In this digital age, any charity or non-profit organization must have a web presence if it wants to maximize the number of people it can reach. In fact, many of those who hear about your organization for the first time often search the Internet for a method to learn more. Let’s face it, in these short attention span days, if they can’t find you, they’ll soon move on to something else.

This means that having your own digital real estate is vital to the long-term success of any cause close to your heart. The good news is that there are plenty of nonprofit website templates designed to help build and promote your organization. The bad news is that not all templates of this type are created equal. In this article, we’ll discuss what makes a great nonprofit website template and what you need to keep in mind to make sure the one you choose is right for you.

Take a look at any successful business website; Although design plays an important role on these sites, content is always king. This approach should be no different when it comes to nonprofit website templates. Of course, this does not mean that you cannot use an interesting design on your site. It’s just that the layout needs to be transparent enough so that your content revolves around it, not the other way around. You must convey your mission and goals in as clear and concise a format as possible. If your design confuses your content, you may have a hard time getting your message across to your casual site visitor.

A great way to strike the right balance between design and content is to understand your goals for the site before you start building it. Are you looking to gain new members or volunteers for your organization? Will you see it as a method of soliciting donations for your cause? Are you looking to keep existing members updated and informed or are you looking to raise awareness among the general population? When you have a full understanding of the main purpose of your site, the design process will be streamlined and you will have a clearer understanding of the direction your site needs to go.

Any good nonprofit website template will allow you to clearly define the direction you want your site to go in and the goals you want them to help you achieve. For example, if you want to start building relationships with your visitors, your template should offer them the opportunity to create a blog. By doing so, you can not only keep stakeholders in your organization informed, but also give them a reason to keep coming back to your site. By being dynamic rather than static, you create the opportunity for your site to develop a loyal, long-term following. This is just one example of how knowing what you want to achieve allows you to know what to look for in a template.

This is why it’s important to know what you want your site to deliver. Once you’ve established this and understand the role your site will play in your organization, choosing the right nonprofit website templates becomes a much more streamlined process. Simply put, once you know exactly what it is you’re looking to achieve, you’ll instinctively know which template will help your organization grow and prosper.