The Worldly Nonprofit, 2.0

Technological outreach can be a tricky thing for burgeoning nonprofits.  A stellar website necessitates techie know-how.  However, a paid webmaster, whether staffed or outsourced, can boost administrative costs.  This is why there are fantastic nonprofits, using less than 10 percent of their proceeds on salaries, with  fairly lackluster sites.

In this vein, we’ll begin with a longstanding organization, CARE, as a basis for comparison.  Based in Atlanta, GA, and founded in 1945 as a vehicle for WWII relief, CARE now serves an international population.  The nonprofit  provides economic and social development and disaster relief.  According to Charity Navigator, CARE spends 90.3% of its funds on projects worldwide.

I think that CARE has one of the easiest development nonprofit websites to navigate.  The landing page has tons of white space, letting the eyes rest.  Many nonprofits cram all their projects on the landing page, and it can overwhelm site viewers.  They also have a fantastic slide show, hyperlinked to pages within the site, that gives the viewer the breadth of their work.  On every page, there is a link to donate, demonstrating a clear call to action.

Beyond well designed pages, great multimedia presentations and crisp photography, CARE uses its site to establish a concerned and “worldly” community.   Site visitors can subscribe to an RSS feed, submit their e-mail addresses and gain access to news releases and clippings straight from the landing page.

My favorite aspect of the site, however,  is CARE Connections, a platform for blog posts form the field and from people who want to contribute their thoughts regarding international development.  I love Notes From the Field.  It is imperfect, honest and personal.  Fantastic.

Peruse this site!  I think form and function, community and communication are well represented.  In this vein, I will sign off with CARE’s newest PSA, highlighting the work the organization does with women worldwide: