Why Your Nonprofit Website Matters More than Your Facebook Page

Millennials have proven to be a charitable generation. By some estimates, more than 80% of Millennials give to charity every year. With millions of young people interacting with brands through Facebook every day, nonprofits around the globe have made Facebook a hub for their supporter communications. Whether in the for- or non-profit world, social media marketing is central to any fundraising effort built around donor engagement. But it’s also not the only (or sometimes even the best) way to connect with your audience.

If your nonprofit hopes to develop strong relationships with supporters of all ages and backgrounds, a great website, not a great Facebook page, will help you achieve this goal. If the eyes are the window to the soul, just look at your website as the eyes to the soul (or mission) of your nonprofit!

A Great Website Says “You’re Legit”

Because anyone can make a Facebook page in a minute or two, Facebook alone does not speak to the legitimacy of your nonprofit’s credibility. For a nonprofit to grow, you must constantly be striving to show people you’re your mission is important, your approach is effective, and your messaging is relevant. A good website is the best way to make a good first impression and continue building your online fundraising presence.

A Website Offers 100% Branding Control

Let’s face it – if your nonprofit’s web presence is limited to a Facebook page, you’re pretty limited with your branding options. Sure, Facebook will let you pin your logo all over the place, but you’re still in the land of blue and white. On your own website, you control everything from the colors to the fonts to the way all your content is laid out. You have more room for images, videos, archives, and text, and can customize every element to stay in line with your brand and message. This is the place where your supporters really get to know your organization.

A Website Can Do Things Facebook Can’t

Unlike a Facebook page, the possibilities with a custom website are virtually endless. Having your own space can allow you to get the word out about your cause and engage with donors in the way that’s best for you. Not only is a website a great jumping-off point for things like your blog and mission statement, it also adds versatility to all of your nonprofit fundraising, whether through online donation pages or peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns.

Of course, just because you can do it on a website does not mean you should. Many successful nonprofits have minimal websites. But in each example linked, you can see how the website lends a lot of legitimacy to the nonprofit. More than a blog or a Facebook page, your website is a place your nonprofit can truly call home on the web. It’s a way to help instill confidence in potential donors and solidify your brand for increased recognition online and in the real world.

One more great thing about a website? It can help you get to know your donors at the very same time it’s helping them get to know you! An excellent website gives you an excellent hub for fundraising campaigns, donor engagement efforts, and pulling together all the people who interact with your organization. Kindful’s nonprofit CRM is here to help you make sense of all that information. We make it easy to streamline all your content and information, syncing with some of the best social and email marketing tools and making it easy to measure your success. If you’re ready to seamlessly connect your website and all your donor data get in touch today!