You want to save the world. You have always had an affinity for philanthropic causes and you’ve found the cause that is deserving of your blood, sweat, and tears. There are a million pieces involved in building and running a non-profit organization; Building a board of directors, getting your 501(c)3 designation, defining your mission, and securing funding just to name a few. The process is not for the faint of heart. But just like any for-profit company, you need to establish your brand identity and develop your marketing materials.

At the center of those marketing materials is your website. The website is the home base for your organization on the web. It’s how potential donors and volunteers will find your organization and it will house the organizational mission for prospective board members.

True quality web design for non-profits must include a number of things to be effective. Let’s look at some of the ‘must-haves’:

Visually appealing design – This includes your logo and brand identity but it also includes professional photography. Your website must have a clean design that is visually enticing and well written. It’s important to tell your story. Engage the readers, make them a part of the journey. It is also critical that it be optimized for mobile.

Easy/logical navigation – Don’t get too creative with your navigation or your titles. People have a very short attention span. If they are not able to quickly locate the information they are seeking, they will look elsewhere.

Event Page – If you are running a non-profit, events are an integral part of your fundraising strategy. Your website is the key to promoting and selling tickets to that event. The information should be front and center – easy to locate and easy to engage with.

Subscribe Form – A non-profit’s email list is one of the most important pieces in the fundraising funnel. Make sure there is a subscribe form on all relevant pages of your site as well as the home page.

Social Media Links – Social media should be an integral part of your marketing strategy if you’re running a non-profit. People should be able to easily find your social media properties on your website. Find your brand ambassadors where they hang out.

Contact Page – Do I really need to say anything else about this one?

Donation Page – There should be a donation link somewhere on your homepage that stands out. You don’t want people to have to work to give you money.

Mission Statement – This is critical not only to attract potential volunteers and donors but for grant seeking organizations. When applying for grants, the first place a foundation looks is to the organization’s website. Be certain that the information is well written, succinctly articulated and easy to find on your website.

Blog, Blog, Blog!! – Blogging serves multiple purposes and all non-profits should be actively blogging. A well written, properly optimized blog can not only help to articulate your mission in a more targeted and specific context, but it will help prospective donors to find you online.

Did you know that nearly 40% of US organizations use blogs for marketing purposes? Or that organizations that blog have 55% more website visitors? If you’re trying to gain support for your nonprofit, blogging is one of the best ways to increase awareness of your cause.

Optimize your website. Competition for attention and dollars is at an all-time high. You need every tool at your disposal to succeed.

We Can Help

3D Studios helps businesses grow their influence and their brands. As a boutique brand management agency, we begin with a thorough analysis of your needs and partner with you to develop and execute a marketing plan that will help you take your business to the next level. To learn more about how 3D Studios can help you, visit us at www.3Dstudios.net or call 914-304-4229.