Nonprofit Website Development: 5 Must-Know Steps

Launch a powerful online platform for your mission with these five must-know steps to nonprofit website development. Building a website for a NonProfit is essential for amplifying its impact, engaging supporters, and driving meaningful impact.

At The Brihaspati Infotech, we recently partnered with a remarkable nonprofit organization to create a dynamic website that ignites passion, builds community, and propels their mission forward.

Join us as we explore five essential steps to building a nonprofit website that resonates with your audience, fosters connection, and effectively serves your organization’s mission and community.

Nonprofit Website Development: Key Features to Consider

• User-Friendly Design: A nonprofit website should be easy to navigate for visitors and simple for administrators to manage without technical expertise.
• Cost-Effective Solutions: Using budget-friendly platforms like WordPress or Shopify ensures that nonprofits can maintain a professional website without excessive costs.
• Seamless Donation Integration: Secure and easy-to-use payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal help nonprofits accept online donations effortlessly.
• Customizable & Engaging Design: The website should reflect the nonprofit’s branding, be mobile-friendly, and be accessible to all users.
• Security & Ongoing Support: Implementing SSL, data protection measures, and offering continuous technical support ensures a safe and reliable platform.

Nonprofit Website Development with WordPress: Our Case Study

Our expert WordPress developers created a powerful, user-friendly website designed to maximize our client’s fundraising success. We focused on seamless donation management, an engaging user experience, and a streamlined payment process.

We structured our work into five essential steps to ensure a smooth and effective nonprofit website development process.

Step 1: Choose the Right Website Builder & Fundraising Tool

Selecting a reliable platform is the foundation of nonprofit website development. We built the website on WordPress and integrated the IgnitionDeck crowdfunding plugin to enable seamless donation campaigns.

How We Implemented It:

• Installed and configured WordPress as the website builder.
• Integrated IgnitionDeck for easy fundraising management.
• Set up fundraising posts to showcase campaigns effectively.

Step 2: Set Up Secure Payment Processing

A secure donation system is crucial when building a website for a nonprofit. We configured Stripe Payment Gateway to ensure smooth and hassle-free transactions.

How We Implemented It:

• Registered the nonprofit with Stripe and generated API keys.
• Configured payment settings within IgnitionDeck.
• Tested transactions using Stripe’s sandbox mode before launch.

Step 3: Customize the Donation System for Flexibility

To improve nonprofit website design, we tailored the donation process by allowing users to enter custom donation amounts, enhancing engagement and donor flexibility.

How We Implemented It:

• Modified the IgnitionDeck plugin to accept flexible amounts.
• Adjusted form validation and the checkout process.
• Ensured seamless integration with Stripe payments.

Step 4: Build an Order Management & Donor Tracking System

Enhancing user experience is key in nonprofit website development services. We developed a custom order tracking system, allowing donors to view past contributions easily.

How We Implemented It:

• Created a custom WordPress dashboard for donor history.
• Fetched order data from Ignition Deck using custom queries.
• Designed an intuitive UI for easy navigation.

Step 5: Launch & Promote with Social Media Sharing

Our website development team integrated social media sharing features to amplify the nonprofit’s reach, allowing users to spread awareness and boost engagement.

How We Implemented It:

• Installed and configured the Sassy Social Share plugin on WordPress.
• Enabled sharing options for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp.
• Strategically placed share buttons on fundraising pages for maximum visibility.

Building a Nonprofit Website? Here Are 5 Great Platforms to Use

Choosing the right platform is crucial for nonprofit website development, as it determines ease of use, customization, and functionality. 

Here are five great options to consider:

• WordPress:  A highly scalable and customizable platform, perfect for building feature-rich nonprofit websites with extensive plugin support.
• Shopify: Best for e-commerce-focused nonprofits, offering seamless online store management and secure donation processing.
• Wix: Ideal for beginners and small nonprofits, featuring a user-friendly drag-and-drop builder with pre-designed templates for quick setup.
• Webflow: Great for nonprofits seeking visually stunning, highly customizable websites without coding.
• Magento: A powerful open-source platform suited for large-scale nonprofits managing fundraising campaigns and merchandise sales.

Who Can Benefit from Nonprofit Website Development?

Nonprofit website development services enable organizations to build a professional online presence, streamline fundraising, and effectively communicate their mission, making it easier to attract donors and supporters.