Fundraising can be challenging for nonprofit organizations. While face-to-face asks have their charm and direct mail appeals are a proven approach, online fundraising is the way of the future. Creating a stellar donation page can help you bring in donations efficiently while reaching donors beyond your local area.
We’ll guide you on how to embrace the best technology and build a donation page that works in 2026.
Donation Page Best Practices
Your fundraising strategy should be well-rounded. Conversations, community events, and ads all culminate in the give. When potential donors land on your giving page, make sure they “convert” (follow through with their donation).
Modern donors are accustomed to seamless online giving, especially on mobile devices. Optimizing for mobile and providing flexible payment options is essential to increasing conversions. (morweb.org).
General Tips
- Make the path to your donate page prominent in your website’s menu, footer, and sidebars so it is visible from all pages. The donate button should stand out in a bright, branded color.
- Bring in donors from social media. Platforms like Facebook allow nonprofits to set the call-to-action button to “Donate,” and other channels should link directly to your donation page.
- Place important information at the top of your page before scrolling is required and include donate buttons throughout the content.
- Remove barriers to make donating fast and easy: use minimal form fields and reduce clicks to completion. (donorbox.org)
- List suggested donation amounts and show the impact of each gift. Examples include:
- “$25 feeds a family of four for one week”
- Tiered giving with rewards, like museum memberships or event perks for higher gifts
- Recurring gifts, such as $10 per month, which builds long-term support (givebutter.com)
The Marketing Side
Stay on brand throughout the donation process. Display your logo prominently, and keep fonts, colors, and messaging consistent. This builds trust and keeps donors engaged.
Tell a compelling story. Use images, video, and interactive content to illustrate impact. Personalized content — letting donors choose which program or story they engage with — can improve engagement. (givebutter.com)
Provide social proof through donor testimonials, FAQs, and peer fundraising examples. Include share buttons for social media to encourage donors to spread the word.
The Tech Side
User experience is key, especially on mobile. Ensure your donation page and website are fully responsive and easy to navigate. (morweb.org)
Modern donation pages should:
- Offer multiple payment methods, including credit/debit cards, ACH, PayPal, Venmo, DAF Pay, Apple Pay, and Google Pay (givebutter.com)
- Include recurring giving options (givebutter.com)
- Leverage donation matching when possible, with mechanisms for donors and employers to claim matches (doublethedonation.com)
- Integrate with your CRM to track donations and automate thank-you emails and tax receipts (bloomerang.co)
- Keep donor data secure with HTTPS and compliant payment processors
Embedding donation forms and using widgets or QR codes can streamline giving and improve conversions (givebutter.com)
Powerful Donation Page Examples
NC State University (Generous Options & Clear Impact)
NC State’s giving portal lets donors choose how they want to give, whether to annual funds, specific colleges, or focused initiatives. Clear messaging shows how gifts support students, research, and programs. Multiple giving options make it easy for donors to contribute in the way that works best. (giving.ncsu.edu)
Music of Remembrance (Mission-First Story & Direct Donate Access)
Music of Remembrance centers its donation experience on the organization’s mission and cultural impact. A prominent donate button appears alongside descriptions of its work commissioning music and honoring human rights. This context helps donors understand why their support matters. (musicofremembrance.org)
Fleet Science Center (Program Support & Gift Flexibility)
The Fleet Science Center highlights its Rock-It Science Annual Fund and shows how contributions support hands-on STEM education and community programs. Breaking down program-level giving options helps donors see where their gift makes an impact. (fleetscience.org)
Putting Donors First
Your donation page is the bridge between interest and action. By providing mobile-friendly experiences, modern payment options, recurring giving features, and clear impact storytelling, you can meet donors where they are and make giving as seamless as possible.
Step up the giving experience with custom videos. The ThankView video platform makes it easy to engage your audience, whether to encourage donations or as a way of following up after someone gives. Sign up for a demo to see how to include the power of video on your own donation pages.