8 Things to Know Before Starting Your Charity Website Design

1. You know your audience

Every great website starts with knowing exactly who it’s for. Are you trying to engage donors, reach service users, attract volunteers, or a mix of all three? Understanding your audience’s motivations and goals will shape your content, structure, and design. Ask yourself:

What do visitors want from us?
What do we want them to do?

Get those answers right, and you’re already halfway to a website that works.

Example: We love how Home-Start UK tailor their site around different ways to engage.

2. It's mobile first

More than half of all website traffic now comes from mobile devices - and users won’t hang around if a site is slow or clunky. Make sure your website looks and performs beautifully on every screen. That means fast loading times, easy navigation, and short donation journeys. A mobile-friendly site isn’t optional anymore, it’s essential.

Example: Get out your mobile and browse South West Lakes Trust, their device optimisation is great!

3. Clear calls to action

Every page should have a purpose. Whether it’s “Donate,” “Volunteer,” or “Find Support,” make your next step clear and visible. If visitors can’t find what they need within a few clicks, rethink your structure or wording. Clarity always converts.

Example: Melanoma UK have done a great job of directing visitors to their donate page.

4. Campaign ready-pages

Your campaigns deserve their own spotlight. Create tailored landing pages for key appeals - from Giving Tuesday to your next challenge event. Add progress totalisers, social media feeds, and even quick donation options to boost engagement.

And remember: creativity beats production value every time. Even simple videos can have massive reach when the message connects emotionally.

5. Your donate page converts

If someone’s reached your donate page, you’ve done the hard work - don’t lose them now. Streamline the process so it’s simple, secure, and distraction-free.

Reduce form fields, use clear suggested amounts, and display trust signals like security badges or testimonials. Think like an online retailer: make it effortless to “check out.”

Example: Creative Youth Network have built a great online payment page.

6. Accessibility comes first

Roughly 1 in 5 people in the UK have a disability - and an accessible site benefits everyone.
Use strong colour contrast, descriptive alt text, clear headings, and logical navigation. Accessibility isn’t just good practice; it’s the law and a key part of being inclusive.

Tool tip: Access Raise has built-in accessibility tools ensure your charity website meets WCAG guidelines, making content accessible to all supporters. If you're considering a supply, make sure they do, too!

Example: We love how accessible Scope have made their website design.

7. You’ve nailed SEO

A beautiful site won’t help if no one can find it. Search engine optimisation (SEO) ensures your charity appears where supporters are looking.

Start with the basics: clear page titles, relevant keywords, fast load times, and descriptive metadata. Tools like Google Search Console and free keyword planners make this easier than ever.

8. It’s integrated and ready to catch that data

The best charity websites do more than look good - they work seamlessly with your digital tools.
With a platform like Access Raise, your website can integrate with your charity CRM, automate donation processing, and give you a full 360° view of your supporters. Live dashboards help you see what’s working and make smarter, data-driven decisions for future campaigns.

To sum up, designing a charity website that inspires action takes planning, insight, and the right tools - but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. Take The Fashion & Textile Children's Trust:

Their website now supports over 40,000 visitors every year, serving as the charity’s central hub.
Families can donate directly on-site, staying within FTCT’s brand environment.
The team saves hours of time thanks to AI content tools and simplified Gift Aid reporting.
Google Ad Grants continues to drive high-quality traffic and enquiries, connecting more families with support.

Read their story

To put it simply: a purpose-built platform like Access Raise gives you everything you need straight out of the box - so you can spend less time managing tech and more time making an impact.