Charity websites require more care and attention because they are not just another website where people can sell their products or services. Unlike other corporate websites, charity websites are not out to sell a product or service; instead, they are out to sell a cause.

As a result, before you launch your new charity website, you should think about a few key details that can make or break your efforts.

Here are seven things to think about before launching a new charity website.

Is The Purpose of Your Charity Website Design Obvious?

Sometimes we happen to come across a website and, despite spending a minute or two on it, we are unable to determine its purpose. Some websites are so ambiguous in their design and content that visitors are left feeling clueless.

Visitors should not be taken for granted. Don't just add some random images of people doing charity; instead, make sure that your website can precisely communicate your message to its intended audience.

You see such information on the WE Charity site and how they not only provide great visuals and examples on what the foundation is about, but also how others can help their global efforts and charitable cause.

By including a brief mission statement on the home page, you can assist visitors in understanding the website's purpose. Alternatively, you can link to the 'Why Donate' page, where users can learn about the organization's mission and activities. In that case, the link to the 'About Us' page should be prominent, and promotional statements should be avoided.

Is It Easy for People to Donate on Your Charity Website?

Whatever the quality of your Charity website design or how eloquently you have summarized the organization's mission, it all comes down to the donation from volunteers at the end. Fundraising or donation is the most crucial aspect of a charity organization, so the button that allows this to happen should not be taken lightly.

Rather than forcing people to go through an elaborate, confusing, and complicated payment process, you can save them time and effort by adding a simple and prominent 'Donate' button to your home page. To get the most attention, try to place the 'Donate' button in the Above the Fold section's website.

To summarize, all of your efforts should be directed toward making the website more user-friendly for donors. If they cannot locate the payment button or are dissatisfied with the website, you may have a severe challenge of raising funds for your mission.

Are you using Images of Real People for Real Impact?

People who are about to donate money have the right to know where their money will be spent. Words alone will not persuade donors; you must use real-life images to reassure them that their contribution will make a difference in many people's lives.

Do not use popular stock images for this purpose because they appear phony. To make your organization and website appear genuine, use pictures of real people who will benefit. On your homepage, include a picture of someone in distress. If you are not skilled at photography, you can always hire a professional.

Is Your Charity Website Design Volunteer-friendly?

A charitable institution cannot be managed solely by using money. You will need people who want to be a member of the team. Furthermore, some people do not have enough money to donate but do have the time and goodwill to support others.

In addition to inserting a link to the 'Donation' tab, you must also link to the 'Volunteer' page from the home page. Attach any contact information to the 'Volunteer' list, such as a phone number, email address, or physical address, so that potential volunteers can quickly contact the organization. Another excellent choice will be a quick contact form.

Is Your Charity Website Press-friendly?

Because this is a charity organization, the website's goal should be to garner as much media attention as possible. If your organization can gain media attention, it will undoubtedly help you obtain more donations from various sources.

Make it simple for journalists to contact you. You should probably create a separate section for journalists and bloggers where they can download images of your organization, board of directors, and so on. Make it abundantly clear that journalists may freely use the directors' pictures or quotes available on the website.

Also, make it clear that journalists or bloggers are not required to seek permission from your organization before writing an article about you.

Is the content on your website compelling enough?

Because the website does not sell any products or services, you must go above and beyond to persuade people to contribute. As a result, your content should not be monotonous. Furthermore, the website's design and structure should revolve around the content rather than the other way around.

The home page should explain why people should trust the organization. You must use simple and short sentences to inform and educate people about the importance of participating in the initiative.

In addition to the content on your site, it's also a good idea to write content (or get featured) on other sites in your industry as well. A perfect example of this can be seen in this article from Craig Kielburger, on how the two brothers are continually making an effort to bring awareness to those in need.

To get people's attention, you can use teasers or catchy headlines. Ensure that no other design elements are overshadowing the content.

Is there multimedia content on your charity website?

Words alone aren't always enough to persuade people. This is most likely why some non-profit organizations rely on multimedia to gain their target audience's trust. In this regard, you can use a short, interactive video to describe how the organization's initiative will impact many people's lives in need.

You can also use simple videos for the same purpose. Embedding videos into the design of a website is not complex. It is simple to make them a part of the design by making a few minor changes.

Conclusion

It is now common practice to add a news section or blog to connect with the targeted audience. If you keep it up to date with new and insightful posts, it will give readers plenty of reasons to return for more. And if you'd like to see more examples of charities spread across the world, take a look at this list here.

Also, make sure to include a 'Subscribe' button in the News section so that people can easily subscribe to your regular updates. Furthermore, from the standpoint of search engine optimization, you must keep your website updated with interesting and informative articles. When you've completed all of these steps, your charity website is ready to go live!