5 Insights for Smart Nonprofit Website Design & Development
- Alisa Lemaitre
- Jul 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 17
This year at Dexxy Studio, we’ve kicked off with great luck on NPO projects: website makeovers, navigation and content updates, rebranding, UX improvements, and more. Since we’re the one-stop-shop for IT projects, we’re excited to share with you the 5 vitally important things Nonprofit organizations should consider before investing in a website:
NGO Websites Are Different
NPO websites aren’t like other websites. They’re essentially libraries, encyclopedias, or archives filled with content and articles. Their goal isn’t to sell or push a call to action, but to be helpful. Your website’s value is in the information it provides, and the primary function is to help users find and understand that information quickly and easily.
Understanding Your Audience
The audience for an Nonprofit website can be tricky to define. While it might start with one group, such as governments, it quickly expands to include researchers, scientists, charities, donors, journalists, and more. Understanding your audience will help you create a better experience and meet their needs.
Website Look and Feel
Considering the previous two points, you may see some challenges in the visual aspect of the website. NPO websites tend to feature lots of text with minimal graphics. The goal is to avoid distractions, provide a more corporate look, and meet the expectations of various audiences. While there may not be much space for creative flourishes, that doesn’t mean the design has to be bland. Minimalism, elegance, taste, and interactive elements can all enhance the user experience.
Website Navigation and Content
Planning the structure of your content and navigation is essential before you start searching for the right vendor. The scope of the work, the process of collaboration, and the overall success of the project will depend on it. If you need to update the content or reorganize the pages, it’s crucial to have an updated sitemap in place. This will help define the flow of pages and the order of priorities. Ideally, you should also prepare the full copy of the website so the designer can create pixel-perfect mockups. If that’s not possible, you’ll need to work on the copy as the website is being designed and developed, which is less optimal but more cost-efficient than making content changes during the design process.
Choosing the Right CMS
When selecting a CMS (WordPress, Drupal, Webflow, Wix, or custom development), consider what your internal team is comfortable with. They’ll be using it daily, so their input is vital. The CMS should also be user-friendly and not require constant technical support for small tasks. Finally, check which CMS your technical partner excels at, as their expertise will lead to a faster and more cost-effective outcome.
Bonus: The 6th Insight – Rebranding
If you’re planning a rebrand—changing your logo, colors, etc.—make sure it’s truly necessary. Rebranding will affect all your marketing assets, from brochures and decks to social media, so ensure consistency across all platforms. Don’t forget to include these costs in your budget. Also, ask the designer to prepare a brand guideline, which is a must-have for ensuring consistency across various formats. A full brand book that includes stationary, social media kits, and marketing materials is a nice-to-have but could be helpful in the long run.
So, to sum up:
Focus on information delivery rather than sales or calls to action.
Know your audience and tailor their experience of interacting with the website.
Go for a minimalist, functional look with an emphasis on ease of use yet do not forget of interactive elements.
Have an updated sitemap (must-have) and content ready (nice-to-have) for a smoother design process.
Pick the CMS that doesn’t require much of support, suits your team’s skills and your technical partner’s expertise.
Ensure rebranding is necessary and prepare brand guidelines to maintain consistency across all platforms.
