Over the past 25+ years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most inspiring nonprofit leaders in the country, from small, standalone to large, multi-chapter federated organizations. I’ve listened to their challenges, celebrated their wins, and helped them use technology to advance missions that truly matter; from feeding families and housing veterans to mentoring youth and saving animals.
One thing I’ve learned? A nonprofit’s website can either hold it back or help it fly.
Your website isn’t just a digital brochure. It’s your frontline fundraiser, recruiter, and storyteller. And with more people turning to online platforms for everything from donations to volunteering, your site needs to do more than exist. It needs to work.
So what makes a nonprofit website truly effective? Here are the Top 10 Must-Have Features I recommend based on decades of experience helping nonprofits like yours succeed online.
When someone visits your site, they should know immediately who you are, what you do, and why it matters.
According to the Nielsen Norman Group, users often leave a website within 10–20 seconds unless the content clearly communicates value.
What works:
PRO TIP: Repeat your mission and impact in different formats throughout your site. It shouldn’t be a one-and-done message.
Example: United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys
If someone wants to support your cause, don’t make them search for the donate button.
According to the M+R Benchmarks 2023 report, 18% of nonprofit website visitors who landed on a donation page completed a gift, making the donation page one of your highest-converting assets.
Make donating effortless.
What works:
SPOTLIGHT: One of our clients increased donations by 37% after redesigning their giving experience to focus on simplicity and trust.
Example: High Country United Way
More than 60% of nonprofit website traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re missing out.
Design for phones first, not just desktops.
What works:
TEST THIS NOW: Visit your nonprofit’s site on your phone and try making a donation or signing up to volunteer. If it’s frustrating, it’s time for a change.
Example: Unity Worldwide Ministries donate page
An estimated 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. lives with a disability. That means accessibility isn’t optional, especially for mission-driven organizations serving the public.
Ensure everyone can interact with your site.
What works:
ACCESSIBILITY: At OneEach, we can build accessibility into your site. We can also conduct a free website accessibility audit of your current site and provide a report.
According to Nonprofit Tech for Good, event participation is one of the top 3 actions supporters take on nonprofit websites, after donating and reading about programs.
Events drive engagement and visibility.
What works:
PRO TIP: Your calendar shouldn’t be a static list. Make it interactive, filterable, and informative.
Example: VPAS Navigating Aging Together calendar
Over 63 million Americans volunteer each year, and most of them start online when looking for opportunities. Make it seamless.
Simplify the path to involvement.
What works:
INSIGHT: Retention improves dramatically when volunteers receive timely communication and feel that their contribution is organized and impactful.
Example: United Way of Bemidji Area volunteer options
According to HubSpot, websites with active blogs get 55% more visitors and 97% more inbound links. For nonprofits, that means more eyes on your mission and more opportunities to connect.
Keep your site fresh and improve the SEO for your nonprofit.
What works:
PRO TIP: Use photos, videos, and infographics to keep posts engaging and boost time-on-page.
Example: SVDP Disaster Services House in a Box Program
Manual data entry wastes time and creates errors. Integrating your website with your donor and CRM platforms saves hours and enables smarter follow-ups.
According to the Salesforce Nonprofit Trends Report, 78% of nonprofit leaders say technology helps them better manage donor relationships.
Streamline your data and personalize outreach.
What works:
PARTNERS: OneEach websites are designed to connect with your existing tools, or we can help recommend the right ones.
Example: Check out our valued partners
Trust is one of the most important factors in giving decisions. Studies show that social proof, such as reviews or testimonials, can increase conversions by up to 34%.
Trust inspires action.
What works:
PRO TIP: Use real names and photos whenever possible to avoid the “stock photo” trap.
Example: United Way Northeastern Minnesota
Cybersecurity threats are growing across all sectors, and nonprofits are no exception. In fact, nonprofits are considered “soft targets” because they often lack IT resources.
Peace of mind, uptime, and performance.
What works:
OUR PROMISE: Secure hosting, dedicated account managers, a knowledge base full of resources, monthly nonprofit website training webinars, and 24/7 U.S.-based critical support.
Your website isn’t just a tool, it’s a digital extension of your mission. When designed intentionally, it can drive donations, recruit volunteers, elevate your story, and build long-term support.
These aren’t just features we’ve covered, they’re fundamentals. If your site is missing more than a few, it’s probably not working as hard as it could for your mission.
These 10 features are based on our decades of helping nonprofits modernize their digital presence and amplify their impact. If your current website isn’t delivering, we can help.
At OneEach, we build affordable nonprofit websites that do more than look good; they raise more, engage more, and serve more.
Contact us to:
Your mission deserves a digital platform that works just as hard as you do.
Let’s build it together.