Tell us about your nonprofit website
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Nonprofit online giving is not a mystery. These nine questions offer a starting checklist when a giving page underperforms; actual causes depend on the audience, campaign, and payment journey. Here is the honest list, in the order they usually show up.
1. The donation page is slow
A slow page can delay access to the form. Test representative mobile devices and inspect actual abandonment rather than assuming that half the traffic leaves. Speed is the foundation. Everything else on this list is downstream of it. See how to fix slow nonprofit websites for the fix.
2. The form asks for too much
Every field costs conversions. Address, phone, employer, referral source, notes: all of them can be collected later. The form only needs name, email, amount, and payment method.
3. There is no recurring-giving default
The relative lifetime value of monthly and one-time donors depends on gift amounts, retention, and servicing costs. If "make this monthly" is a checkbox instead of the default, you are leaving the majority of your future revenue on the table.
4. Mobile wallets are missing
Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal convert dramatically better than manual card entry on mobile. In 2026 most of your traffic is mobile. If a donor has to type a 16-digit card number and a CVV on a phone, most of them will not.
5. The impact statement is generic
Request a scoped estimate covering content, templates, integrations, testing, training, and ongoing support; the price and delivery date depend on the agreed work. Use concrete impact statements supported by program records, then test them with your audience rather than assuming a percentage uplift.
6. There is a jarring redirect at checkout
A differently branded payment handoff may introduce uncertainty. Explain the transition, test it with supporters, and measure completed payments before assigning a loss rate. Modern platforms (Givebutter, Donorbox, Fundraise Up, Classy) process the payment inline. Use one of them.
7. Email campaigns point to the generic donation page
An appeal about hurricane relief that links to a generic "donate now" page loses the story, the emotion, and the ask. Every campaign that matters deserves a dedicated landing page that mirrors the appeal.
8. The thank-you page is a receipt, not a moment
The thank-you page is the single highest-attention moment a donor spends with your organization all year. Wasting it on a bland receipt is a missed opportunity to inspire, to convert one-time to monthly, and to earn a social share.
9. There is no plan for the second gift
Nonprofits obsess over first gifts and neglect second gifts. The second gift is where lifetime value is decided. A welcome sequence, documented impact update, and considerate follow-up ask can support stewardship. Measure second gifts before claiming a conversion improvement.
Which reason should we tackle first?
Score each on your site against two questions: how many donors does this cost us per month, and how expensive is the fix. Request a scoped estimate covering content, templates, integrations, testing, training, and ongoing support; the price and delivery date depend on the agreed work.
Do these apply to peer-to-peer campaigns too?
Yes, with two additions. Peer-to-peer pages need a fundraiser dashboard with real-time totals, and they need a share-to-social flow that is one tap on mobile. Everything else on this list applies.
Where to go next
Read how to improve nonprofit online donations, the nonprofit donation website diagnostic, and the nonprofit web development guide. Or book a free funnel review.
Frequently asked questions
/What should we review before changing our nonprofit website?
Start with the visitor task, the affected templates, accessibility barriers, publishing workflow, and integrations. Use actual visitor and editor evidence to prioritize the work rather than choosing features first.
/Do we need a full rebuild?
Not necessarily. A focused repair may address the problem if the content model and supported platform are suitable. Compare repair and rebuild scope after documenting the causes and ongoing support requirements.
/How much will the work cost?
The price depends on templates, migration, integrations, accessibility testing, training, and ongoing care. Review DoodleWeb pricing and request an itemized proposal rather than relying on a sector-wide price range.
/Can these changes guarantee more donations or applications?
No. Outcomes also depend on audience, campaign quality, program demand, and other factors. Agree on baseline measurements and review completed visitor tasks after changes.
/How can DoodleWeb help us assess the next step?
Use the contact form on this page to share the site, visitor task, and current constraints. Review the relevant published case study and ask for a scope covering assessment, implementation, testing, and handover.
Relevant client work
Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre is a DoodleWeb client. We do not claim donation results for this engagement.
Young Americans Center: one platform, distinct audiences
Our published case study describes a shared WordPress component system for financial-education programs and the bank, with separate editorial tracks. It illustrates audience clarity and content organization, not a measured donation uplift.
Read the case study →Do not confuse more campaign visits with a better donation experience.
- Compare campaigns, devices, and new versus returning visitors before drawing conclusions.
- Test error recovery, payment redirects, gift-frequency controls, and confirmation delivery.
- Ask willing supporters what stopped them; combine that feedback with observed funnel behavior.
Sources and fact-check report
Reviewed 2026-10-05. Site sources substantiate published project scope and client recognition, not independently audited outcomes. Recommendations are editorial guidance, not revenue, ranking, compliance, price, or delivery guarantees.
- DoodleWeb Brand Book / brand guidelines
- DoodleWeb published identity and client recognition
- Published project scope: Young Americans Center
- W3C WCAG 2.2: Level AA conformance criteria
- Google web.dev: Core Web Vitals definitions and thresholds
- Reviewed claim: If the page takes more than three seconds to become interactive on a mid-range Android phone, half your traffic never sees the form.
Resolution:A slow page can delay access to the form. Test representative mobile devices and inspect actual abandonment rather than assuming that half the traffic leaves.
- Reviewed claim: Monthly donors are worth five to seven times more than one-time donors.
Resolution:The relative lifetime value of monthly and one-time donors depends on gift amounts, retention, and servicing costs.
- Reviewed claim: Concrete, specific, dollar-linked impact statements consistently outperform abstract ones by 20 to 40 percent.
Resolution:Use concrete impact statements supported by program records, then test them with your audience rather than assuming a percentage uplift.
- Reviewed claim: If your donation form hands the donor off to a branded-differently third-party page for payment, you will lose 5 to 15 percent of donors at the seam.
Resolution:A differently branded payment handoff may introduce uncertainty. Explain the transition, test it with supporters, and measure completed payments before assigning a loss rate.
- Reviewed claim: A structured 60-day welcome sequence, one honest impact update, and one soft second ask consistently doubles second-gift conversion.
Resolution:A welcome sequence, documented impact update, and considerate follow-up ask can support stewardship. Measure second gifts before claiming a conversion improvement.
- Reviewed claim: "Your gift makes a difference" is invisible. "$50 covers a week of formula for one baby" is memorable.
Resolution:Request a scoped estimate covering content, templates, integrations, testing, training, and ongoing support; the price and delivery date depend on the agreed work.
- Reviewed claim: Speed, the recurring default, and mobile wallets almost always win that scoring exercise for organizations under $10M in revenue.
Resolution:Request a scoped estimate covering content, templates, integrations, testing, training, and ongoing support; the price and delivery date depend on the agreed work.
Seattle agency · Seattle, WA
A full-service digital agency working in WordPress, Drupal, Shopify, Webflow, React, and React Native. We partner with universities, nonprofits, governments, and growing brands to ship sites that hold up after launch.
