Create a Nonprofit Website on Squarespace
TL;DR:
- Pick a nonprofit-focused template that showcases your mission clearly
- Set up secure donation processing to make giving easy for supporters
- Build community engagement through blogs, events, and volunteer sign-ups
- Use local SEO to help people in your area find your organisation
- Keep content fresh and mission-focused to maintain supporter interest
Building a nonprofit website on Squarespace gives you the tools to share your mission, collect donations, and build a community around your cause. Here's how to get it right.
Choose Your Template Wisely
Your template sets the foundation for everything else. Squarespace's Community & Nonprofits category has templates built specifically for organisations like yours.
Filter the template gallery by category and take time to preview different options. Look for layouts that put your mission front and centre, with clear navigation to donation pages and volunteer opportunities.
The template you choose affects how visitors experience your site, so don't rush this decision. A good nonprofit template will have prominent space for your mission statement, donation calls-to-action, and community engagement features.
Put Your Mission First
Your mission statement needs to be visible within seconds of someone landing on your site. This isn't just good design – it's essential for converting visitors into supporters.
Create a dedicated About page that explains your work and shows the real impact you're making. Use the image and video blocks to showcase your work in action. Photos of people you've helped or communities you've served work better than stock imagery.
Keep your mission statement short and clear. People should understand what you do and why it matters without having to read paragraphs of text.
Set Up Donation Processing
Getting donations online requires connecting a payment processor to your Squarespace site. This handles the secure processing of credit card payments and bank transfers.
Use Squarespace's donation block to create a simple giving form. Offer a few preset amounts (like £10, £25, £50) but always include a custom amount option. Some supporters want to give more, others can only afford less.
Make your donation page easy to find from anywhere on your site. Add donation buttons to your header, footer, and key pages like your About section.
Build Community Engagement
A nonprofit website needs to do more than collect donations. It should build a community around your cause.
Set up a blog to share updates, success stories, and behind-the-scenes content. Regular updates keep supporters engaged and give them reasons to return to your site.
Create a simple volunteer sign-up form that feeds into your email marketing system or a Google Sheet. Make it easy for people to get involved beyond just donating money.
If you run events, use Squarespace's calendar block to promote upcoming activities. This works particularly well for local nonprofits that rely on community participation.
Optimise for Local Search
Most nonprofits serve specific communities, so local SEO matters more than general search rankings.
Add your physical address to your contact page if you have a public location. This helps with local search results and makes it easier for people to find you.
Set up Google My Business and verify your site with Google Search Console. These free tools help Google understand what your organisation does and where you operate.
Include location-specific keywords in your content naturally. If you help homeless people in Manchester, mention Manchester in your page content and headings.
FAQs
Can I accept donations through Squarespace?
Yes, you can connect payment processors like Stripe or PayPal to handle donations securely. The donation block makes it easy to set up different giving amounts.
How do I keep supporters engaged on my nonprofit website?
Regular blog updates, event listings, volunteer opportunities, and email newsletters work well. Give people multiple ways to stay involved with your cause.
Do I need SEO for my nonprofit website?
SEO helps potential supporters find your organisation online. For local nonprofits, local SEO is particularly important for reaching people in your community.
Can I connect my email marketing to Squarespace?
Yes, Squarespace integrates with email marketing platforms like Mailchimp. You can also use Squarespace's built-in email campaigns feature.
Jargon Buster
Payment Processor: A service like Stripe or PayPal that handles credit card payments securely on your website.
SEO: Search Engine Optimisation – techniques to help your website appear in Google search results.
Donation Block: A Squarespace feature that creates forms for accepting online donations.
Email Campaigns: Tools for sending newsletters and updates to your supporters via email.
Wrap-up
A well-built nonprofit website does more than look professional – it turns visitors into supporters and supporters into advocates. Focus on making your mission clear, donations easy, and community engagement ongoing. Keep your content fresh and your cause visible, and your website will become a powerful tool for advancing your nonprofit's goals.
Ready to build your nonprofit website? Join our community of Squarespace users at https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership