How to Build a Nonprofit Website on WordPress

Creating a nonprofit website on WordPress is easier than most people think. It’s also affordable, and with the right steps, your nonprofit can be online in a day or two. WordPress offers everything you need — from design tools to donation forms — to help your organization grow and reach more people.

This guide will walk you through each step. You’ll also learn what WordPress is, if WordPress is free, and how  WordPress SEO services  can bring more visitors to your nonprofit’s website.

What Is WordPress?

WordPress is a tool that helps you build websites without needing to know coding. It’s one of the most popular platforms in the world. Over 40% of all websites use WordPress because it’s flexible and easy to use.

You can use it to create blogs, online stores, news sites, and nonprofit websites — like the one you’re building.

Is WordPress Free?

Yes, WordPress is free to download from wordpress.org. But to run your nonprofit’s site online, you’ll need two things that aren’t free:

• A domain name – This is your website’s address, like saveanimals.org
• Web hosting – This is where your website lives online

So while  WordPress is free,  hosting and your domain usually cost about $50–$100 per year. Still, it’s one of the cheapest ways to build a real website.

Step-by-Step: Build Your Nonprofit Website on WordPress

Step 1: Choose a Domain and Hosting Plan
Pick a name that fits your nonprofit. Try to make it short and easy to remember. Once you’ve decided, buy the domain from a registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy.

Next, choose a hosting company. Bluehost, SiteGround, and Hostinger all offer plans made for WordPress. Most of these companies let you install WordPress with one click.

Step 2: Install WordPress
Most hosting services include an option like “Install WordPress.” Click that, follow the simple steps, and in a few minutes, your site will be live — ready for design.

Step 3: Pick a Nonprofit WordPress Theme
Themes control how your site looks. You can find many free and paid themes designed for nonprofits. Look for features like:

• Donation buttons
• Event calendars
• Volunteer sign-up forms
• Clean design

Some popular themes for nonprofits include Astra, OceanWP, and Zakra. These themes are easy to customize without coding.

Step 4: Add Important Pages
You’ll want to create a few main pages, such as:

• Home: An overview of your mission
• About Us: Who you are and what you do
• Get Involved: How people can help
• Donate: A secure page for donations
• Contact: A form or email so people can reach you

Add your pages from the WordPress dashboard by clicking Pages > Add New.

Step 5: Add Plugins for Extra Features
Plugins are like apps for your website. You can install them directly from your dashboard. Here are a few that work well for nonprofit sites:

• GiveWP – A donation plugin
• WPForms – For contact and volunteer forms
• Yoast SEO – Helps with  WordPress SEO 
• Elementor – A drag-and-drop page builder

You can use these tools to improve your site without hiring a developer.

Step 6: Make It Search-Engine Friendly
Your site won’t help your cause if no one can find it. That’s where WordPress SEO comes in. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It’s a way of making your site easier to find on Google.

Here are some basic WordPress SEO tips:

• Use keywords related to your cause
• Write clear and helpful page titles
• Add images and alt text
• Link to other trusted sites
• Keep your website fast and mobile-friendly

These are just the basics. If you want to go further, you might need WordPress SEO services.

Why SEO Matters for Nonprofits

More traffic means more support — more volunteers, more donations, more awareness. That’s why many nonprofits invest in WordPress SEO services. These services are built to help you show up on Google when people search for causes like yours.

If your site isn’t showing up in search results, a  WordPress SEO agency  can find out why and fix it. From speed issues to missing tags, they take care of the tech stuff that might be holding your site back.

How SEO Raft Can Help Your Nonprofit Website

SEO Raft is a trusted WordPress SEO agency that helps both nonprofits and businesses grow online. They know how WordPress works and can help you improve your traffic and visibility.

Here’s what SEO Raft offers for nonprofit websites:

•  Full  WordPress SEO audits 
• Custom SEO strategies based on your mission
• Help with donation page rankings
•  Local SEO  if your nonprofit operates in a certain area
• Monthly reports to show growth

Whether your goal is to get more donations or build awareness for your cause, SEO Raft’s WordPress SEO services give you the help you need.

Visit seoraft.com to learn more and get started.

Final Thoughts

Building a nonprofit website on WordPress is one of the smartest and most cost-effective ways to share your mission. WordPress is free to use, easy to learn, and packed with features that help nonprofits succeed.

To take your site to the next level, consider working with a WordPress SEO agency like SEO Raft.  Their expert WordPress SEO services can help your cause get seen, get support, and grow.