, and other online forms, your organization will likely be receiving a lot of donor data through your website. By integrating your website and your CRM, you’ll eliminate the need for manual data management, which can be time-consuming and prone to human error.

Instead, all new data you collect will automatically filter into donor profiles, making the data collection process much easier.

18. Marketing Automation – Email and Social Media

The two most common digital communications channels are email and social media.

Your organization can incorporate email into your website by adding a subscription box that enables visitors to sign up for your newsletters. Your email marketing platform should generate a code that you can easily place on your website to get this feature.

As far as social media goes, include social sharing buttons so that supporters can forward your content to their networks. If you’re active on social media, you can also embed social media feeds to share current updates.

19. Consistent Branding

Standardizing branding will ensure that visitors feel secure when browsing your site.

Think about it: if users suddenly land on a page that looks completely different from the rest of the site, chances are they’ll mistake it for someone else’s website. Considering that they want to engage with your organization, they’re not likely to trust pages that don’t look like they came from you.

If, on the other hand, they see your organization’s look and feel throughout your site, supporters can be confident that they’re interacting with you, which will make them feel much more comfortable submitting donations and taking other actions.

As long as your organization is using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress or Drupal, this is not so hard to achieve.

20. Powerful Photography

Photography plays a big role in first impressions. Research shows that using faces in your design can increase engagement by over 30%. Just take a look at this image below and take note of how much it grabs your attention:

21. Minimal and Uncluttered Design

Donors don’t respond well to complex, busy websites. They are already going out of their way to help your cause, the last thing you want to do is scare them off with a cluttered and complex web site.

Minimalism is important because:

It makes your site easier to navigate, since visitors won’t have to wade through a bunch of information and elements to find what they want.
It helps your most important content stand out, since it won’t be competing for visitors’ attention.
It will keep your site looking current for longer and reduce the amount of major updates you’ll have to make. Simplicity is always in style!

Ultimately, taking a minimalist approach highlights the problem, solution, and impact provided by your nonprofit organization.

22. Multiple Opportunities for Engagement

While making sure that you can receive online donations might be your organization’s main website goal, some of your visitors might not be ready to take the leap and make a gift.

If you don’t include other engagement opportunities throughout your website, you’ll be missing out on building relationships with supporters who wish to engage with you in other valuable ways.

A supporter who gives their time through volunteering or access to their network through social sharing is just as an important to cultivate as a potential donor.

23. Highlight CTAs in Site Navigation

Visually highlight your most significant call to action within your navigation menu. On any page, that goal will be prominent and easily accessible. Secondary CTAs can be a more muted color but still be visually prominent.

24. Optimize Donation Pages

There are a number of things you can do to optimize your donation pages:

make it easy to donate
use trust indicators like badges, independent ratings, and financial disclosure
make an emotional appeal
translate donation amounts into monthly impact
provide the option for recurring donations

25. The Post-Donation Experience

Don’t forget about the post-donation experience. After a person has donated, make sure the thank you page shows them your appreciation. Then, make them feel valued with a tailored thank you email, including further steps on how they can continue to support your nonprofit’s mission and cause.

Put these best practices into practice, and your nonprofit website will truly be a great website. Does your non-profit need a technology partner to help implement strategies like these for your website? If so, contact us!