Your website often is the first time potential donors and supporters will have interaction with you. If first impression really is everything, then make sure your website is pleasing to the eye.

It’s easy enough to make a website. It is harder to make a website that’s worth visiting. In “Nonprofit Management 101,” Elliot Harmon, a staff writer for TechSoup Global, lists 10 tips that will help your nonprofit website be the toast of the web:

• DON’T hire a colleague’s kid to design your site because he helped you download “Battlestar Galactica.”
• DO check references (even for volunteers), especially previous nonprofit clients.
• DON’T clutter your homepage with too many links and choices. Remember, sometimes less is more.
• DO present a clear message with clear calls to action, not a watered down compromise among several different messages.
• DON’T spend extra money on proprietary systems and custom code if it’s not crucial to your site’s needs.
• DO include training in your design contract, and make sure you’ve allocated appropriate staff time to maintain the site.
• DON’T create a website that conceals your organization’s size, staff, or personality.
• DO publish a staff list, real contact information, board meeting minutes, and your IRS Form 990s.
• DON’T forget about your website once it’s up -- schedule regular updates.
• DO plan to revisit and update at least once a quarter. Measure your website’s performance against its goals and make adjustments if necessary.

Share this story

Story tools