Websites differ and so do the approaches to their creation. As a web developer, I can recommend myriads of ways to get started with your own project yet not all of them will come up to all user categories. Actually, proficient web designers are already aware of popular tools, but what about beginners?
Hiring a web master or ordering a website from a web design studio won’t be a good solution in this case just because this is quite a costly alternative. This is where the use of website builders will be appreciated a lot. These services are initially meant for newbies and, thus, they come with helpful and detailed guidelines, recommendations and tips that notably simplify the web design process.
So, this rating is for those who have the intention to set up a website of a nonprofit organization yet lack coding background to do that using professional software. Have a look at it now to make an unbiased choice.
SITE123
| Product Name: | SITE123 |
| Official Website: | site123.com |
| Founded: | 2015 |
| Number of Websites: | 87,329 |
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Free plan: | Yes |
| Paid plan: | From $10.80/mo |
Site123 – is one of the systems that came to my mind when I got the order to set up a website for one local nonprofit organization. This is no wonder as this website builder has already distinguished itself as one of the simplest platforms out there. Founded in 2015, SITE123 now powers over 87000 projects and a part of them belongs to nonprofit organizations.
Pros: | Cons: |
| ✔ Super easy to use, even for newbies ✔ Built-in Logo Maker and Form Builder tools ✔ Simple and intuitive navigation ✔ Free SSL connection for secure donations ✔ Multilingual support for global outreach ✔ App Market with widgets for nonprofit functionality ✔ Responsive customer support | ✘ Limited design customization compared to other platforms ✘ Similar template design ✘ Need to upgrade for custom domain and to remove ads |
SITE123 Features for Nonprofits:
For nonprofit organizations, SITE123 (my review) hits the mark by making the web development process incredibly simple. One of the features I found particularly useful is the Logo Maker that lets you design your project logo, using a set of integrated tools like cropping, logo size slider, header adjustment etc. for a smoother website presentation process.
The Form Builder is another standout, which makes it possible to integrate quality online forms into your nonprofit website. This eventually allows creating convenient contact pages, online inquiries, reviews, polls and other related elements.
The platform also has a built-in blogging engine, which will definitely come in handy to you if you intend to share stories, updates and engage with potential donors. By the way, I found it very straightforward to integrate a blog into the site – just a few steps are enough to do that.
Plan to accept online donations? Then opportunity of Free SSL connection ensures that your site and payment data remain secure. This is a must-have for building trust with donors.
Other key features for nonprofits include multilingual support for creating several language versions, App Market with widgets like live chat, analytics tools, social media integrations, and booking tools etc., shared website access rights and social media integration. Not bad for a website builder, right?
SITE123 Plans for Nonprofits
While SITE123 does offer a free plan, it comes with some limitations, such as the use of a subdomain and ads. For nonprofits that want a custom domain and ad-free experience, one of the paid plans would be necessary. Their cost currently ranges between $10.80 and $28.80 per month.
Wix for Nonprofits
| Product Name: | WIX |
| Official Website: | wix.com |
| Founded: | 2006 |
| Number of Websites: | 11,845,146 |
| Complexity: | Very easy |
| Free plan: | Yes |
| Paid plan: | From $17/mo |
Wix – is one of those website builders that do not require any presentation or detailed overview, I guess. The platform is included in the list of the top web design tools for beginners. Its foundation dates back to 2006. Over these years, it has evolved into a world-known service, powering around 11 million websites in different countries. That sounds impressive, indeed! And that is one of the reasons that made me sign up for this platform.
Pros: | Cons: |
| ✔ Drag-and-drop editor ✔ Hundreds of niche templates ✔ Blogging and forum creation ✔ Multilingual support ✔ Logo Maker ✔ Free plan available ✔ Premium plan discount for nonprofits ✔ Built-in SEO tools ✔ Customizable donation forms ✔ 24/7 customer support ✔ App Market with powerful integrations | ✘ Ads on the free plan ✘ Template switching can be tricky ✘ Advanced features can be overwhelming for beginners |
Wix Features for Nonprofits
Wix (my review) offers multiple features that help charities and nonprofits create professional websites without any coding skills. It took time for me to explore and test the baseline functionality of the service. I liked the drag-and-drop editor, which allows for easy template customization of templates and I also like the intuitive navigation the system offers.
A few words about templates now. They are stunning, while their number will certainly surprise you. So, get some patience to browse the entire template catalog to pick the theme you need. However, the system developers have taken care of users’ convenience by subdividing over 900 templates into categories. Some of them (like Religion, for example) will definitely work well for you. Many themes already come with integrated “Donate Now” buttons and other features that are a must for these websites.
Wix also grants access to specialized tools like donation forms, event management apps and the ability to integrate with PayPal or Stripe for seamless fundraising.
Adding a forum to your website can also be a good idea, but that will mostly depend on the specialization and complexity of the project you run. The same is about blogging. To keep users informed about the recent news and events happening in your organization, connecting a small blog will be more than enough. You can write and publish posts concerning the mission and statement of your nonprofit organization, share your objectives and provide arguments to persuade readers to join your organization.
As an owner of a nonprofit organization, you may be interested in creating several language versions of your website. This is how you can encourage foreign investors to make donations and support your organization in different ways.
Wix Plans for Nonprofits
When I came across Wix for the first time, the opportunity to use it for free turned out to be a huge bonus. I personally learned and tested the service for about 3 weeks before I started working with it. That’s when I decided to upgrade to the premium plan as the free one has its restrictions (Wix ads, disk storage and bandwidth limitations etc.). And here is where I got another surprise.
It turned out that Wix has a special premium plan discount for charities and nonprofit organizations. Partnering with TechSoup, they have a promotional offer that implies a 70% discount rate when getting a plan for 2 years. The offer also involves other perks like free domain name registration for 1 year, opportunity to request 1 coupon every 2 years etc. Mind, however, that the offer is viable in a limited number of countries. So, take your time to view all the terms before you upgrade.
WordPress
| Product Name: | WordPress |
| Official Website: | wordpress.org |
| Founded: | 2003 |
| Number of Websites: | 65,701,922 |
| Complexity: | Complex |
| Free plan: | Completely free |
| Paid plan: | Paid themes and hosting |
WordPress – is the only Content Management System in this review and it’s no wonder. Just have a look at the number of projects it currently powers to understand why it is here. The system will let you handle all your web design tasks, although, one fact is indisputable – it is more complicated than standard website builders and implies the awareness of programming knowledge to get the most out of the web development process.
Pros: | Cons: |
| ✔ Globally popular CMS ✔ Hundreds of templates and plugins ✔ Free and paid extensions ✔ Advanced customizability ✔ Free open-source software | ✘ Complex for beginners ✘ Requires coding background ✘ Compatibility problems ✘ Requires regular updates ✘ Requires hosting/domain choice (choose best hosting here). |
WordPress Features for Nonprofits
When using the platform, you won’t go without the necessity to integrate plugins that will enhance the performance of your nonprofit website. And this is one of the major challenges most users face when working with the system. Don’t be afraid, though – just a bit of your patience and time and you will soon own a professional web design tool to work on your multiple projects.
If you ask me about WordPress (my review) advantages, I would not know what to start with – so multifaceted the software is. You will come across a collection of built-in templates, but you can also find dozens of quality responsive templates designed for nonprofit organizations on the web. These themes are both free and paid – it’s up to you to decide on the best option.
When it comes to creating a website for a nonprofit organization, you will get access to multiple WP plugins that are specially designed for this very purpose. You can also browse free and paid options online. Among the most popular plugins of this type, it makes sense to mention Give, WPForms, Optinmonster, Yoast SEO, Google Analytics by Yoast, Backup Buddy, TablePress, Simple Calendar, Floating Social Bar, MapPress Easy Google Maps, Polylang and more.
User interaction plugins are within reach here as well. For this very purpose, WordPress offers a huge collection of them – Quick and Easy FAQs, Easy Social Share Buttons and WP Customer Area are just a few popular samples.
WordPress Plans for Nonprofits
It’s now difficult to guess why millions of users worldwide love WordPress. The CMS is completely free. This is true for all user categories. In other words, you can download, install and use the system for free, but only until you decide to create a full-featured website. This will certainly require additional financial investments into plugins and even templates.
To make your ready-made website accessible online, you’ll have to additionally purchase hosting and domain name. The cost of hosting mainly depends upon the provider and the plan you will select. I personally tested and used lots of hosts and many of them are recommended for WordPress sites.
The one that proved to be the most compatible with the CMS, in my opinion, and the one I will recommend to you is Hostinger. The plans it offers are packed with features provided at reasonable cost. Thus, the cheapest subscription will cost you $2.99/mo only.
Wild Apricot
| Product Name: | Wild Apricot |
| Official Website: | wildapricot.com |
| Founded: | 2006 |
| Number of Websites: | 22,414 |
| Complexity: | Medium |
| Free plan: | Yes + Free trial |
| Paid plan: | $60/mo |
Wild Apricot – is the all-in-one website management software that sees its only mission in empowering users to set up websites of nonprofit organizations, associations, chambers, clubs and charities. This is a clearly niche website builder that helps you automate your daily tasks so you could focus on more effective community management. The service currently powers over 22000 websites – not bad for a nonprofit website builder.
Pros: | Cons: |
| ✔ Tools for member management (automated renewals, payments, tiered access levels etc.) ✔ Event management solutions ✔ Specialized nonprofit website builder ✔ Easy for beginners ✔ Customizable designs (not many, though) ✔ Integrated CRM | ✘ Limited template choice ✘ Price scaling (grows with your contact list) ✘ Baseline design customization tools ✘ Limited integrations. |
Wild Apricot Features for Nonprofits
In my opinion, Wild Apricot is one of those services you can trust when setting up a nonprofit website. Although, it does not boast multiple flashy templates like Wix or WordPress, it definitely compensates for that in functionality tailored specifically for membership-based organizations. Whether you’re managing memberships, event registrations, donations or email marketing, this website builder offers a seamless, all-in-one platform to keep your community thriving.
Just have a look at the toolset the software offers to nonprofits and you will understand why it enjoys popularity. Along with a website builder, there is opportunity for member database creation/management, payment acceptance, email and contact base set up, event organization and even an opportunity to start selling via the platform.
In terms of templates, they are simple yet effective. This is that very case when it’s not about quantity – it’s all about quality. The available templates are perfectly suited for organizations that need a straightforward, professional presence. Plus, the ability to customize colors, fonts and layouts ensures that your website can reflect your unique brand.
Wild Apricot Plans for Nonprofits
Wild Apricot is a true found for a small organization that is just getting started. Here is why. The software has a free offer for up to 50 contacts – isn’t that great?
If your organization is larger, you will be able to choose between several plans that also depend on the contact count. The price starts at $60 per month for 100 contacts. All in all, the software allows managing up to 50000 contacts. In this case, get ready to pay $900 per month. But… you can always save big, when getting an annual or a 2-year subscription.
Morweb
| Product Name: | Morweb |
| Official Website: | morweb.org |
| Founded: | 2006 |
| Number of Websites: | 18 |
| Complexity: | Average |
| Free plan: | Free 30-minutes demo |
| Paid plan: | $149/mo |
Morweb – is not just a website builder, but also a CMS developed with the only purpose in mind: to help nonprofits, associations and social enterprises launch their projects. Founded in 2004, the software now manages to combine a simple website building process with functionality that meets the needs of mission-driven organizations. The number of projects registered with it is not high yet it is still a good pick for nonprofits.
Pros: | Cons: |
| ✔ Meant for nonprofits and associations ✔ Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor ✔ Nonprofit-specific features (donation pages, event management) ✔ No coding skills required ✔ Niche templates optimized for nonprofits | ✘ More expensive than its custom competitors (see the list) ✘ Smaller template choice compared to popular competitors like Wix or WordPress |
Morweb Features for Nonprofits
To tell the truth, I didn’t personally use Morweb, but I have colleagues who have worked with it and can share their own experience. They admit that the software is only suitable for schools and higher education, association and memberships as well as nonprofits. For these user categories, it offers a variety of nonprofit-specific features. These include integrated donation pages, event management tools, API integrations, membership functionality etc.
Registered users can get access to a number of ready-made modules: events, form builder, membership, file resource, blog, private page, map, application, fundraising, directory listing, video course etc. You can connect any number of modules to your project to further customize each of them as required. If the model you need is not on this list, you can contact the team and they will develop it for you. This, however, will require an extra budget.
Morweb drag-and-drop builder is intuitive and easy to use, letting organizations update content without coding knowledge. This is an obvious advantage for non-techies.
Morweb Pricing for Nonprofits
Moreweb pricing is definitely higher than that of its niche competitors. Ast the same time, all the features included in its plans are oriented exclusively on nonprofits and associations. That is the major reason for the software’s high cost.
Mind that setup fees vary based on the complexity, size, plan and selected modules. The cheapest subscription will cost you $149/mo,offering essential tools for nonprofits. All plans, however, grant access to turn-key solutions, such as content strategy, custom design, project development, content migrating, support etc.
CharityEngine
| Product Name: | CharityEngine |
| Official Website: | charityengine.net |
| Founded: | 1999 |
| Number of Websites: | 295 |
| Complexity: | Complex |
| Free plan: | Free demo |
| Paid plan: | Discussed individually |
CharityEngine – is not a custom website builder but an integrated donor management, communications and fundraising software that provides nonprofits with extensive data and game changing reporting solutions. I should admit that I didn’t work with this very software either but I’ve heard multiple positive reviews about it and decided to include it in my review.
The company was first introduced to the market in 1999 as a platform to harness idle PCs for charitable and scientific causes. For over 25 years, it evolved into a powerful distributed computing network. However, the official count of projects created with it constitutes 295 now.
Pros: | Cons: |
| ✔ Free to use ✔ Supports a wide range of charitable and scientific projects ✔ Allows users to contribute without any technical skills ✔ Potential to earn cash prizes or donate earnings to charity ✔ Lightweight software that runs in the background | ✘ Reward payouts can be slow ✘ Requires constant internet connection for optimal performance ✘ Users have limited control over the specific projects their device supports |
Сharity Engine Features for Nonprofits
Charity Engine stands out by simplifying the process of contributing to charitable cases and scientific breakthroughs. What you need is just to install the app and explore the available solutions. The software has recently launched UI improvements to make their projects display well on various devices.
Other features the company is known for include email campaign tracking (there is a special email deliverability dashboard to conduct and track email campaigns here), cases dashboard with all the projects and related info, nonprofit CRM guide, live reporting analytics etc.
One of the core highlights of Charity Engine is its reward system. Users earn “credits” based on the amount of computational work their devices complete. These credits can further be entered into a lottery to win cash prizes or be donated directly to the selected charity channel.
Charity Engine Pricing for Nonprofits
Charity Engine is absolutely free. You just need to download and install it on your selected device. The software doesn’t charge users to participate in its distributed computing network. There is still an opportunity to choose from two payment options – for Growing Nonprofits and for Enterprise Nonprofits (users are divided with regard to the earned profit). Each package includes several groups of plans yet the prices are not specified there. They are discussed individually after you complete the demo version of the program.
NationBuilder
| Product Name: | NationBuilder |
| Official Website: | nationbuilder.com |
| Founded: | 2009 |
| Number of Websites: | 18857 |
| Complexity: | Complex |
| Free plan: | Free trial/demo |
| Paid plan: | $34/mo billed annually |
NationBuilder – is the next software on my list that is worth your attention. This is a unique platform that combines a website builder and the tools designed to help leaders develop and engage their communities. The company now powers over 18 thousand websites and it initially targets nonprofits, advocacy organizations, brands and campaigns.
Pros: | Cons: |
| ✔ All-in-one platform (combines website builder, fundraising tools, email marketing solutions, event management and CRM options) ✔ Community engagement tools ✔ Collection of customizable designs ✔ Fundraising and donations ✔ Membership and voter databases | ✘ Implies steep learning curve ✘ A bit expensive for nonprofits ✘ Insufficient creative freedom ✘ Complex interface ✘ Lack of web development focus |
NationBuilder Features for Nonprofits
What I personally noticed about NationBuilder is that a website builder is only one of its features (and not a major one, by the way). This is the all-in-one platform that encompasses tools catering to users who intend to manage emails, projects, donations, supporter data and events in one place. What you need to do is to sign up for an account and proceed to the interface. It is well-organized and logically-structured, although, mastering it still takes time.
NationBuilder also includes a set of advanced tools available in the dashboard. These are social media integration, text messaging, supporter tracking and more. It takes a few minutes only to create and customize web pages here for events, donations and volunteer sign-ups.
NationBuilder Pricing for Nonprofits
In terms of pricing, NationBuilder is definitely not the cheapest software. There is a free trial and a demo version here, but when you decide to move further with the program, you will have to upgrade to one of the premium packages. Monthly and annual billing is available here. The latter option will let you save big, when choosing one of the plans. The most affordable package starts at $34 per month.
Neon CRM
| Product Name: | Neon CRM |
| Official Website: | neonone.com |
| Founded: | 2018 |
| Number of Websites: | 10,045 |
| Complexity: | Average |
| Free plan: | Demo version |
| Paid plan: | Versatile processing fees |
Neon CRM – is the software that positions itself as the “best for nonprofits”. I can’t state whether it is true but I definitely like what I see here. Developed in 2018 for small to midsize nonprofits, the service helps manage events, projects, communications, fundraising, volunteering effort etc. From donor management to automating emails and building custom forms, it’s clear that Neon CRM is designed with the needs of nonprofits in mind. Currently, the software is said to power over 10000 projects.
Pros: | Cons: |
| ✔ Nonprofit focused ✔ Customizable to fit various project types and sizes ✔ Donor management solutions ✔ Peer-to-peer fundraising solutions ✔ Even and ticketing tools ✔ Integrations with popular platforms like QuickBooks, MailChimp, PayPal ✔ Automated email campaigns, donor engagement tasks, workflows ✔ Real-time reporting ✔ Multiple users without extra fees | ✘ Requires time to explore and learn the basics ✘ Too expensive for nonprofits ✘ Limited design customization options ✘ Initial setup and data migration can be time-consuming, especially for larger organizations. |
Neon CRM Features for Nonprofits
Where Neon CRM actually shines is its customizability and ability to match various requirements and needs of users. Whether you’re managing a small organization or running a large nonprofit project with multiple parts, the software can scale to meet your growing needs. This is due to the availability of an extensive toolset used to track donations, create reports, manage donor relationships etc.
On top of that, Neon CRM features seamless integrations with platforms that are a must when it comes to managing nonprofit campaigns. These are QuickBooks, MailChimp etc. Using them helps effectively automate corresponding processes and saves your effort/time.
Neon CRM Pricing for Nonprofits
So, what about pricing? Does it comply with the feature set provided? When I signed up for the platform, I was offered a demo version of the program. It helped me understand what exactly the software is about and how I can benefit from it while managing my nonprofit project.
What I should also note here is that Neon CRM doesn’t have custom paid plans. Instead, it charges between 2.2% and 3.5% + $30 per every credit card transaction. ACH or eCheck processing fees constitute 1% + $1.25 per transaction on every product. If you are going to use an external payment processor, the price will start at $50 per month.
Bottom Line
It goes without saying that a nonprofit organization is unthinkable without a website that will spread the ideas, popularize its mission and encourage users to join it. But having an idea to get a site does not mean actually creating it – that is quite a difficult endeavor. A website builder – either a specialized or a general one will help you here.
Picking the best web design software for a nonprofit organization takes some time and patience. Having niche knowledge is highly desirable here as well. That is why I wrote this review, featuring the best services. Just make sure you explore and test these systems (or at least several of them) to finally select the service you’ll be satisfied with.
