Learn More About WEBSITES for Nonprofits
Checkout these articles + discover my tips for your charity’s website
BEHIND THE SCENES: Non Profit Client Branding Guidelines
Get a look BEHIND THE SCENES at my branding guidelines. This is the roadmap and guide on how to keep your branding identity aligned after I provide all of the beautiful logo variations that I sent over after a branding project. REMEMBER THIS BLOG WHERE WE WENT OVER ALL THAT I PROVIDE?
These guidelines have been refined year after year, with over a decade of revisions to truly communicate exactly what others need to know to beautifully execute your brand… from this moment forward. I LOATHE as a designer to get a LOTR-sized stack of branding guidelines that I will never read. They are redundant and often times contradict themselves. My version is concise and lets other designers, printers and creators know what they need to stay on brand.
A WEEK DOWN - BECAUSE OF THE UPS + DOWNS
This past week and a half has been a rollercoaster for sure. I set my blog and business up to run while my little family took a much needed break only to come back to a more tired and ill doggy who we needed to say “goodbye”.
I have been intentional in saying up to date with this blog weekly and will continue to do so but this week, I just dont have it in me… and that’s ok!
SO TODAY, INSTEAD, HUG YOUR LOVED ONES TIGHTER + GIVE THOSE BEAR HUGS TO YOUR FUR BABIES. BE READY FOR MORE SASS AND TIPS NEXT WEEK BECAUSE THIS GIRL ISN’T GOING ANYWHERE.
6 THINGS I NEED FROM YOUR NPO BEFORE I CAN BUILD YOUR WEBSITE
Yeah, its never easy to compile the items needed for a website, even a redesign. MANY clients underestimate the work and time it takes to compile everything. So why do I make you gather all the things below?
Because I am not you. You are the expert and angel who is making the world a better place through your cause.
YES, COULD I SPEND HUNDREDS OF HOURS LEARNING EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR CHARITY AND THEN PULL THIS ALL MYSELF, SURE… BUT THE COST WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE. So to pass on savings to you, I have streamlined the process to make it as painless as possible.
8 PLACES TO PUT YOUR NEW CHARITY LOGO
Now that you got a snazzy new logo for your nonprofit, either from my FREEBIE, or from myself or another rockstar designer…
Where should you put it? What now? Which file version should you use? What the actual frick is a EPS? If you don’t use that new logo, you are not using your $money$ or time wisely. Consistency = Stability
So consistently use that logo in ALL of the following places to level up your stability score + see those donations roll in!
HOW TO UNLOCK YOUR DONOR’S POT-O-GOLD WITH YOUR WEBSITE
It’s that time of year, wether you live in Ireland, tout an Irish sir-name, have an 23&Me to prove your heritage or just love a Guinness - we ALL get to be a bit Irish!
So today, I wanted to take the time to tell you some of my favorite and proven ways to get your donors to give YOUR Nonprofit more of their Pot-O-Gold!
Look for the HELPERS
It’s no question that the world has become scary over the past few days. More so than say 2019. 😊 Our family in particular has dealt with quite a few emotions with the fall of the Afghanistan government, just months after my brave husband was over there, HELPING people heal, no matter the side. Now we see more unrest, more division, more scary things, more unknowns. If there is one thing that has been a constant in how we have approached the past 2 years, it has been to look for the good, the HELPERS and to try and be one ourselves.
I wanted to show you, amazing charity workers + nonprofit champions, that humans are stepping up and making a difference. It might feel impossible right now but look at the small bits that will overwhelm the world. Take heart. See the GOOD. Look at the HELPERS.
SPOTLIGHT - Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches
SPOTLIGHT - Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches Meet Fiona Wade, Board Member of the 2021 Charity of the Year Winners - Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches. Not only is Fiona a passionate, articulate and effective leader in the non profit arena but also a dear friend. Together, Fiona and the HTCPB Board President Laura Cusack allowed me to work through their old website to create something new and polished that will grow with them for years to come.
WHY YOUR ALL-IN-ONE CHARITY CRM IS HURTING YOUR NONPROFIT
So as I discussed last week, one of my biggest of PET-PEEVES of new trend in donor processors and management systems is the ALL-IN-ONE solutions. I honestly do not see ANY benefit of allowing a donor management to also control your website. Put Simply… They have no business in web design. Sure, logging into one place for everything sounds dreamy but what are you sacrificing for it? Let’s chat about that today!
WHY A SPECIALIZED NPO DESIGNER IS THE BEST USE OF YOUR FUNDS
Jack of All Trades…. fill in the blank. We all know the saying but what happens when you have worked tirelessly for your funding through countless revsions of a grant application or lovingly hounding a loaded donor until they finally helped? Having the responsibility of not only morally caring for your cause (cough and changing the world) but ethically managing the funds is DAUNTING. So I get why hiring a specialist would seem like a luxury expense… but let me explain why its not.
BEHIND THE SCENES: Non Profit Client Branding Homework
Get a look BEHIND THE SCENES at my exclusive branding homework and questions that get to the root of your charity. This questionnaire is usually only available to my client but this week I wanted to share with you the kind of service you get when you work with me. So Let’s Jump In!
SPOTLIGHT - Nonprofit Megaphone
SPOTLIGHT - Nonprofit Megaphone Optimize your FREE $10,000 a month from Google for Nonprofits with my friends and industry leaders at Nonprofit Megaphone! Why is utilizing this Google Ad Grant so important? Why do you need to activate this FREE Gift from Google for Nonprofits?
4 MUST HAVES on Your Custom 404 Page
Ah! The dreaded 404 page. How to you keep those hard won visitors on your site and capture their hearts? Here are my 4 MUST HAVES every 404 page needs that will ensure your visitors stay on your site and get to where they ‘wanted’ to go.
Intention To MOVE
Join me in INTENTION TO MOVE. I am not one for resolutions, (especially around a new year) BUT I am one for intentions. I have found and believe that intentions are easiest at “beginnings”. And we have one starting real soon.
Tis The Season To REST
Hear me out… you need to rest too! Too often the givers, the doers, the people who constantly serve are overlooked in others serving them AND they are AWFUL in serving themselves. If you are like most charities, the holidays are a BLUR of actives, duties, madness and community support. But by this time, you probably feel like a stuffed raisin. Full of joy but depleted in self. So, here, my friend, is some ways to serve yourself because you need to!
5 Reasons Why CHARITIES Should Be On Squarespace
Ok, yes, I love me some Squarespace. But did you know there are countless LEGIT reasons for a charity to be on Squarespace? Check out my TOP 5 reasons your charity should be on Squarespace.
Why ‘ROY’ in IT is Wrong About Wordpress - Dani’s SOAPBOX
Ok, let me get this out of the way. If you are a circa 2005 purist with your “WORDPRESS IS BEST” mantra, feel free to skip. You might be too far gone. Enjoy Dani’s SOAPBOX with some humor, IT Crowd Jokes and some harsh truth about Wordpress VS Squarespace.
How to Get Your Charity Website Ready for Holiday Giving
Black Friday. Small Business Saturday. Cyber Monday and finally #GIVINGTUESDAY, the start of the non-profit holiday giving season. If you are JUST NOW thinking and looking at your website, wondering if its ready and captivating enough to collect that extra $$ mulah $$ then this post is for you!
Best Practices When Working With a Rockstar Designer
We totally get it. As a non-profit employee or volunteer, you wear lots of hats and have probably been asked to learn on the fly some task you had no idea (or business) doing. But you do it. For your cause and because you are the salt of the earth. Because you are the best of humans. DIY and on-the-fly only cuts it for so long before you are not only wasting more time but actually doing a disservice to your cause. Read about my standards of practice that create a respectful design communication atmosphere. every. time.
How Web Design for Charities Works
Web design can be a tricky and strange world. Who do you trust? I try to be as transparent as possible (and its why I advocate for you to do the same so your donors see YOUR honesty). This blog breaks down how a website or branding package works with The Charity Design Co.
SPOTLIGHT - Path To College
SPOTLIGHT - Path To College Learn all about one of Dani’s favorite non-profits from their passionate Executive Director herself, Christine Sylvain. Learn from her dynamic start and how to accomplish the same end results for your charity.