What kind of content should a charity include in their website? If you are looking to re-vamp your charity’s website or even start from scratch you might want to have a look at Internet for Nonprofits Management, a new book published by Wiley containing some excellent insights and strategies for online fundraising and marketing.
Here is a brief list of good content ideas that online visitors who might know nothing about your work would want to see on a charity's website.
• Home page
• Mission and vision statements
• Services and programmes
• Goals
• What's new
• Past accomplishments
• Brief history
• Issues or causes your charity addresses
• Message from the CEO
• Press releases
• Past and future events
• Urgent action alerts
• Testimonials from beneficiaries and donors too
• Photo album
• Endorsements or awards
• Donor hall of fame (Ok, maybe this is too American but can work for some UK charities too...)
• Privacy and security policy
• Annual report / review
• Project outlines/ other key documents to download
• How your charity can help
• Frequently asked questions
• Links
• Staff list and bios
• Board list and bios
• Contact information
• How to donate
How does your website measures up to the good website content list?
Redina Kolaneci
Senior Fundraising & Stewardship Consultant
www.mcconkey-johnston.co.uk
Comments
Some charities successfully deliver their service online, rather than purely information - I'd say it's worthwhile considering this at the planning stage.
For example, in www.winstonswish.org.uk/skyscape, the aim isn't to signpost people to further bereavement information, it's to deliver bereavement support in some small measure to teens who may not be willing to call the helpline or attend a support session.
It's an entirely different type of "content", and wouldn't suit many types of service delivery, but can be very powerful where it's a good fit.
Disclaimers
- I was involved with the project
- And it's getting on for 8 years old I reckon, so designed for tiny screens!
The new hardcover edition of Internet Management for Nonprofits: Strategies, Tools and Trade Secrets by James M. Greenfield, Steve MacLaughlin and Philip H. Geier Jr. is at
www.amazon.co.uk/Internet-Management-Nonprofits-Strategies-Development/d...
Howard Lake @howardlake www.fundraising.co.uk
I would also add links to social media presences - on the main page - and embedded ones in media section;)