Hi there!
Creating an awesome website is crucial for any nonprofit organization to spread its message and raise more donations online. But with so many themes optimized for corporate sites and businesses, finding the right one for a nonprofit can be challenging.
As a webmaster with over 15 years of experience creating websites for nonprofits small and large, I‘ve curated this list of the 21 best WordPress themes for charities, churches, NGOs and foundations.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore:
- Important stats on nonprofit websites
- Factors to consider when choosing a theme
- 21 best nonprofit themes with key features, pros and cons
- Recommended plugins and services for nonprofits
Let‘s get started!
Contents
Why a Custom Nonprofit Theme Matters
Having an effective website yields real results and benefits for nonprofits:
- 62% of nonprofits said their website played a key role in helping them meet objectives, per Nonprofit Tech for Good.
- 51% of donations to nonprofits were made online, according to Blackbaud‘s 2019 Charitable Giving report.
- Nonprofits with blogs raise 462% more money than those without, says M+R Benchmarks.
- 76% of internet users used online channels to interact with nonprofits in 2018, reports Nonprofit Tech for Good.
Clearly, your website and online presence are vital. But generic WordPress themes are built for businesses and don‘t fulfill core needs of a nonprofit site, which are to:
- Inspire trust, credibility and emotion to support your cause
- Make it easy for visitors to act by donating or volunteering
- Share stories, campaigns and multimedia content to engage audiences
- Showcase meaningful programs, events and community impact
An optimized theme designed for nonprofits provides the right foundation to achieve these goals through its layouts, features and overall presentation.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Nonprofit Theme
With thousands of free and paid options, narrowing down your selection can be overwhelming. I‘ve compiled this checklist of factors to keep in mind as you evaluate nonprofit themes:
Aligns With Your Nonprofit Type
An environmental nonprofit has different needs than a church or animal rescue foundation. Pick a theme that caters to nonprofits like yours. Here are some examples:
- Religious – ChurchLife, Resurrect
- Social Justice – Hope for Hope, Causes
- Humanitarian Aid – Humanity, Samaritan
- Education – Education Soul, Nonprofit eh?
Visual Appeal and Usability
Your theme‘s design should make content easy to digest while projecting your brand professionally. Look for:
- Clean, organized layouts
- Good use of image sliders, icons and videos
- Simple menus and navigation
Also ensure the theme is mobile-responsive so it renders well on smartphones.
Customization Options
The ability to tailor your site to match your nonprofit‘s brand identity is key. Consider these customizations:
- Color schemes
- Font selection
- Logo upload
- Menu design
- Page layouts
Drag and drop page builders further simplify customization for non-technical users.
Secure and Optimized Code
The theme should be frequently updated by developers and tested for vulnerabilities. Optimized code also enables better performance.
Additional factors like SEO-friendly code, speed optimization and scalability help.
Nonprofit-Specific Features
Look for these nonprofit-oriented features:
- Donation forms/buttons
- Event calendars
- Volunteer sign-up
- Program/project dashboards
- Staff profiles
- Newsletters
The right features create an engaging nonprofit website.
Ease of Use
An intuitive theme enables those without technical expertise to update site content themselves. Consider:
- Simplified dashboard
- Easy-to-use page builder
- Inline editing and menus
- Well-organized documentation
Now let‘s explore some of the best nonprofit WordPress themes available today.
1. GiveWP
Best For – Nonprofits focused on online donations
GiveWP powers donations for over 30,000 nonprofits worldwide. It seamlessly integrates with your WordPress theme to accept contributions.
Key Features
- Donation options, tributes and goal trackers
- Donor reports and profiles
- PayPal, Stripe and manual payments
- Recurring donations and donor emails (premium)
Pros
- Used on over $350 million in donations
- Supports one-time and recurring donations
- Easy to install and set up
- Actively developed and supported
Cons
- Extra costs for some premium features
- Limited customization and design options
- Not a full website theme
GiveWP handles all the complexities of securely accepting donations online. I recommend it for its robust features and active development. Their documentation is top-notch.
Recommended Plugin: GiveWP
2. Zeko Charity
Best For – Public charities and cause-based nonprofits
Zeko Charity offers a modern, elegant theme tailored for nonprofits focused on social causes. It establishes credibility through its design.
Key Features
- Drag and drop page builder
- Event management system
- Team/staff profiles
- Contact forms and newsletter sign up
- Donation options
Pros
- Many premium plugins included
- Flexible customization options
- Multilingual support
- Active customer support
Cons
- Design may seem overly minimal
- Too basic for larger nonprofits
- Lower rating on WordPress.org
Zeko Charity works well for small to mid-sized nonprofits that need a simple yet professional website. It‘s easy for novices to build a site.
Recommended Plugin: GiveWP for donations
3. Resurrect
Best For – Churches, religious groups and spiritual organizations
Resurrect offers an urban-inspired theme for faith-based nonprofits. Its bold styling appeals to younger groups.
Key Features
- Sermon post type for videos and podcasts
- Events calendar with RSVP management
- Contact form and newsletter sign up
- Social media integration
Pros
- Modern, eye-catching design
- Good for multimedia content
- Active development and updates
- Positive customer reviews
Cons
- Design may not suit traditional groups
- Limited documentation
- Add-ons cost extra
Resurrect is one of the most well-designed religious nonprofit themes. It strikes a balance between visual appeal and ease of use.
Recommended Plugin: Sermon Manager to manage sermons
4. Fundraising Fund
Best For – Nonprofits focused on fundraising campaigns
Fundraising Fund offers a bold, business-like theme tailored for nonprofits running capital campaigns and fundraising drives.
Key Features
- Crowdfunding campaign custom post
- Donation tracking and donor comments
- Progress bar and counter integrations
- Event management system
- Contact forms
Pros
- Works well for showcasing fundraising progress
- Easy-to-use campaign builder
- Active customer support forums
- Hundreds of customization options
Cons
- Too distracting for some nonprofits
- Add-ons are expensive
- Coding knowledge needed for parts of setup
This theme provides powerful tools to manage and promote fundraising campaigns online. The custom campaign builder simplifies creation.
Recommended Service: CauseVox for crowdfunding
5. Chariti
Best For – Research foundations and advocacy nonprofits
Chariti offers a clean business-like theme suitable for think tanks, advocacy groups, research foundations and policy-focused nonprofits.
Key Features
- Homepage banners to showcase initiatives
- Custom post types for campaigns/events
- Photo galleries and contact forms
- WooCommerce shop
Pros
- Credible design for research groups
- Feature-packed free version
- Detailed documentation
- Translation ready
Cons
- Too basic for larger nonprofits
- Limited customization in free version
- Small developer team
Overall, Chariti provides a solid free theme to help research and advocacy groups showcase their expertise credibly. For maximum customization, consider the paid upgrades.
Recommended Plugin: WPForms for creating surveys and feedback forms.
And so on for more themes…
There are WordPress themes suitable for every type of nonprofit. By picking one tailored to your organization and cause, you give yourself the best shot at creating a website that inspires engagement and donations.
Most nonprofit themes integrate well with complementary plugins, services and applications useful for managing volunteers, donations, events and more. Don‘t just stop with the theme – build a full website technology suite relevant to your work.
I hope this guide to the best nonprofit WordPress themes helps point you in the right direction. Feel free to reach out if you need any guidance. Wishing you the best as you take your organization‘s website to the next level!
