Nonprofit Website Design: 12 Examples and What Makes Them Work

3 July 20255 min read

This is a gallery of 12 nonprofit and charity websites, from small foundations to Malala Fund and charity: water. For each one we note what it does well and what it could do better, and after the list there is a checklist of what a nonprofit site has to do.

If you are commissioning a site for a charity or foundation, it serves several people at once: donors deciding whether to give, volunteers and corporate partners looking for a way in, grant-makers and regulators checking your accounts and governance, and the people your programmes exist for. Most of them arrive on a phone, and none of them will hunt for the donate button.

1. The Africa Center

Website: theafricacenter.org
Location: New York, NY, USA
What We Like: Features an immersive video background, modern layout, and interactive elements. The design draws users in and encourages action with clear CTAs like “Donate” and “Join Us.”
What Could Be Improved: Some sections could use more concise text, and additional language options would broaden accessibility.

2. Mercy-USA

Website: mercyusa.org
Location: Plymouth, Michigan, USA
What We Like: Clean, intuitive design with impactful imagery and a streamlined donation process. Visual storytelling and clear calls to action encourage support and showcase humanitarian work.
What Could Be Improved: Adding more real-time updates and interactive impact metrics would further engage donors.

3. Global Health Innovations

Website: globalhealthinnovations.org
Location: Dallas, Texas, USA
What We Like: Unique framed layout with vertical slider navigation. Donation options are easily accessible above the fold, making it convenient for supporters to give.
What Could Be Improved: Some navigation elements could be simplified, and more visuals could highlight fieldwork and impact.

4. Broad Foundation

Website: broadfoundation.org
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
What We Like: Modern, clean design with a video background, sticky header, and an attractive masonry layout for presenting missions and stories.
What Could Be Improved: The site could benefit from more interactive data visualizations and a clearer donation flow.

5. Girls Who Code

Website: girlswhocode.com
Location: New York, NY, USA
What We Like: Bold colors, inspiring mission statement front and center, and a dedicated donation page with FAQs. The site is vibrant and highly engaging for its audience.
What Could Be Improved: More multilingual resources and regional program highlights would expand reach.

6. California Wellness Foundation

Website: calwellness.org
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
What We Like: Highly accessible design with strong branding, clear mission statement, and people-first visuals that build emotional connection.
What Could Be Improved: A more prominent donation button and streamlined grant application process would improve usability.

7. David Suzuki Foundation

Website: davidsuzuki.org
Location: Vancouver, Canada
What We Like: Accessible, action-oriented design with clear user journeys and multiple ways to give. The site is clean, modern, and easy to navigate.
What Could Be Improved: More interactive educational tools and real-time environmental impact data would further engage advocates.

8. Covenant House

Website: covenanthouse.org
Location: New York, NY, USA
What We Like: Award-winning design with multiple ways to get involved, strong storytelling, and a “Meet Our Kids” page for personal impact stories.
What Could Be Improved: Some content could be condensed for easier navigation, and more regional program pages would help localize support.

9. Memphis Zoo

Website: memphiszoo.org
Location: Memphis, Tennessee, USA
What We Like: Interactive features like live animal cams, detailed donation options, and high-quality visuals make this site engaging and fun.
What Could Be Improved: Improved mobile optimization and more educational resources would enhance the user experience.

10. Malala Fund

Website: malala.org
Location: Washington, D.C., USA
What We Like: Eye-catching homepage video, compelling statistics, and a mix of white space with bright color pops for a sleek, modern look.
What Could Be Improved: More localized content and language options would make the site even more inclusive.

11. Mobilize Recovery

Website: mobilizerecovery.org
Location: USA
What We Like: Clear navigation, sections for programs and news, and a focus on community and action. The site highlights the role of Naloxone and features strong calls to action.
What Could Be Improved: More interactive program maps and user-generated stories would boost engagement.

12. Charity: Water

Website: charitywater.org
Location: New York, NY, USA
What We Like: Beautiful photography, compelling storytelling, and a transparent donation process. The site is known for its emotional impact and clarity.
What Could Be Improved: More real-time project updates and donor recognition features could deepen supporter involvement.

Work with us

Need a charity website that makes giving easy and shows your impact?

Send us your current site, the countries you fundraise in, and what the site has to handle: donations, Gift Aid, volunteer sign-ups, annual reports. We have built sites for an environmental nonprofit and a scholarship foundation, we work at €25 to €45 an hour with a €1,000 minimum, and we reply within one business day.

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What a good nonprofit website needs

A short donation flow. One page, as few fields as you can manage, card, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and monthly giving offered next to the one-off amount. Suggested amounts should say what each one pays for.
Gift Aid and tax receipts handled automatically. A UK charity should capture the Gift Aid declaration at checkout; a US 501(c)(3) needs a tax receipt sent on its own. Nobody in the office should have to send either by hand.
Impact reporting a funder can find. Annual reports, accounts and programme results on a page linked from the main menu, not buried in a PDF archive. Grant-makers and regulators look for them before they give.
Ways in besides money. Volunteering, fundraising events, corporate partnerships and legacy gifts each need their own page and form, routed to the person who handles them.
Stories tied to programmes. A named person, a place and a result do more than stock photography. Give each programme its own page that an appeal or a grant application can link to.
Accessibility to WCAG 2.2 AA. Your supporters include older people and disabled people, and many public funders ask for it. That means contrast, keyboard use, captions on video and reports that a screen reader can open.
A CMS your staff can run. An emergency appeal cannot wait for a developer. Campaign pages, news and appeal banners should be things the comms team publishes itself.
Your CRM connected. Donations, sign-ups and newsletter subscriptions should land in your supporter CRM, not in an inbox someone copies from.

Final Thoughts

These nonprofit website design examples prove that great digital experiences can inspire action, build trust, and drive real-world impact. Each site demonstrates the importance of clear navigation, accessible design, and powerful storytelling. Whether your focus is on community, education, health, or advocacy, these examples offer valuable inspiration for creating a website that not only informs but also moves visitors to get involved and support your mission.