How to Create a Nonprofit Website in WordPress (Step by Step)

In 2017, we constructed our non-profit group, the Balkhi Basis, to assist school training extra attainable for proficient younger folks. We shortly realized how essential having the proper web site was for our mission.

Like many nonprofit organizations, we had to determine easy methods to create an attractive web site that might join with donors and serve our group.

Through the years, we’ve helped dozens of nonprofits construct their WP web sites from scratch. We’ve realized what works (and what doesn’t) with regards to making a nonprofit web site that drives donations, attracts volunteers, and shares your story successfully.

That’s why we’ve put collectively this step-by-step information that can assist you create a nonprofit web site with WP. And the most effective half? You are able to do all of it with out hiring an costly internet developer.

Why Create a Nonprofit Site?

As a nonprofit, you’re all about making a distinction. You must unfold the phrase, elevate funds, and recruit enthusiastic volunteers.

However how do you try this successfully? The reply: a robust, participating web site!

A nonprofit web site might help you join with folks across the globe, and lift consciousness on a global scale.

Nonetheless, the considered creating an internet site can sound daunting, particularly when you’ve by no means accomplished something prefer it earlier than.

We get it. At WPBeginner, we’ve helped numerous nonprofits and even arrange our personal nonprofit web site for the Balkhi Basis.

By way of our experiences with the Balkhi Basis, we’ve realized firsthand that making a profitable not-for-profit web site doesn’t need to take a ton of time, effort, and cash.

We’ll present you easy methods to construct a compelling, charitable web site that’s:

• Straightforward to Be taught: No tech abilities required! We’ll break down each step into easy, actionable directions.
• A Breeze to Set Up: We’ll deal with instruments which might be fast to put in and handle so you will get your web site up and working very quickly.
• Funds-Pleasant: We’ll share ideas and methods to attenuate prices, together with unique reductions, so you can also make these donations go additional. 
• Basically Self-Sustaining: We’ll information you towards platforms which might be user-friendly and require minimal repairs.

That mentioned, let’s see how one can create a nonprofit web site in WP! You should use the short hyperlinks beneath to navigate via this tutorial:

Step 1: Select Your Site Builder

Need to construct a robust web site in your nonprofit with out utilizing an excessive amount of of your funding?

We get it, and that’s why we suggest WP. 

There are lots of web site builders, however WP stands out for nonprofits on the lookout for a user-friendly, dependable, and budget-friendly answer.

Firstly, WP is open supply, so it’s free to obtain and use. By eradicating pointless bills on this means, you may dedicate extra sources to your mission – and never web site prices.

However simply because WP is free doesn’t imply it’s primary. It has all of the instruments your nonprofit wants.

WP additionally permits you to set up add-ons referred to as plugins. These are items of software program that add additional performance to WP, and you’ll find over 59,000 within the WP.org repository alone.

This consists of many plugins designed particularly for nonprofits, like WP Charitable. 

Even higher, you may obtain and use all of the WP.org plugins free of charge.

There are additionally numerous WP themes designed particularly for charitable organizations. As soon as once more, lots of them are free.

But it surely isn’t nearly saving cash. In keeping with our analysis statistics, WP is the preferred web site platform on the planet and powers practically 43% of all web sites.

This implies while you select WP, you be a part of thousands and thousands of different profitable web sites, together with many well-known nonprofits. You’ll get a trusted platform that’s good in your group.

That mentioned, there are two sorts of WP software program, so it’s essential to choose the proper one.

First up is WP.com, which is a hosted web site builder. With WP.com, you don’t want to search out your personal internet hosting plan and set up the software program your self. As an alternative, you may select a free plan or purchase one of many accessible paid plans, and Automattic will host your web site for you.

Then there’s WP.org, which is also referred to as self-hosted WP. We suggest utilizing WP.org in your charitable web site as a result of, in contrast to WP.com, it permits you to set up third-party plugins, together with plugins particularly designed for nonprofits. 

For a deeper dive into why we constantly suggest WP, please see our full WP evaluation or our professional comparability of WP.com vs WP.org.

✋ Already created a web site on WP.com? Don’t panic! We have now a step-by-step information on easy methods to transfer your web site from WP.com to WP.org.

Step 2: Setting Up Your Nonprofit Site

When you’ve chosen your web site builder, you’ll want a website title and internet hosting.

Consider a website title as your nonprofit’s on-line tackle. That is what supporters will kind into their browsers to succeed in your web site, similar to redcross.org or unicef.org.

Webhosting is the place your web site lives on-line. That can assist you out, we’ve hand-picked a few of the greatest WP internet hosting that you may purchase in your new web site. 

Though the WP software program is free, internet hosting and domains are the place the prices can actually begin to add up. 

A site title usually prices $14.99/12 months, and internet hosting prices begin from $7.99/month. It is a lot, particularly because it’s straight taking funds away out of your campaigns and actions. 

Fortunately, Bluehost has agreed to supply WPBeginner readers an enormous low cost on internet hosting, plus a free area and SSL certificates (for improved safety).

You have to an SSL certificates to gather donations in WP utilizing third-party providers like Stripe, so that is essential. 

Simply click on the button beneath to get began for as little as $1.99 per thirty days. 

Alternatively, you may straight go to the Bluehost web site.

Then, click on the inexperienced ‘Get Began Now’ button.

This takes you to the pricing web page, the place you may select a internet hosting plan in your web site.

We suggest selecting both the ‘Fundamental’ or ‘Selection Plus’ plan as a result of they’ve every little thing it is advisable create a profitable fundraising web site. 

After selecting a plan, go forward and click on ‘Proceed.’

Subsequent, it’s time to decide on a website title in your nonprofit web site.

A powerful area title is crucial for establishing your group’s on-line presence and serving to supporters discover your web site. So, it’s nicely price taking the time to decide on the proper area title. 

Sometimes, it is smart to make use of your nonprofit’s title, but when your most well-liked area isn’t accessible then you may strive including related particulars.

For instance, you would possibly add your sector (“animalrescue”) or location (“UK”) to the tip.

Wherever potential, we suggest selecting a .org area title as a result of it’s universally acknowledged as the usual for nonprofits. This immediately establishes credibility and belief along with your viewers and makes you stand out from industrial web sites.

👋 Need assistance selecting a website title in your charitable web site? Simply take a look at our information on how to decide on the most effective area title.

After you select a .org area title, go forward and click on the ‘Subsequent’ button.

Bluehost will now ask in your account data, similar to your title and electronic mail tackle. You’ll additionally get an opportunity to purchase some non-compulsory extras.

Sometimes, we don’t suggest shopping for these extras straight away when you’re attempting to maintain prices down. Plus, you may at all times purchase the extras later in case your charity wants them.

As soon as that’s accomplished, merely kind in your fee data to finish the acquisition.

After just a few moments, you’ll get an electronic mail with directions on easy methods to log in to your internet hosting management panel. That is the dashboard the place you may handle your nonprofit web site, together with establishing electronic mail notifications and asking for WP help.

Step 3. Set up WP on Your Internet Internet hosting

Once you enroll utilizing our Bluehost hyperlink, they are going to set up WP in your area title routinely.

Give it a couple of minutes to load, then click on the ‘Edit web site’ button, which can take you to arrange your new web site.

At this level, a window will seem asking if you wish to migrate a WP web site or begin a brand new setup.

Because you’re creating a brand new nonprofit web site, click on the ‘Begin Setup’ button.

The setup wizard will now ask for some primary data, similar to the kind of web site, weblog, or on-line market you’re constructing.

Select the class that most closely fits your nonprofit web site after which click on ‘Proceed Setup.’

When you’ve gone via the whole Bluehost WP setup wizard, click on on ‘Full Setup.’

Bluehost will now take you to the WP admin space.

You too can log in to the WP dashboard by heading to yoursite.com/wp-admin/ straight in your internet browser.

If you happen to’re utilizing a distinct WP web site host similar to SiteGround, Hostinger, or HostGator, then you may see our full information on easy methods to set up WP for all the highest internet hosting suppliers.

You’re now prepared to begin constructing a profitable nonprofit web site. 

Step 4: Choose a WP Style sheet

As soon as your WP web site is up and working, the following step is making it look skilled and alluring. That’s the place WP themes are available.

WP themes are professionally designed templates that management how your nonprofit web site seems and acts.

By default, every WP web site comes with a primary theme. If you happen to go to your new web site, then you definately’ll see one thing like this:

It is a generic WP theme with restricted options, so that you’ll want to exchange it. 

When designing your nonprofit web site, it’s essential to search for a theme that’s optimized for efficiency and search engines like google and yahoo. This can assist extra donors and volunteers discover your web site on platforms like Google.

Many nonprofits additionally depend on visuals to inform their tales and make an emotional reference to their viewers. So, it’s good to go for a theme that showcases pictures and movies successfully.

Suppose full-screen video backgrounds, picture galleries, and interesting layouts.

With that in thoughts, it is smart to search for a theme that’s designed particularly for nonprofits. That can assist you out, we’ve collected the most effective WP themes for nonprofits. 

An alternative choice is utilizing an internet site and touchdown web page builder plugin like SeedProd.

SeedProd is a well-liked drag-and-drop WP web page builder that we’ve used to design lots of our associate web sites. For extra data, take a look at our detailed SeedProd evaluation.

SeedProd helps you design lovely touchdown pages, house pages, and even complete web sites. It additionally comes with some built-in templates that have been particularly designed for nonprofit organizations.

These templates have ready-made sections the place you may showcase your varied tasks and fundraising targets.

This fashion, you may preserve supporters knowledgeable and encourage them to contribute to your campaigns. 

It even has an AI builder that creates a complete customized theme for you in lower than 60 seconds. For particulars, see our information on easy methods to make a WP web site with AI.

When you’ve chosen a WP theme, putting in it’s a breeze. Simply see our step-by-step information on easy methods to set up a WP theme.

After that, you may customise the theme by going to Look » Customise within the WP dashboard. This can launch the theme customizer, the place you may fine-tune the theme settings and see your modifications within the reside preview.

Nonetheless, when you’re utilizing one of many newer full-site modifying themes, then you definately’ll must go to Look » Editor as an alternative.

This launches the complete web site editor, the place you may add, take away, and edit the blocks in your WP theme, just like the way you construct pages and posts within the content material editor.

The perfect half? You’ll be able to at all times tweak your theme and even change your WP theme later. So, don’t fear about getting locked into your web site’s authentic design. 

Step 5: Create a Unique Dwelling Screen

WP has two two default content material sorts referred to as posts and pages.

You’ll usually use posts to create articles and blogs. For instance, you would possibly share updates in your campaigns, announce occasions, or promote petitions.

On this means, you may construct a stronger relationship along with your supporters, enhance your WP Search, and get extra visitors to your nonprofit web site. 

By default, the homepage exhibits these posts in reverse chronological order, so the most recent content material seems on the prime of the checklist except you re-order your posts in WP.

Even when you plan to construct a weblog, you usually received’t present these posts in your homepage. To make a stronger first impression, we suggest making a customized homepage that introduces your group to new guests as an alternative. 

☝ Need to learn to create a compelling homepage that successfully communicates your nonprofit’s mission? Then take a look at our information on easy methods to create a customized house web page in WP.

When you’ve designed your homepage, it’s time to set it as your entrance web page. Head over to Settings » Studying within the WP dashboard.

Right here, scroll to ‘Your homepage settings’ and choose ‘A static web page.’

Subsequent, open the ‘Homepage’ dropdown and choose the web page you created earlier than.

Lastly, scroll to the underside of the display and click on on ‘Save Adjustments.’ Now, when you go to your nonprofit web site, you’ll see the brand new house web page in motion.

Don’t fear, your weblog posts received’t disappear! You simply must create a separate weblog web page to show your posts.

Step 6. Add Extra Pages

Until you’re making a one-page web site, you’ll want so as to add some extra pages. This offers you extra space to speak about your group’s mission, its influence, and the unimaginable work you do.

To start out, it’s a good suggestion to brainstorm all of the totally different pages you’ll want. For instance, you would possibly wish to make the next pages:

To create a brand new web page in WP, merely go to Pages » Add New Screen.

This opens the WP content material editor, the place you may add a title, kind in physique textual content, add a featured picture, add classes and tags, and extra. 

When you’re glad along with your web page, simply hit the ‘Publish’ button to share it with the world.

Merely repeat these steps so as to add extra pages to your nonprofit web site. 

💡 Need extra inventive management over your web page layouts and designs? Then, remember to take a look at our helpful information on easy methods to create customized pages in WP. It’s filled with ideas and methods to make every web page really distinctive and interesting.

Step 7. Add a Contact Us Type

Just about each web site wants a contact kind, and your nonprofit web site is not any exception. 

A contact kind gives a easy means for potential volunteers, sponsors, media contacts, and different supporters to attach along with your group.

Give it some thought: a journalist trying to characteristic your charity, a possible donor with questions, and even somebody searching for your help – all of them want an easy strategy to attain out.

Whereas cellphone numbers and electronic mail addresses are additionally nice choices, a contact kind is way much less intimidating and extra handy – particularly for these on the lookout for assist.

The simplest means so as to add a contact kind to your WP web site is by utilizing the WPForms plugin.

This plugin comes with a built-in ‘Easy Contact Type’ template that you may shortly customise utilizing the WPForms drag-and-drop editor.

Then, merely add the shape to any web page, put up, or widget-ready space utilizing the ready-made WPForms block.

We use WPForms to energy all our types throughout WPBeginner, together with our contact kind, so we’re assured it’s an ideal match for any nonprofit web site. The plugin even affords a 75% low cost for nonprofit organizations.

To be taught extra about this common contact kind plugin, take a look at our detailed WPForms evaluation. 

Skilled Tip: If you wish to present a selected kind only for potential volunteers, then please see our information on easy methods to simply make a volunteer utility kind in WP.

Step 8. Settle for Donations On-line 

Most nonprofits depend on donations from variety supporters. 

The proper plugin can rework your web site right into a 24/7 fundraising machine, accepting donations anytime, anyplace – it’s the final word answer for busy nonprofits!

But it surely’s essential to decide on the proper software. You want a dependable and safe plugin that’s additionally mobile-friendly so folks can donate from any machine. It also needs to help your most well-liked fee gateway and settle for recurring donations so supporters can pledge ongoing help.

On prime of all that, it ought to cost the least quantity of charges so you retain extra of every donation and put it towards your trigger. 

With that mentioned, let’s have a look at 3 choices so you may select the answer that’s the most effective match in your nonprofit web site:

Choice 1: A Devoted Donation Extension

Desire a fully-featured donation platform that permits you to create limitless campaigns, and handle all of your fundraising actions from the identical dashboard?

In that case, we suggest WP Charitable. It checks each requirement on this checklist and extra.

You’ll be able to choose a hard and fast donation quantity, add a customized quantity, or each – so you will have plenty of flexibility. 

You too can set targets for every marketing campaign, so it routinely closes when they’re reached. Or you can also make your campaigns open-ended. It’s fully as much as you!

Plus, you may show the donation kind anyplace in your web site utilizing the WP Charitable block.

Have a number of fundraising campaigns? Then, you may show them in a pleasant grid format. 

There’s a free model of Charitable that you should utilize to simply accept donations through Stripe and PayPal.

Nonetheless, we suggest WP Charitable Professional as a result of it features a ton of options particularly made for nonprofits. These embrace recurring donations, donor payment reduction, annual receipts, and publication signup types.

Try our detailed WP Charitable evaluation to be taught extra.

Choice 2: An Straightforward Type Builder

Don’t wish to arrange a devoted donation plugin? You too can create a donation kind utilizing the very same plugin you used in your contact kind: WPForms.

This plugin even comes with over 30 donation and fundraising templates, so you may add a donation kind to your web site in seconds. 

WPForms doesn’t have all of the superior options you get from a plugin like WP Charitable, but it surely’s a fast and simple choice when you simply wish to acquire one-time donations with out advanced marketing campaign administration.

In any case, why pay for options you received’t use? That’s extra cash you would be placing in direction of supporting your good trigger!

Choice 3: A Donation Button

Searching for a less complicated choice? Then you may add a PayPal donate button to WP, or add a Stripe donation button to your nonprofit web site. 

These fee strategies are well known and trusted, so that they immediately make your web site appear extra credible. 

These buttons are additionally very simple to arrange and use, so they might be a superb choice when you’re simply getting began and wish to experiment with simple donation strategies earlier than transferring to one thing extra superior like WP Charitable or WPForms.

This feature can be a superb match for smaller nonprofits, or anybody who doesn’t have earlier technical information. It’s all about making issues easy, so you may return to what actually issues: getting on the market and making a distinction!

Step 9: Create an Occasions Calendar

Do you usually manage occasions? 

Whether or not they’re group conferences, volunteer gatherings, or fundraising galas, a calendar plugin could be a helpful addition to your web site. The proper calendar plugin will allow you to present these occasions in an organized and interesting means, offering guests with all of the important particulars at a look.

We suggest Sugar Calendar as a result of it has every little thing it is advisable create limitless calendars and occasions. You’ll be able to even elevate funds by promoting tickets to your occasions. 

Need to be taught extra? Simply see our detailed Sugar Calendar evaluation.

Alternatively, you may leap straight in with our step-by-step information on easy methods to promote occasion tickets in WP. 

Step 10: Add Social Media Feeds

Social media is a good way to attach with supporters and showcase the influence you’re having on the group.

Think about sharing inspiring pictures of your newest undertaking on Instagram or going reside on YouTube to offer your followers a real-time have a look at your work in motion.

Plus, when potential supporters see constructive interactions and real engagement out of your group, they’re extra prone to belief your group. They could even really feel impressed to become involved by volunteering or donating.

At WPBeginner, we use social media to have interaction with our readers and share our content material, and we’ve seen nice outcomes (our Fb group alone has over 98,000 members!)

Constructing a thriving group on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Fb is a good begin – however we additionally know that it’s solely step one. Potential supporters would possibly miss your wonderful content material in the event that they’re not following you on each social platform.

With that in thoughts, we suggest including social media feeds to your WP web site utilizing a plugin similar to Smash Balloon. As soon as it’s arrange, Smash Balloon will fetch your newest social media posts routinely and show them in your WP web site in an eye catching format.

This retains your web site recent and dynamic, even when you’re busy with different duties. Plus, it ensures your complete viewers stays up-to-date in your newest actions and achievements, even when they’re not following you on social media.

☝ Undecided whether or not Smash Balloon is best for you? Try our full Smash Balloon evaluation for more information.

When you’ve added some content material to your nonprofit web site, you’ll wish to assist guests discover their means round these pages and posts by including a navigation menu.

It doesn’t matter what theme you’re utilizing, WP makes it very easy so as to add menus and sub-menus to your nonprofit web site. 

For a whole information, please see our put up on easy methods to add a navigation menu.

Subsequent Steps: Tips on how to Develop Your Nonprofit Site

Congratulations! If you happen to’ve been following alongside, then you definately now have a nonprofit web site that may settle for donations, acquire contact data, and way more.

That’s a improbable begin, however now it’s time to take it additional. To make the largest influence potential, you’ll want to draw extra guests to your web site and ensure they’ve a constructive, inspiring expertise. 

Listed here are your subsequent steps:

• Enhance your search engine rankings: Use AIOSEO to enhance your search engine rankings and assist extra folks discover your nonprofit web site. For particulars, see our final WP Search information.
• Improve web site velocity: Participating visuals like movies and pictures are improbable, however they’ll decelerate your web site. A sluggish web site can frustrate guests and drive them away. Try our final information on easy methods to enhance WP velocity and efficiency to maintain every little thing working easily. 
• Increase your attain with a number of languages: Elevate consciousness on a worldwide scale by making a multilingual web site utilizing translation plugins similar to WPML or Weglot.
• Safeguard your web site with backups: Your nonprofit web site is a helpful asset, so it’s essential to guard it with common backups utilizing a plugin like Duplicator. That means, you’ll at all times have a latest model of your nonprofit web site to revive in case one thing goes improper. 

We hope this information has helped you learn to create a nonprofit web site in WP. Subsequent up, you would possibly wish to see our analysis on the highest nonprofit advertising stats and insights it is best to know or our checklist of the most effective practices to spice up donations in WP.

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