As a nonprofit, telling your organisation's story is crucial to engaging supporters and reaching your goals. Compelling nonprofit storytelling can inspire and connect with potential donors, volunteers, and partners. With the rise of digital marketing and online donations, your nonprofit website is a powerful tool for sharing your story and raising awareness of your mission. Here are some tips and examples of how to create a compelling website story for your nonprofit.
Start with your organisation's mission
Your nonprofit website should reflect your organisation's mission and values. Use your website's homepage to clearly and concisely communicate what your nonprofit does and why it matters. Make sure that your mission statement is prominently displayed and easy to find. Your website visitors should immediately understand the purpose of your nonprofit and what you aim to achieve.
Your organisation's mission statement is the foundation of your nonprofit's story. It communicates the purpose and values of your organisation and serves as a guiding principle for all your activities. When crafting your website's story, it's essential to start with your mission statement and ensure that it's reflected in every aspect of your site's design, content, and imagery.
Consider including your mission statement prominently on your website's homepage, along with other key information about your organisation, such as your history, goals, and impact. This can help visitors understand your nonprofit's purpose and what sets you apart from other organisations. Additionally, incorporating your mission into your content strategy, such as your blog and social media posts, can reinforce your message and help you build a community of supporters who share your values. By starting with your organisation's mission, you can develop a compelling nonprofit story that resonates with your audience and inspires them to take action in support of your cause.
Collect and share personal stories
Personal stories are a powerful way to connect with potential donors and supporters. They help illustrate the impact of your nonprofit's work and evoke emotion. Collect inspiring stories from people who have benefited from your nonprofit's services or who have been involved in your organisation. Share these stories on your website and social media channels to demonstrate the real-world impact of your work.
Another great way to collect and share personal stories is by creating a blog or a section on your website dedicated to telling these stories. This can be an effective way to showcase the impact of your organisation's work and help potential donors connect with your cause on a personal level. You can also share these stories on social media platforms to reach a wider audience and encourage engagement with your nonprofit.
It's important to remember that personal stories should be collected and shared with sensitivity and respect for the individuals sharing their experiences. Make sure to obtain consent from individuals before sharing their stories publicly, and give them the opportunity to review and approve any content that includes their personal information. Additionally, it's important to ensure that the stories you share align with your mission and values and that they accurately represent the impact of your organisation's work.
Use visual storytelling
Visual storytelling is a great way to make your nonprofit's story come to life. Use photos, videos, and infographics to engage your website visitors and evoke emotion. For example, if your nonprofit helps people in developing countries, share photos of the communities you serve and the impact of your work. Use visuals to tell the story of your nonprofit's journey and the people you help.
Visual storytelling can also be a powerful tool for nonprofit websites. A great example is the World Bicycle Relief website, which uses vivid imagery and video to evoke emotion and help visitors understand the impact of their donations. The site design is modern and visually appealing, with clear calls to action to donate and get involved. The use of short videos featuring staff members and volunteers also helps to create a strong sense of community and connection with the organisation's mission.
When using visual storytelling on your nonprofit website, it's important to remember that the imagery and design should always serve to enhance the story you're trying to tell, rather than distract from it. You want to create a cohesive and impactful experience for visitors that evokes emotion and inspires them to take immediate action. By incorporating visual storytelling elements in a thoughtful and strategic way, your nonprofit website can stand out and make a lasting impression on potential donors and supporters.
Create a content strategy
A content strategy is essential for developing and sharing your nonprofit's story. Plan out your content in advance, and make sure that it is consistent with your brand identity and messaging. Your content should be relevant, informative, and engaging. Use storytelling techniques to create a compelling narrative that connects with your target audience. You can also use your content strategy to promote your nonprofit's events and campaigns.
Creating a content strategy is an important step in ensuring that your nonprofit's website story is compelling and effective. Your content strategy should include an understanding of your target audience, key messages, and goals for the website. By understanding your target audience, you can create content that resonates with them and motivates them to take action. Your key messages should reflect your organisation's mission and values, and should be communicated consistently across all pages of your website. Your goals for the website should be specific and measurable, such as increasing donations or volunteer sign-ups.
In addition to understanding your target audience and key messages, it's important to create a content calendar to ensure that your website story stays fresh and engaging. Your content calendar should include a mix of different content types, such as blog posts, videos, and infographics. You should also consider incorporating seasonal or timely content, such as holiday-themed fundraising campaigns or updates on current events related to your nonprofit's mission. By planning your content in advance, you can ensure that your website story is constantly evolving and staying relevant to your audience.
Make your website visually appealing and user-friendly
Your nonprofit website's design should be visually appealing and user-friendly. Use responsive web design to ensure that your website looks great on desktop and mobile devices. Use clear calls to action to direct website visitors to donate, volunteer, or learn more about your nonprofit. Make sure that your website's navigation is easy to use and that your donation page is prominently displayed.
Firstly, it's important to consider the layout and design of your website when making it visually appealing and user-friendly. You want to make sure that your website is easy to navigate and that visitors can quickly find the information they're looking for. This can be achieved through the use of clear and concise headings, intuitive menus, and easy-to-understand icons. Additionally, incorporating white space and balancing visual elements can make your website feel more spacious and welcoming, which can encourage visitors to spend more time exploring your site.
Secondly, it's also important to optimize your website for different devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. With more and more people accessing websites on their smartphones, it's crucial to ensure that your website is responsive and mobile-friendly. This means that your website should be designed to adapt to different screen sizes, load quickly, and be easy to navigate on smaller screens. By making your website accessible on all devices, you can ensure that visitors can engage with your nonprofit organisation and its mission no matter how they choose to access your site.
Examples of compelling nonprofit website stories
Here are some great examples of nonprofit website storytelling that can inspire your own website design:
World Bicycle Relief
They are a nonprofit organisation that provides bicycles to people in developing countries. Their website's homepage features a video that tells the story of how bicycles can transform lives. The website also uses compelling visuals and personal stories to illustrate the impact of their work.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organisation that builds homes for people in need. Their website's homepage features a clear call to action to donate or volunteer, along with personal stories of families who have benefited from their work. The website also includes an annual report that provides background information on their organisation's impact.
charity: water
charity: water is a nonprofit organisation that provides clean water to people in developing countries. Their website's homepage uses a modern design and short video to tell the story of their work. The website also includes a content strategy that features success stories and calls to action to donate or fundraise for their cause.
Conclusion
Creating a compelling website story is essential for your nonprofit in engaging supporters and reaching your goals. By starting with your organisation's mission, collecting personal stories, using visual storytelling, creating a content strategy, and making your website visually.
If you have any further questions or need assistance in implementing these tips for your nonprofit website, please don't hesitate to contact us. We would be happy to help you create a compelling website story that effectively communicates the mission of your organisation and engages your target audience.
