Mission-driven organizations like yours must create websites that act as a digital hub to fuel fundraising, supporter engagement, and mission-related resources. The right nonprofit website platform will help your organization do just that.
Also known as website builders or content management systems (CMS), these tools are essential for establishing a robust online presence that resonates with your audience. They help nonprofit marketing professionals design their sites, incorporate robust fundraising functionality, and ensure charitable missions are accessible to everyone.
Today’s platforms offer nonprofits a range of options, from all-in-one website builders to flexible tools like WordPress and Drupal. The challenge is knowing which solution fits your organization’s size, budget, and long-term goals.
This guide will help you cut through the noise, compare leading platforms, and make a choice that supports your current needs and future growth. We’ll cover:
- What Nonprofits Really Need from a Website Platform
- How to Choose the Right Nonprofit Website Platform
- Why WordPress and Drupal Stand Apart
- Top Nonprofit Website Builders, Compared
- How Kanopi Helps Nonprofits Build Smarter Websites
- Inspirational Nonprofit Website Case Studies
What Nonprofits Really Need from a Website Platform
A nonprofit website must do more than simply look good. It needs to:
- Securely process donations and recurring gifts
- Provide resources for donors, volunteers, members, and beneficiaries
- Create accessible experiences that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
- Maintain compliance with relevant legislation such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
- Be optimized for SEO and AI search
- Scale with your organization’s growth
- Integrate with CRMs, fundraising software, marketing tools, and other nonprofit software solutions
With that in mind, your organization needs a website builder that can handle these specific needs and support your mission now and in the future.
How to Choose the Right Nonprofit Website Platform
Choosing the right nonprofit website platform is vital to long-term success. It enables you to maximize integrations, support growth, and prevent expensive migrations or security issues.
If you opt for a tool that addresses only your short-term needs and not your long-term goals, you may encounter significant challenges down the road. That’s why it’s crucial to consider your nonprofit’s present and future needs, goals, budget, and capacity before choosing a platform.
Follow these steps to help make the right choice:
1) Proprietary vs Open Source – flexibility versus nonprofit-specific features.
2) Accessibility – ease of following accessibility guidelines.
3) Compliance – meeting GDPR/CCPA regulations.
4) Integrations – connecting with third-party tools.
5) Traditional vs Headless – best configuration for the organization.
6) Real Cost of Ownership – total cost of platform.
7) Cybersecurity – data protection.
8) Future Trends – ongoing innovation.
Bottom-left shows the Kanopi Studios logo.
1. Assess Key Considerations Beyond Features
Many website builders make it easy to incorporate the crucial nonprofit-specific features listed above, but your search should go beyond just features to ensure you’re reviewing top options holistically. Keep these additional considerations in mind to find the best tool for your nonprofit:
Proprietary vs Open Source
Content management systems are not monolithic; they come in various forms and types. One key consideration is whether your nonprofit would benefit from a proprietary or open-source CMS.
Proprietary CMS platforms, or closed CMS tools, are software solutions controlled and managed by a single company. Users cannot manipulate the source code, making these solutions less flexible and customizable. However, some organizations choose proprietary systems because they offer nonprofit-specific features they’re looking for or are already using other software solutions the vendor offers.
Examples of proprietary nonprofit website platforms include Morweb and WildApricot.
On the other hand, open-source CMS tools allow anyone to access and change the source code, making them more flexible and scalable for growing and large organizations. These solutions are free to use and offer stronger security because anyone can scan the software for vulnerabilities and apply fixes. Nonprofits often turn to these solutions for greater control and full website ownership.
Drupal and WordPress are examples of open-source solutions. We recommend keeping these solutions at the top of your list — and here’s why.
Traditional vs Headless
Another key consideration to discuss with your marketing team when looking for a nonprofit website platform is whether you want a traditional or headless configuration.
Headless CMS configurations decouple or separate the backend content storage and management process from the front-end user interface. This setup gives marketers greater flexibility to deliver content across multiple digital platforms, including websites, mobile devices, smartwatches, and digital kiosks. Organizations that want to create interactive, high-performing websites typically choose headless configurations.
Traditional CMS configurations tend to be best for organizations that don’t have complex websites or a high level of interactivity, as they enable greater access to plugins and modules and simple theme updates. They are also less complex setups, so you don’t necessarily need to work with a developer whenever you want to update your site’s infrastructure.
Accessibility
Nonprofit websites must comply with the ADA to make their services accessible to everyone. Finding a website platform that prioritizes accessibility is key to maintaining compliance and serving your community effectively.
Your website builder should allow you to follow key recommendations outlined in the WCAG, such as adding alternative text to images and using colors that pass contrast tests.
However, very few nonprofits actually budget for ongoing accessibility audits and remediation. To ensure full compliance, we recommend setting accessibility as a top priority from the beginning of your CMS search and factoring the costs of accessibility maintenance into your website expenses.
Real Cost of Ownership
Accessibility isn’t the only additional cost to factor into your CMS search. Fees for hosting, staff training, and developer support can add up. As you explore website builder options, read reviews from real users and ask vendors to provide a realistic estimate of the total cost for building and maintaining your website.
Compliance
If your organization has an international reach, you must be mindful of regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This regulation governs the use and protects the privacy of personal data for individuals within the European Economic Area (EEA).
The GDPR prevents websites from gathering consumer data without their consent. It also requires websites to offer a clear and accessible privacy policy so visitors understand how your organization collects, stores, and leverages user data.
Likewise, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) provides California residents with enhanced control over their personal data by allowing them to request information about its usage and opt out of sharing their personal information.
Your nonprofit should consider these regulations and find a website platform that makes it easy to notify users about their data rights and your organization’s privacy practices.
Cybersecurity
Nonprofits are frequent targets of phishing attacks, fraud, and other forms of cybercrime. In the past two years, 60% of nonprofits have experienced cyberattacks.
Your website must defend itself against security breaches, and that starts with your website builder. Your CMS should offer features like two-factor authentication, user access controls, data encryption, and automated backups and maintenance.
Integrations
Integrations extend your site’s functionality, allowing you to seamlessly connect your site with tools that will better help you reach your audience. Most CMS platforms offer integrations, but they’re not all the same.
Many website platforms offer various built-in integrations with tools such as your nonprofit’s CRM, email marketing platform, and fundraising software. Some platforms leverage a third-party tool like Zapier to enable integrations.
Future trends
Your nonprofit should choose a website builder that meets its current and future needs. AI chatbots, highly tailored personalization, and sustainable web hosting are emerging priorities for forward-thinking nonprofits.
As you demo CMS tools, ask each vendor how they take customer feedback into account when building new features that will help nonprofits stay competitive in an increasingly complex digital fundraising landscape.
2. Evaluate Organizational Maturity
The size, age, and complexity of your nonprofit also play a role in determining which type of nonprofit website builder to invest in:
– Small nonprofits: need simple tools; best type DIY website builders; examples: Wix, Squarespace.
– Growing nonprofits: need nonprofit-specific features; best type Nonprofit SaaS; examples: Morweb, Wild Apricot.
– Large/multi-chapter orgs and NGOs: need scalable platforms; best type open-source CMS; examples: WordPress, Drupal.
Kanopi Studios logo at the bottom.
- Startups and volunteer-led nonprofits often feel most comfortable with simple, user-friendly, DIY website builders like Wix or Squarespace. These platforms are easy to start with, but have more limited features and scalability than tools for growing or large organizations.
- Growing nonprofits require tailored features to help scale up their organizations. Typically, these organizations gravitate toward proprietary software as a service (SaaS) solutions built for nonprofit needs, such as Morweb or WildApricot. However, these tools come with the risk of vendor lock-in—when your organization becomes dependent on the software provider for your entire website functionality. This can reduce your ability to customize your website with third-party integrations or custom code.
- Large, multi-chapter organizations and international NGOs require robust website platforms that can handle their complex needs. These solutions sometimes have a steeper learning curve, but offer the flexibility that large and growing organizations need. Examples include WordPress and Drupal—both open-source, scalable CMS platforms with enterprise-grade features and security.
Why WordPress and Drupal Stand Apart
| Platform | Type | Pricing | Best for |
| WordPress | Open-source | Free; development and hosting costs vary | Nonprofits looking to use a scalable, dominant CMS |
| Drupal | Open-source | Free; development and hosting costs vary | Large, enterprise-sized nonprofits with robust data management and security needs |
Topping our list of best nonprofit website platforms are the two top options for nonprofits looking to scale up their operations with flexible, secure websites: WordPress and Drupal.
We may be a little biased; at Kanopi, we specialize in helping nonprofits build stunning websites on WordPress and Drupal. But don’t just take our word for it — check out these industry stats that illustrate just how impactful these platforms are:
– Survey of 8,134 U.S. nonprofit websites: 82.9% use open-source CMS; WordPress 68.7%, Drupal 9.3%.
– WordPress powers 43% of the web and 60% of nonprofit sites.
– Among top 100 nonprofit websites by traffic: Drupal 46%, WordPress 26%.
Includes donut charts and Kanopi Studios logo. Sources: The DropTimes, WordPress, Nonprofit Tech for Good.
- A survey of 8,134 U.S. nonprofit websites discovered that 82.9% of organizations use free, open-source CMS platforms, with WordPress (68.7%) and Drupal (9.3%) at the top.
- WordPress powers 43% of the web and 60% of nonprofit sites. It is flexible, affordable, and widely supported.
- Among the top 100 nonprofit websites by traffic, Drupal dominates with 46% usage compared to WordPress at 26% — demonstrating how high-profile nonprofits often choose Drupal for scalability and governance.
Both WordPress and Drupal are open-source website platforms. Open-source solutions often have a steeper learning curve but offer ultimate scalability, making them the best choice for most growing and large organizations.
Plus, the right web developer can significantly reduce the complexity of these platforms, making them easy for all content and marketing team members to use.
Bottom line: If you plan to scale, WordPress and Drupal are the platforms that won’t box you in. Read on to learn more about the key components of each of these stellar website solutions.
Open-Source CMS Platforms
WordPress
Nonprofit website platform type: Open-source
Key features:
- Vast plugin ecosystem with fundraising functionality
- Intuitive editing experience
- Broad support community
- Out-of-the-box SEO optimization
- Streamlined integrations
Pros:
- Broad developer and designer community
- Flexible and scalable
- Hosting discounts for nonprofits
Cons:
- Some poorly designed plugins present security vulnerabilities
- Having too many plugins or poorly-designed themes can cause performance issues
Pricing: Free; development and hosting costs vary; nonprofit discounts often available
Best for: Nonprofits looking for a robust, scalable, dominant CMS platform that will grow with their organization over time
Drupal
Nonprofit website platform type: Open-source
Key features:
- Modules that add features and functionality to nonprofit sites
- Custom workflows
- Multilingual functionality
- Accessible back-end editing experience
- Free SEO modules
Pros:
- Strong data governance
- High level of security
- Robust accessibility features
- High performance and out-of-the-box caching
Cons:
- Steeper learning curve
- Longer implementation timeline
Pricing: Free; development and hosting costs vary
Best for: Large, enterprise-sized nonprofits with robust data management and security needs
Other Top Nonprofit Website Builders, Compared
Of course, WordPress and Drupal aren’t the only nonprofit website platforms available, and we’d be remiss to not provide an overview of a few additional solutions you may consider. However, keep in mind that because these other platforms aren’t open-source, they’ll come with more limitations and less flexibility.
| Platform | Type | Pricing | Best for |
| Wix | DIY SaaS builder | $17-$159 monthly | Nonprofits looking for convenience |
| Squarespace | DIY SaaS builder | $16-$99 monthly | Nonprofits that sell merchandise |
| Springly | Nonprofit SaaS | Free option; paid plans are $45-$119 monthly | Nonprofits that want to build a website quickly and easily |
| Morweb | Nonprofit SaaS | Starts at $149 monthly | Nonprofits looking for a website platform specifically built for their needs |
| NeonOne | Nonprofit SaaS | Starts at $69 monthly | Nonprofits that use NeonCRM |
| WildApricot | Membership SaaS | Start at $53.55 monthly | Nonprofit membership organizations |
DIY Website Builders
The following DIY website builders are easy to use and implement, but may present limitations as your nonprofit grows and your data needs become more complex. Keep that in mind as you weigh the pros and cons of these options.
Wix
Nonprofit website platform type: DIY SaaS builder
Key features:
- Drag-and-drop builder
- Templates
- Basic donation integrations
Pros:
- No coding required
- Affordable for smaller organizations
Cons:
- Limited scalability and flexibility
- Risk of template lock-in, which makes it more challenging to change your site’s look over time
- Not as accessible as other platforms
- Limited SEO functionality when compared to more robust platforms like Drupal and WordPress
Pricing: $17-$159 monthly
Best for: Nonprofits looking for convenience
Squarespace
Nonprofit website platform type: DIY SaaS builder
Key features:
- eCommerce functionality
- Intelligent design
- Automatic mobile optimization
Pros:
- Streamlined design
- Simple set-up
Cons:
- Limited growth potential due to a lack of customization opportunities
- Limited fundraising potential since Squarespace charges transaction fees
- Poor SEO performance due to heavy code elements
Pricing: $16-$99 monthly
Best for: Nonprofits that want a stylish website with strong visual appeal
Nonprofit SaaS Solutions
Proprietary SaaS solutions built specifically for nonprofits offer ingrained fundraising and donor management functionality. However, you risk having less control over your data and being locked into working with one vendor.
Springly
Nonprofit website platform type: Nonprofit SaaS
Key features:
- Online store
- Photo galleries
- Built-in analytics
Pros:
- All-in-one nonprofit management software
- Simple role-based user permissions
Cons:
- Potential for vendor lock-in, which can limit your customization options if you’re looking for extended functionality
- Users say the platform is outdated and non-intuitive
- Limited control over data storage and compliance
- Some users report a lack of customer support
Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $45 monthly
Best for: Small nonprofits looking for one platform to manage all activities.
Morweb
Nonprofit website platform type: Nonprofit SaaS
Key features:
- An intuitive live editor
- Instant mobile responsiveness
- Automated image optimization
Pros:
- Specifically built for nonprofits
- Easy editing experience
Cons:
- Smaller ecosystem of tools and fewer extensibility opportunities
- API integration and robust accessibility are only available at higher price points, meaning you’ll have to pay more for these basic needs
- Less control over your site’s look and feel
Pricing: Starts at $149 monthly.
Best for: Nonprofits that are looking for a system tailored to their specific needs, and don’t need as much website flexibility
NeonOne
Nonprofit website platform type: Nonprofit SaaS
Key features:
- Drag and drop visual editor
- Dynamic nonprofit templates
- Turnkey fast setup
Pros:
- Built-in compatibility with Neon CRM
- No coding needed to add functionality
Cons:
- Users have described the reporting process as glitchy/clunky
- Risk of vendor lock-in
- Not really worth the investment unless your nonprofit already uses Neon CRM to manage donor data
Pricing: Starts at $69 monthly
Best for: Nonprofits that already use Neon CRM
WildApricot
Nonprofit website platform type: Membership SaaS
Key features:
- Intuitive, beginner-friendly editing experience
- Members-only pages and content
- Online store and donation functionality
Pros:
- Great for associations or nonprofit membership programs
- Accessible to nonprofit teams without a high level of technical expertise
Cons:
- Limited flexibility
- Some users note issues with website speed
- Unresponsive customer support
Pricing: Starts at $53.55 monthly
Best for: Nonprofits that want to better manage their membership programs.
How Kanopi Helps Nonprofits Build Smarter Websites
At Kanopi, we specialize in helping nonprofits build flexible, sleek websites that grow with their mission. Our services include:
- Platform strategy: We can help you choose the right CMS for your unique digital needs. Our recommendations are based on criteria like your organization’s size and maturity, budget, and current website state.
- Custom design and development in WordPress and Drupal: Our developers have decades of experience in both of these popular platforms. Whether you’re building a website from scratch or updating your current site, our team can jump in anytime to strengthen and support your online presence.
- Accessibility audits and compliance support: Accessibility is baked into our website design and development services from the very beginning. We help nonprofits ensure compliance with the ADA.
- Content strategy and governance planning: Our expert content strategists can help your organization identify the tone and messaging that will resonate most with your online audience. We’ll support your content strategy throughout its lifecycle, establishing workflows for uploading and updating content and setting up secure user roles and permissions.
- Long-term support. Launching your new website is just the beginning. We ensure our clients’ sites stay flexible and secure long-term through regular security fixes, performance enhancements, and conversion optimization.
94% of our clients return year after year because they trust us to support their websites over the long term, giving them the care and attention they need to further your mission.
Ready to build a website that scales with your mission? Contact the Kanopi team today to get started.
Inspirational Nonprofit Website Case Studies
Seeing how other nonprofits like yours have approached website builder selection and implementation can guide your organization toward the right path forward. Explore the following WordPress and Drupal examples to see how other organizations have achieved success.
WordPress Success Stories
PEN America
PEN America came to Kanopi with a challenge: after receiving support from our developers, it became clear that their original website build was no longer meeting their needs. Recurring issues snowballed into larger problems, and the organization was having trouble integrating three other websites connected to its mission.
The Kanopi team conducted deep research and discovery work to address three core challenges:
- Consolidating their sites on WordPress
- Enhancing the content management process for admins
- Improving content connectivity through simplified navigation
As a result, the PEN America website now tells the organization’s story succinctly and effectively, with a sustainable and scalable website configuration that will serve the nonprofit for years to come.
Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB)
The ACCFB needed a modern, fresh website look to better reflect the diversity of its audience and serve community needs. They partnered with Kanopi to enhance the user experience through streamlined navigation and simplified information gathering.
After this process, the ACCFB site increased its accessibility performance and now sees 37% more pages viewed per browsing session.
Drupal Success Stories
Exploratorium
The Exploratorium website is groundbreaking because it was one of the first 600 websites launched online. However, over time, it became overly complicated, the result of too many cooks in the kitchen and unnecessary customization. That’s when the Kanopi team stepped in.
Our team overhauled and updated the site, migrating thousands of media items in two years and creating a customized theme to tie everything together. We also developed a streamlined back-end editing environment and implemented multilingual capabilities to help the website reach a wider audience.
The new website now has a high score of 98/100 on Lighthouse, a tool that grades sites on their level of accessibility. This score means the site excels in offering accessible elements and a great user experience.
Humane World for Animals
Humane World for Animals refreshed its brand recently, combining two separate entities — Humane Society of the USA and Humane Society International — into one organization. The problem was that these organizations already had existing websites, one built on WordPress and the other on Drupal.
This led to many issues, including a lack of cohesive content editing, a confusing message, and user experience challenges such as a poor mobile experience and uninspiring design.
The organization turned to Kanopi to consolidate its websites, update the design, and streamline navigation. The Humane World site now offers a unified digital experience, with simple user pathways and a compelling central message.
Wrapping Up
There is no universal “best” nonprofit website platform. But hopefully, this guide steered you closer to finding the right solution for your organization based on your mission, resources, and growth path.
If you’re looking for more support along your website builder journey, start with these nonprofit-specific resources:
- Nonprofit Website Design: 11 Expert Tips to Drive Engagement. Your nonprofit website design choices can make or break your audience’s support for your mission. Review these expert tips to enhance your site’s visual appeal.
- 35+ Best Nonprofit Websites and Tips to Optimize Your Site. Learning from the successes of other nonprofit sites helps you shape your digital strategy. Review top nonprofit websites and why they stand out.
- The Ultimate Website Maintenance for Nonprofits Checklist. Ensure your website receives the long-term support it requires to succeed in the future. Follow this comprehensive website maintenance checklist to avoid overlooking any details.
