[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/uncategorized\/how-to-create-a-nonprofit-website-in-wordpress-step-by-step\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/uncategorized\/how-to-create-a-nonprofit-website-in-wordpress-step-by-step\/","headline":"How to Create a Nonprofit Website in WordPress (Step by Step)","name":"How to Create a Nonprofit Website in WordPress (Step by Step)","description":"In 2017, we built our non-profit organization, the Balkhi Foundation, to help make college education more attainable for talented young people. We quickly realized how ... Leer m\u00e1s<\/a>","datePublished":"2025-03-25","dateModified":"2025-03-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/author\/mitzamitza-es\/#Person","name":"adrimadise\u00f1o","url":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/author\/mitzamitza-es\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4f04015a3698191a873267b006e8e8789ce30b6ee841a5518a6033860d50fe16?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4f04015a3698191a873267b006e8e8789ce30b6ee841a5518a6033860d50fe16?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"adrimadise\u00f1o.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cropped-logo_adrima.png","url":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cropped-logo_adrima.png","width":450,"height":90}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/create-a-nonprofit-website-in-wordpress-og-1.png","url":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/create-a-nonprofit-website-in-wordpress-og-1.png","height":1080,"width":1920},"url":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/uncategorized\/how-to-create-a-nonprofit-website-in-wordpress-step-by-step\/","about":["Uncategorized"],"wordCount":4051,"articleBody":"In 2017, we built our non-profit organization, the Balkhi Foundation, to help make college education more attainable for talented young people. We quickly realized how important having the right website was for our mission.Like many nonprofit organizations, we had to figure out how to create an engaging website that would connect with donors and serve our community.Over the years, we\u2019ve helped dozens of nonprofits build their WordPress websites from scratch. We\u2019ve learned what works (and what doesn\u2019t) when it comes to creating a nonprofit website that drives donations, attracts volunteers, and shares your story effectively.That\u2019s why we\u2019ve put together this step-by-step guide to help you create a nonprofit website with WordPress. And the best part? You can do it all without hiring an expensive web developer.\ud83d\udca1 Already feeling overwhelmed? Our adrimadise\u00f1o Website Design Services are here to help. Our team of experts can take your ideas and create a professional website that\u2019s tailored to your exact requirements. You\u2019ll work with a dedicated project manager who will make sure your vision becomes a reality, whether you need donation forms, volunteer sign-ups, or compelling content.Let us design a website that helps your nonprofit thrive while you dedicate all your time to what really matters: your mission.Why Create a Nonprofit Website?As a nonprofit, you\u2019re all about making a difference. You need to spread the word, raise funds, and recruit enthusiastic volunteers.But how do you do that effectively? The answer: a powerful, engaging website!A nonprofit website can help you connect with people around the globe, and raise awareness on an international scale. However, the thought of creating a website can sound daunting, especially if you\u2019ve never done anything like it before.We get it. At adrimadise\u00f1o, we\u2019ve helped countless nonprofits and even set up our own nonprofit website for the Balkhi Foundation.Through our experiences with the Balkhi Foundation, we\u2019ve learned firsthand that creating a successful not-for-profit site doesn\u2019t have to take a ton of time, effort, and money.We\u2019ll show you how to build a compelling, charitable website that\u2019s:Easy to Learn: No tech skills required! We\u2019ll break down every step into simple, actionable instructions.A Breeze to Set Up: We\u2019ll focus on tools that are quick to install and manage so you can get your site up and running in no time.Budget-Friendly: We\u2019ll share tips and tricks to minimize costs, including exclusive discounts, so you can make those donations go further.\u00a0Essentially Self-Maintaining: We\u2019ll guide you toward platforms that are user-friendly and require minimal upkeep.That said, let\u2019s see how you can create a nonprofit website in WordPress! You can use the quick links below to navigate through this tutorial:Step 1: Choose Your Website BuilderWant to build a powerful website for your nonprofit without using too much of your funding?We get it, and that\u2019s why we recommend WordPress.\u00a0There are many website builders, but WordPress stands out for nonprofits looking for a user-friendly, reliable, and budget-friendly solution.Firstly, WordPress is open source, so it\u2019s free to download and use. By removing unnecessary expenses in this way, you can dedicate more resources to your mission \u2013 and not website costs.But just because WordPress is free doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s basic. It has all the tools your nonprofit needs. WordPress also lets you install add-ons called plugins. These are pieces of software that add extra functionality to WordPress, and you can find over 59,000 in the WordPress.org repository alone. This includes many plugins designed specifically for nonprofits, like WP Charitable.\u00a0Even better, you can download and use all the WordPress.org plugins for free.There are also countless WordPress themes designed specifically for charitable organizations. Once again, many of them are free.But it isn\u2019t just about saving money. According to our research statistics, WordPress is the most popular website platform in the world and powers nearly 43% of all websites. This means when you choose WordPress, you join millions of other successful websites, including many well-known nonprofits. You\u2019ll get a trusted platform that\u2019s perfect for your organization.That said, there are two types of WordPress software, so it\u2019s important to pick the right one.First up is WordPress.com, which is a hosted website builder.\u00a0With WordPress.com, you don\u2019t need to find your own hosting plan and install the software yourself. Instead, you can choose a free plan or buy one of the available paid plans, and Automattic will host your website for you.Then there\u2019s WordPress.org, which is also known as self-hosted WordPress. We recommend using WordPress.org for your charitable website because, unlike WordPress.com, you don\u2019t need to pay for an expensive plan to be able to install plugins.For a deeper dive into why we consistently recommend WordPress, please see our complete WordPress review or our expert comparison of WordPress.com vs WordPress.org.\u270b Already created a site on WordPress.com? Don\u2019t panic! We have a step-by-step guide on how to move your website from WordPress.com to WordPress.org.Step 2: Setting Up Your Nonprofit WebsiteOnce you\u2019ve chosen your website builder, you\u2019ll need a domain name and web hosting.Think of a domain name as your nonprofit\u2019s online address. This is what supporters will type into their browsers to reach your site, such as redcross.org or unicef.org.Web hosting is where your website lives online. To help you out, we\u2019ve hand-picked some of the best WordPress hosting that you can buy for your new site.\u00a0Although the WordPress software is free, hosting and domain names are where the costs can really start to add up.\u00a0A domain name typically costs $14.99\/year, and hosting costs start from $7.99\/month. This is a lot, especially since it\u2019s directly taking funds away from your campaigns and activities.\u00a0Thankfully, Bluehost has agreed to offer adrimadise\u00f1o readers a huge discount on web hosting, plus a free domain and SSL certificate (for improved security).You will need an SSL certificate to collect donations in WordPress using third-party services like Stripe, so this is important.\u00a0Just click the button below to get started for as little as $1.99 per month.\u00a0Alternatively, you can directly visit the Bluehost website.Then, click the green \u2018Get Started Now\u2019 button.This takes you to the pricing page, where you can choose a hosting plan for your website.We recommend picking either the \u2018Basic\u2019 or \u2018Choice Plus\u2019 plan because they have everything you need to create a successful fundraising website.\u00a0After choosing a plan, go ahead and click \u2018Continue.\u2019Next, it\u2019s time to choose a domain name for your nonprofit website.A strong domain name is essential for establishing your organization\u2019s online presence and helping supporters find your site. So, it\u2019s well worth taking the time to choose the perfect domain name.\u00a0Typically, it makes sense to use your nonprofit\u2019s name, but if your preferred domain isn\u2019t available then you can try adding relevant details.For example, you might add your sector (\u201canimalrescue\u201d) or location (\u201cUK\u201d)\u00a0to the end.Wherever possible, we recommend choosing a .org domain name because it\u2019s universally recognized as the standard for nonprofits. This instantly establishes credibility and trust with your audience and makes you stand out from commercial websites.\ud83d\udc4b Need help choosing a domain name for your charitable site? Just check out our guide on how to choose the best domain name.After you choose a .org domain name, go ahead and click the \u2018Next\u2019 button.Bluehost will now ask for your account information, such as your name and email address. You\u2019ll also get a chance to buy some optional extras.Typically, we don\u2019t recommend buying these extras right away if you\u2019re trying to keep costs down. Plus, you can always buy the extras later if your charity needs them.Once that\u2019s done, simply type in your payment information to complete the purchase.After a few moments, you\u2019ll get an email with instructions on how to log in to your web hosting control panel. This is the dashboard where you can manage your nonprofit site, including setting up email notifications and asking for WordPress support.Step 3. Install WordPress on Your Web HostingWhen you sign up using our Bluehost link, they will install WordPress on your domain name automatically. Give it a few minutes to load, then click the \u2018Edit site\u2019 button, which will take you to set up your new website.At this point, a window will appear asking if you want to migrate a WordPress site or start a new setup.Since you\u2019re creating a new nonprofit site, click the \u2018Start Setup\u2019 button.The setup wizard will now ask for some basic information, such as the type of website, blog, or online marketplace you\u2019re building.Choose the category that best fits your nonprofit site and then click \u2018Continue Setup.\u2019Once you\u2019ve gone through the entire Bluehost WordPress setup wizard, click on \u2018Complete Setup.\u2019Bluehost will now take you to the WordPress admin area.You can also log in to the WordPress dashboard by heading to yoursite.com\/wp-admin\/ directly in your web browser.If you\u2019re using a different WordPress website host such as SiteGround, Hostinger, or HostGator, then you can see our complete guide on how to install WordPress for all the top hosting providers.You\u2019re now ready to start building a successful nonprofit site.\u00a0Step 4: Select a WordPress ThemeOnce your WordPress website is up and running, the next step is making it look professional and inviting. That\u2019s where WordPress themes come in.WordPress themes are professionally designed templates that control how your nonprofit site looks and acts.By default, each WordPress site comes with a basic theme. If you visit your new site, then you\u2019ll see something like this:This is a generic WordPress theme with limited features, so you\u2019ll need to replace it.\u00a0When designing your nonprofit website, it\u2019s important to look for a theme that\u2019s optimized for performance and search engines. This will help more donors and volunteers find your site on platforms like Google.Many nonprofits also rely on visuals to tell their stories and make an emotional connection with their audience. So, it\u2019s smart to opt for a theme that showcases photos and videos effectively.Think full-screen video backgrounds, image galleries, and engaging layouts.With that in mind, it makes sense to look for a theme that\u2019s designed specifically for nonprofits. To help you out, we\u2019ve collected the best WordPress themes for nonprofits.\u00a0Another option is using a website and landing page builder plugin like SeedProd.SeedProd is a popular drag-and-drop WordPress page builder that we\u2019ve used to design many of our partner websites. For more information, check out our detailed SeedProd review.SeedProd helps you design beautiful landing pages, home pages, and even entire websites. It also comes with some built-in templates that were specifically designed for nonprofit organizations.These templates have ready-made sections where you can showcase your various projects and fundraising goals.This way, you can keep supporters informed and encourage them to contribute to your campaigns.\u00a0It even has an AI builder that creates an entire custom theme for you in less than 60 seconds. For details, see our guide on how to make a WordPress website with AI.Once you\u2019ve chosen a WordPress theme, installing it is a breeze. Just see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress theme.After that, you can customize the theme by going to Appearance \u00bb Customize in the WordPress dashboard. This will launch the theme customizer, where you can fine-tune the theme settings and see your changes in the live preview.However, if you\u2019re using one of the newer full-site editing themes, then you\u2019ll need to go to Appearance \u00bb Editor instead.This launches the full site editor, where you can add, remove, and edit the blocks in your WordPress theme, similar to how you build pages and posts in the content editor.The best part? You can always tweak your theme or even change your WordPress theme later. So, don\u2019t worry about getting locked into your site\u2019s original design.\u00a0Step 5: Create a Custom Home PageWordPress has two two default content types called posts and pages.You\u2019ll typically use posts to create articles and blogs. For example, you might share updates on your campaigns, announce events, or promote petitions. In this way, you can build a stronger relationship with your supporters, improve your WordPress SEO, and get more traffic to your nonprofit website.\u00a0By default, the homepage shows these posts in reverse chronological order, so the newest content appears at the top of the list unless you re-order your posts in WordPress.Even if you plan to build a blog, you typically won\u2019t show these posts on your homepage. To make a stronger first impression, we recommend creating a custom homepage that introduces your organization to new visitors instead.\u00a0\u261d Want to learn how to create a compelling homepage that effectively communicates your nonprofit\u2019s mission? Then check out our guide on how to create a custom home page in WordPress.Once you\u2019ve designed your homepage, it\u2019s time to set it as your front page. Head over to Settings \u00bb Reading in the WordPress dashboard.Here, scroll to \u2018Your homepage settings\u2019 and select \u2018A static page.\u2019Next, open the \u2018Homepage\u2019 dropdown and select the page you created before.Finally, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on \u2018Save Changes.\u2019 Now, if you visit your nonprofit site, you\u2019ll see the new home page in action.Don\u2019t worry, your blog posts won\u2019t disappear! You just need to create a separate blog page to display your posts.Step 6. Add More PagesUnless you\u2019re creating a one-page website, you\u2019ll need to add some more pages. This gives you more space to talk about your organization\u2019s mission, its impact, and the incredible work you do.To start, it\u2019s a good idea to brainstorm all the different pages you\u2019ll need. For example, you might want to make the following pages:To create a new page in WordPress, simply go to Pages \u00bb Add New Page.This opens the WordPress content editor, where you can add a title, type in body text, add a featured image, add categories and tags, and more.\u00a0Once you\u2019re happy with your page, just hit the \u2018Publish\u2019 button to share it with the world.Simply repeat these steps to add more pages to your nonprofit website.\u00a0\ud83d\udca1 Want more creative control over your page layouts and designs? Then, be sure to check out our handy guide on how to create custom pages in WordPress. It\u2019s packed with tips and tricks to make each page truly unique and engaging.Step 7. Add a Contact Us FormPretty much every website needs a contact form, and your nonprofit site is no exception.\u00a0A contact form provides a simple way for potential volunteers, sponsors, media contacts, and other supporters to connect with your organization.Think about it: a journalist looking to feature your charity, a potential donor with questions, or even someone seeking your assistance \u2013 they all need a straightforward way to reach out. While phone numbers and email addresses are also great options, a contact form is much less intimidating and more convenient \u2013 especially for those looking for help.The easiest way to add a contact form to your WordPress website is by using the WPForms plugin. This plugin comes with a built-in \u2018Simple Contact Form\u2019 template that you can quickly customize using the WPForms drag-and-drop editor.Then, simply add the form to any page, post, or widget-ready area using the ready-made WPForms block.We use WPForms to power all our forms across adrimadise\u00f1o, including our contact form, so we\u2019re confident it\u2019s a great fit for any nonprofit website. The plugin even offers a 75% discount for nonprofit organizations. To learn more about this popular contact form plugin, check out our detailed WPForms review.\u00a0Expert Tip: If you want to provide a specific form just for potential volunteers, then please see our guide on how to easily make a volunteer application form in WordPress.Step 8. Accept Donations Online\u00a0Most nonprofits rely on donations from kind supporters.\u00a0The right plugin can transform your website into a 24\/7 fundraising machine, accepting donations anytime, anywhere \u2013 it\u2019s the ultimate solution for busy nonprofits!But it\u2019s important to choose the right tool. You need a reliable and secure plugin that\u2019s also\u00a0mobile-friendly so people can donate from any device. It should also support your preferred payment gateway and accept recurring donations so supporters can pledge ongoing support.On top of all that, it should charge the least amount of fees so you keep more of each donation and put it toward your cause.\u00a0With that said, let\u2019s look at 3 options so you can choose the solution that\u2019s the best fit for your nonprofit website: Option 1: A Dedicated Donation Plugin Want a fully-featured donation platform that lets you create unlimited campaigns, and manage all your fundraising activities from the same dashboard? In that case, we recommend WP Charitable. It checks every requirement on this list and more. You can select a fixed donation amount, add a custom amount, or both \u2013 so you have lots of flexibility.\u00a0You can also set goals for each campaign, so it automatically closes when they are reached. Or you can make your campaigns open-ended. It\u2019s completely up to you!Plus, you can display the donation form anywhere on your site using the WP Charitable block.Have multiple fundraising campaigns? Then, you can display them in a nice grid layout.\u00a0There\u2019s a free version of Charitable that you can use to accept donations via Stripe and PayPal. However, we recommend WP Charitable Pro because it includes a ton of features specifically made for nonprofits. These include recurring donations, donor fee relief, annual receipts, and newsletter signup forms. Check out our detailed WP Charitable review to learn more.Option 2: An Easy Form Builder Don\u2019t want to set up a dedicated donation plugin? You can also create a donation form using the exact same plugin you used for your contact form: WPForms.This plugin even comes with over 30 donation and fundraising templates, so you can add a donation form to your site in seconds.\u00a0WPForms doesn\u2019t have all the advanced features you get from a plugin like WP Charitable, but it\u2019s a quick and easy option if you just want to collect one-time donations without complex campaign management. After all, why pay for features you won\u2019t use? That\u2019s extra money you could be putting towards supporting your good cause! Option 3: A Donation ButtonLooking for a simpler option? Then you can add a PayPal donate button to WordPress, or add a Stripe donation button to your nonprofit site.\u00a0These payment methods are widely recognized and trusted, so they instantly make your site seem more credible.\u00a0These buttons are also very easy to set up and use, so they may be a good option if you\u2019re just getting started and want to experiment with easy donation methods before moving to something more advanced like WP Charitable or WPForms.This option is also a good fit for smaller nonprofits, or anyone who doesn\u2019t have previous technical knowledge. It\u2019s all about making things simple, so you can go back to what really matters: getting out there and making a difference!Step 9: Create an Events CalendarDo you regularly organize events?\u00a0Whether they are team meetings, volunteer gatherings, or fundraising galas, a calendar plugin can be a valuable addition to your website. The right calendar plugin will let you show these events in an organized and engaging way, providing visitors with all the essential details at a glance.We recommend Sugar Calendar because it has everything you need to create unlimited calendars and events. You can even raise funds by selling tickets to your events.\u00a0Want to learn more? Just see our detailed Sugar Calendar review.Alternatively, you can jump straight in with our step-by-step guide on how to sell event tickets in WordPress.\u00a0Step 10: Add Social Media FeedsSocial media is a great way to connect with supporters and showcase the impact you\u2019re having on the community. Imagine sharing inspiring photos of your latest project on Instagram or going live on YouTube to give your followers a real-time look at your work in action.Plus, when potential supporters see positive interactions and genuine engagement from your community, they\u2019re more likely to trust your organization. They might even feel inspired to get involved by volunteering or donating.\u270c Don\u2019t already have a social media presence? Don\u2019t panic! Simply check out our social media cheat sheet for everything you need to get started.At adrimadise\u00f1o, we use social media to engage with our readers and share our content, and we\u2019ve seen great results (our Facebook group alone has over 98,000 members!)Building a thriving community on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook is a great start \u2013 but we also know that it\u2019s only the first step. Potential supporters might miss your amazing content if they\u2019re not following you on every social platform.With that in mind, we recommend adding social media feeds to your WordPress website using a plugin such as Smash Balloon. Once it\u2019s set up, Smash Balloon will fetch your latest social media posts automatically and display them on your WordPress website in an eye-catching layout.This keeps your website fresh and dynamic, even if you\u2019re busy with other tasks. Plus, it ensures your entire audience stays up-to-date on your latest activities and achievements, even if they\u2019re not following you on social media.\u261d Not sure whether Smash Balloon is right for you? Check out our complete Smash Balloon review for more info.Once you\u2019ve added some content to your nonprofit website, you\u2019ll want to help visitors find their way around those pages and posts by adding a navigation menu.No matter what theme you\u2019re using, WordPress makes it really easy to add menus and sub-menus to your nonprofit site.\u00a0For a complete guide, please see our post on how to add a navigation menu.Next Steps: How to Grow Your Nonprofit WebsiteCongratulations! If you\u2019ve been following along, then you now have a nonprofit website that can accept donations, collect contact information, and much more.That\u2019s a fantastic start, but now it\u2019s time to take it further. To make the biggest impact possible, you\u2019ll need to attract more visitors to your site and make sure they have a positive, inspiring experience.\u00a0Here are your next steps:Boost your search engine rankings: Use AIOSEO to improve your search engine rankings and help more people find your nonprofit site. For details, see our ultimate WordPress SEO guide.Optimize website speed: Engaging visuals like videos and photos are fantastic, but they can slow down your site. A sluggish website can frustrate visitors and drive them away. Check out our ultimate guide on how to boost WordPress speed and performance to keep everything running smoothly.\u00a0Expand your reach with multiple languages: Raise awareness on a global scale by creating a multilingual site using translation plugins such as WPML or Weglot.Safeguard your website with backups: Your nonprofit website is a valuable asset, so it\u2019s important to protect it with regular backups using a plugin like Duplicator. That way, you\u2019ll always have a recent version of your nonprofit site to restore in case something goes wrong.\u00a0We hope this guide has helped you learn how to create a nonprofit website in WordPress. Next up, you might want to see our research on the top nonprofit marketing stats and insights you should know or our list of the best practices to boost donations in WordPress.If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our\u00a0YouTube Channel\u00a0for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on\u00a0Twitter\u00a0and Facebook. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Uncategorized","item":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/uncategorized\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to Create a Nonprofit Website in WordPress (Step by Step)","item":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/uncategorized\/how-to-create-a-nonprofit-website-in-wordpress-step-by-step\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]