6 Things to Include on a Charity Website

Last week I blogged about our involvement with the TREAT Trust Wales and decided to write down some tips to help other non-profit organisations make the most of the web.

The first step in any social media/marketing campaign is to make sure that when people get to your website they get the information they need. The following information is what I would expect to find on a charity's website.

1. Tell us about your mission

Tell us what you hope to achieve. What your aims and objectives are and how you intend to fulfil them. It should be short & to the point so that we can pick up the message at a glance.

2. Show us a donate button

The main aim of getting people to your website is generally to donate some money - so make this as easy as possible! Provide a button that will take people directly to a page or website where they can make a donation. Whether you use PayPal buttons or JustGiving, make sure it is easy to find.

3. Tell us how we can help

If donations aren't the only thing you are looking for, make sure to include a section telling us how we can help. Whether volunteering, arranging an event or signing up to easyfundraising, for example, this information should be easy to get to and explanations or 'call to actions' should be included.

4. Show us what will money be used for

This is likely to be included as part of your mission, but it is worth mentioning again! Explain how you intend to use the money raised to reassure supporters that funds will be well spent.

5. Tell us what's going on

Show us that you are an active charity and let us know what you are planning or what you have done. If you are working on a project, let us know about progress, where money is being spent and how people, animals or communities are benefitting. Try to make sure it's kept up to date.

6. Help us stay up to date

Remind supporters how they can stay up to date, whether this is via a newsletter, Twitter or Facebook, and make sure that sign up options are easy and accessible.


There is much more you can add to a charity website, but these are the key points to help reassure and convince supporters that they should help you - and make it quick and simple to do so.

If you run or manage a non-profit website, let me know if you have any comments or questions and I'll do my best to help where I can.

Leave a comment on this post, contact me on Twitter or Facebook.

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Social Media for Non-Profit Organisations

In June we received a phone call from Melanie Davies of TREAT Trust Wales asking if there was any chance we could help out with their website. Not entirely sure what this would mean we arranged to meet up to find out exactly what they had in mind.

Once we met Mel and her husband Mike, and heard all about the trust and their plans to build a state of the art rehabilitation and therapy centre in Swansea, we were keen to get involved to help raise the profile of this worthy cause.

So, we wrote a proposal outlining changes we could make to the website, including ways that their website could bring in some additional funds, plus suggestions on how to use social networking websites to spread the word and increase awareness. They were delighted with our ideas but weren't sure where to begin. We have so far updated their website, set up a Twitter account and facebook page for them. Helped them sign up to the Amazon associates program and easyfundraising.

It's still early days with TREAT, but already there are people who now know more about the trust than they did last week, and we have already generated additonal cash for the trust.

Unfortunately we can't help every charity or good cause that gets in touch, but we can share some of our ideas with you to help you make the most of your online presence. So on this blog starting next Wednesday we will post some ideas and suggestions on how to improve your website, make use of social networking sites and even generate some cash towards your charity, cause, group, club etc.

If you have a question or topic you'd like us to cover leave a comment on this post and we'll do our best to help. If you do take any of our advice, we'd love to hear from you and feel free to link to your website, twitter account or facebook page.

See you next Wednesday?