3 Steps on How to Hire a Top Design Agency for Nonprofits

3 Steps on How to Hire a Top Design Agency for Nonprofits

A highly functional & well-designed website can drive your nonprofit’s mission forward.
3 Steps on How to Hire a Top Design Agency for Nonprofits

As a nonprofit organization (NPO), you’re likely dealing with numerous challenges—including budget constraints, meeting your community and social impact goals, and getting sufficient donations from donors.

Like any other institution in our digital-first world, you’ll need to set up a dynamic and optimized website to drive your NPO’s mission forward and bring about lasting change. But how would you go about selecting a reputable nonprofit website design agency?

Use our guide to help you identify the top design agency for nonprofits and get top-notch digital design and web development services.

3 Steps to Finding a Top New York Website Design Agency

typewriter with the word ‘donations’ typed on the paper

  1. Align your website goals with your organizational goals

Before you find a reputable nonprofit website design agency, you’ll need to align your website goals with your organizational goals.

Let’s say two of your organizational goals are (1) to raise awareness of your NPO and (2) to clarify its mission to the public. You can use your website to drive both objectives forward.

Aside from website design and development, you’ll need to hire an agency that provides search engine optimization (SEO), content development, and social media marketing to drive targeted traffic from the search engines to your website. You’ll also need to enrich your website and social media accounts with content assets that disseminate your NPO’s mission to your online audience.

By aligning your website goals with your organizational goals, you’ll be able to identify the web design agencies with the expertise, experience, and know-how to drive your goals forward.

  1. Determine your website’s functional requirements

Next, you’ll need to identify your website’s functional requirements to deliver the desired results.

Do you want to add payment gateways to facilitate donations? If yes, you’ll need to add a secure payment gateway and optimized donation forms. Do you want to drive conversions and maximize customer lifetime value with email marketing? Then you’ll need to select the right email marketing software.

Nailing down your website’s functional requirements before you approach agencies will make the agency vetting process much more manageable.

  1. Vet different nonprofit web design agencies

Now that you’ve covered your preliminary requirements, you can start researching and vetting different nonprofit web design agencies.

Know your budget

Establish your budget before you approach different agencies. This way, you can quickly eliminate agencies that charge rates that exceed your budget.

Research the different agencies

Do a Google search or check reputable B2B ratings and review websites like Clutch. Make a list of the different web design and development agencies that fit your criteria.

Prioritize agencies that have experience developing mobile-friendly websites, follow the most effective web design trends, and employ UI/UX best practices in their designs. The agency should also offer the most pertinent web development services, including front-end and back-end development and coding with CSS, HTML, and JavaScript.

Review their portfolios

Review the portfolios of the different agencies. Do their websites load quickly? Do they display responsively on different devices? Are the websites accessible to people with disabilities? Do they prioritize minimalism (i.e., flat design)? Are the websites functional and appropriate for each NPO’s mission and goals?

Do they offer digital marketing services?

Do these agencies offer the digital marketing services you’ll need to drive your website and organizational goals? Critical digital marketing services include digital strategy, SEO, PPC, email marketing, and content marketing.

Check client testimonials, case studies, and reviews

Check each agency’s client testimonials, case studies, and reviews. You can usually find client testimonials and case studies on agency websites and access reviews on websites like Clutch.

Schedule an initial consultation

Schedule an initial consultation with each shortlisted design agency. During your consultation, discuss your website and organizational goals and your site’s functional requirements.

Choose the agency that best understands your challenges, has the most relevant experience and skills, and offers the most viable solutions.

Make a Lasting Impact in Your Community with Think Design

guests at a museum fundraiser; non-profit event

Whether you provide services in social justice, the arts, or social services, you’ll need a functional and optimized website to connect your organization to donors, beneficiaries, and stakeholders.

Think Design is a premier New York-based web design agency that has worked extensively with non-profits. We’ve worked closely with different NPOs for more than 20 years. Whether you’re based in New York City, the United States, or internationally, we’ll drive all of your website and organizational goals.

Get in touch today and take the next step in maximizing community impact.