What a nonprofit website needs to do

A nonprofit website has one job before any other: a newcomer should understand who you help and what you want them to do next. Decoration does not carry that. A clear name, a plain description, and a visible way to get in touch do.

Write the first screen for someone who has never heard of you. Avoid insider program names until you have said, in ordinary language, the change you are trying to make. If a sentence could belong to any organization, it is not doing enough work.

Publish the facts people use to decide whether to trust you. That usually includes how to contact a person, what you do not do, and where to read policies. Do not invent impact numbers to fill a blank. An honest paragraph is stronger than a counter with no source.

Plan the site for a phone held in one hand. Many supporters will never see the desktop layout. Buttons need to be easy to tap, text needs to stay readable when the browser is zoomed, and the menu needs to work with a keyboard.

Keep the technology boring on purpose. A page that loads quickly, uses real headings, and does not depend on a video to explain the mission will outlast a design that needs a specialist to change a sentence.

This note is a draft for editorial review. It is general guidance, not an official Prabalta policy, and it does not describe a contract for website services.