It’s hard to believe it’s almost the end of August and year-end fundraising is just round the corner. One thing you need to do before you switch from going to the beach to apple picking is to make sure your website is up to par. This means it’s up-to-date, easy to read and navigate, welcoming, and audience-centered.

How does your website fare?  Use the checklist below to find out.

Home page

Your home page is often the first place a newcomer will visit. Make it an entryway to the rest of your website.

• Is it free of clutter and easy to navigate and read?
• Does it include an engaging photo and a small amount of text, such as a tagline or position statement?
• If you’re highlighting something such as an event, is the information up-to-date, and is it the most newsworthy item you can feature?
• Does it include a Donate Now button that’s prominent without being tacky?
• Does it include a newsletter sign-up box and social media icons?
• Does it include your organization’s contact information or a link to a Contact Us page?
• Is the navigation bar easy to use?
• Does it include a search feature?

Donation page

Many people donate online now.  Make this a good experience for your donors. Don’t stress them out with a cumbersome and confusing donation page.

• Is it easy to use?
• Does it include a strong call to action with the same messages as all your other fundraising appeals?
• Does it show how the donation will be used and what different amounts will fund?
• Does it include an option for recurring gifts?
• Does it have an engaging photo?
• After someone donates, does it take the person to a thank you landing page and generate a thank you email?

The rest of your pages

Be sure to take a look at the rest of your web pages, too.

• Are they easy to read/scan and navigate?
• Do all your pages have a consistent look?
• Is the content well written in a conversational style (no jargon!) and free of grammatical errors and typos?
• Are your pages audience-centered? Remember, some visitors know you well and others don’t. A person visiting your volunteer page may not know much about your organization, so you’ll need to include a compelling description of what you do.
• Do your pages contain a clear call to action? For example, your volunteer page should entice someone to volunteer.
• Does each page have one or two photos related to its subject matter? Going back to your volunteer page, you could include a photo of volunteers interacting with clients.
• Is all the content up-to-date?
• Do all your links work?
• Do all your pages include a Donate Now button, navigation bar, social media icons, a newsletter sign-up box, contact information, and a search feature, so your visitors don’t have to go back to the home page?
• Are you using analytics to see how often people visit your pages? If you have pages that aren’t generating a lot of interest, find out why that’s happening. You may need to make the page more engaging or take it down.
• Do you periodically survey your supporters to get feedback about your website?
• Is your website mobile-friendly? This is crucial. 7 Steps To Ensure Your Nonprofit Has A Mobile-Friendly Website
• Is there other content you should include (or take out)?

After you’ve made all your changes, have someone who isn’t as familiar with your organization (maybe a friend or family member) look at your website to see if the content is clear and it’s easy to navigate.

Your goal is to have a website that’s welcoming and audience-centered for everyone from first-time visitors to long-time donors.

Read on for more information to help you get your website up to par.

14 Best Practices for Nonprofit Websites

Best Websites of Non-Profit Organizations

10 Must-Haves For A Successful Nonprofit Website

Photo by Steve Cook