If you’re a charity looking to build or redesign your website, the best place to start is by studying what’s already working. I’ve designed charity websites for nonprofits and social enterprises across Sussex and the UK, and I’ve reviewed hundreds more.
Here are the best charity website examples I’ve found in 2026 — and the specific elements that make each one effective at driving donations and supporter engagement.
What Every Good Charity Website Needs
Before we look at the examples, let’s establish the non-negotiables. Every charity website that actually raises money and recruits supporters has these features:
- Clear donation CTAs on every page — your donate button needs to be visible within seconds, in the header, in the hero section, and repeated throughout. Offer one-off donations, monthly recurring giving, and specific suggested amounts tied to real outcomes.
- Impact storytelling that connects emotionally — donors give to causes that move them. Lead with beneficiary stories, case studies, and tangible examples of what donations achieve. Video content and first-person testimonials outperform corporate mission statements.
- Transparency and accountability — publish annual reports, impact data, and financial statements. Link to your Charity Commission registration. Major donors and grant-giving bodies check these before committing funds.
- WCAG accessibility — WCAG 2.1 AA compliance is the minimum standard. Proper heading hierarchy, sufficient colour contrast, keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility. Under the Equality Act 2010, this isn’t optional.
- Mobile-first design — over 60% of charity website traffic comes from mobile. If your donation form is difficult on a phone, you’re losing money. Apple Pay and Google Pay integrations remove friction from mobile giving.
- Gift Aid integration — worth an extra 25p for every £1 donated by a UK taxpayer. A simple tick box that costs the donor nothing and increases your income by 25%.
Charity Website Example 1: Michael and Barbara Bell Foundation (Surrey)
The Michael and Barbara Bell Foundation funds individuals and organisations helping people of all ages access sport across Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead. It’s the kind of local charity that makes a real difference — connecting funding with grassroots sports programmes in the Surrey community.
What works: The site clearly communicates what the foundation does, who can apply for funding, and the history behind Barbara and Michael’s work. Visitors can quickly understand what’s on offer and whether it’s relevant to them. Contact forms throughout the site make it easy for individuals and organisations to get in touch about funding applications.
The build: Sabrina, a graphic designer, had already developed the creative direction — my job was to bring it to life on WordPress. I turned the project around in about 10 days, from initial designs to all pages complete. When the design work is already done and the client knows what they want, there’s no reason to drag things out.
Key takeaway: A charity website doesn’t need to be complicated to be effective. Clear information about funding opportunities, straightforward eligibility criteria, and easy-to-find contact forms are what matter most for a foundation like this. Built on WordPress so the team can manage content themselves without needing developer support.
Charity Website Example 2: Terrence Higgins Trust Cymru (Wales)
Terrence Higgins Trust, one of the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charities, approached me to redesign and develop a new website for their Welsh division, Terrence Higgins Cymru.
What works: This is a national charity with strict brand guidelines — the site needed to align perfectly with the parent organisation’s visual identity while serving the specific needs of the Welsh audience. The result is a user-friendly, informative website that serves as a valuable resource for information on HIV and sexual health in Wales.
The build: This was a 12-week project from planning through to launch. We used Figma for collaborative design work with regular feedback sessions, then built the approved designs into a fully functional WordPress site. The Terrence Higgins Cymru team received comprehensive training so they could manage the site independently going forward.
Key takeaway: When working with a national charity that has established brand guidelines, the web build needs to be collaborative and structured. Using Figma for design sign-off before development begins saves time and ensures everyone’s aligned. The WordPress CMS means the charity team can update content, add news, and keep the site current without needing a developer on call.
I designed and built both of these websites. View my full portfolio for more examples.
Common Mistakes Charities Make with Their Websites
I’ve reviewed hundreds of charity websites. The same problems come up again and again:
The hidden donate button. If a visitor has to scroll or hunt to find how to give you money, your website is failing at its primary job. Your donate button should be in your main navigation, in your hero section, and repeated at natural points throughout every page.
No Gift Aid capture. Gift Aid is worth 25% extra on every eligible donation. If your website doesn’t include a Gift Aid declaration as part of the donation process, you’re losing a quarter of your potential income from UK taxpayer donors.
Inaccessible design. Charity websites that fail basic accessibility standards exclude the very people many charities exist to serve. Low colour contrast, missing alt text, forms without labels, and poor keyboard navigation aren’t just bad practice — they’re potentially unlawful under the Equality Act 2010.
No Google Ad Grants. Eligible UK charities can receive up to $10,000 per month in free Google Ads through the Google Ad Grants programme. That’s $120,000 per year of free advertising. Many charities either don’t know about this or haven’t applied.
Stock photography over real impact. Donors can spot a stock photo from a mile away. Generic images undermine trust. Use real photos of your beneficiaries (with consent), your team, your events, and your impact.
No CRM integration. If donor data from your website lives in a separate spreadsheet, you don’t have a donor management system — you have a data mess. Platforms like Donorfy, Salesforce Nonprofit, and Raiser’s Edge NXT integrate directly with WordPress.
Ignoring regular giving. One-off donations are valuable, but recurring monthly gifts are the foundation of sustainable charity funding. The best charity websites make it just as easy to set up a monthly Direct Debit (via GoCardless) as to make a one-off card payment.
How to Get a Charity Website Like These
If you’re ready to upgrade your charity’s online presence, I build custom charity websites starting from £800, VAT-free for registered charities. No templates, no monthly hostage fees — just a professional website built to drive donations and supporter engagement for your organisation.
Every charity website I build includes:
- Custom WordPress design tailored to your charity’s brand and mission
- Donation form integration with Gift Aid declarations
- WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility compliance
- Mobile-responsive design optimised for on-the-go giving
- Volunteer sign-up forms
- SEO setup to help supporters find you
- CRM integration where needed (Donorfy, Salesforce Nonprofit, Raiser’s Edge)
- Google Ad Grants eligibility check and setup support
- Training so your team can manage the site independently
I work with charities of all sizes — from community foundations like the Michael and Barbara Bell Foundation launching their first site, to national organisations like Terrence Higgins Trust needing a full divisional redesign. Whether you’re a health charity, educational trust, environmental organisation, arts body, or social enterprise, I’ll build a website that works as hard as your team does.
Get a free mockup to see what your new charity website could look like — no commitment required. Or get in touch for a free quote.
