Graphic design is a major influencer for charitable organizations who strive to deploy websites that achieve a challenging goal: stir human emotion, and motivate involvement in the form of activism or donations. In many ways, charity marketing on the web is very similar to business marketing on the web; however, charities are faced with the more difficult task of motivating “purchases” without a tangible product as a return benefit. Humans might be naturally good-hearted, but it’s still more difficult to sell “doing one’s part” or “making a difference” than it is to sell a PS3. That’s why charities invest big bucks into website design, development and copy; so their online presence works to funnel visitors toward contributing to the cause. And the better the design, the better the response. See what I mean with the following 30 powerful charity website designs, each taken from the Forbes Top 200 Charities list.
For each example, take note of how they use graphic design to:
- Stir emotion
- Educate and establish trust
- Collect contact information, such as email addresses, for future marketing
- Motivate involvement via activism or monetary contributions
1. YMCA
2. United Way
3. Goodwill
4. The Salvation Army
5. American Red Cross
6. Catholic Charities USA
7. Easter Seals
8. The Nature Conservancy
9. American Cancer Society
10. Feed The Children
11. Boys and Girls Clubs
12. Special Olympics
13. Compassion
14. Big Brothers Big Sisters
15. Children’s Miracle Network
16. Save The Children
17. Food For The Poor
18. Child Fund
19. Young Life
20. Rotary International
21. Girls Inc.
22. Toys for Tots
23. Ducks Unlimited
24. Wildlife Conservation Society
25. Project HOPE
26. March of Dimes
27. Habitat For Humanity
28. WWF
29. Make A Wish
30. Mercy Corps.
You seem to have forgotten us. http://www.DoubleDDiner.org
Hi Clyde, thank you for posting! You definitely operate a commendable charity. For those that don’t know, DoubleDDiner lets you order “food” from a hilarious menu – the stuff you “won’t eat,” and then donates your payment to help fight hunger. Neat idea!