5 Reasons Your Small Foundation Needs a Website
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According to Philanthropy Roundtable, there are about 125,000 private domestic grant-making foundations registered in the U.S., with the vast majority considered to be small. Yet shockingly, even as we enter the second quarter of the 21st century, only 1 in 10 foundations have their own website; fully 90% of foundations do not. That’s a big mistake for a small foundation. Here are five reasons why your small foundation needs a website.
To establish credibility and trust. A dedicated professional website proves that your organization is more than just a briefcase entity. In a word, it confers legitimacy. That builds trust with potential grantees. It also makes you stand out — because remember, just 10% of ALL foundations have their own website. Your foundation should be among them.
To convey your message and share your story. Unlike social media — the internet equivalent of the Wild West — having your own website gives you total control over what is said about your small foundation. You can tell your story, convey your focus, and showcase your foundation’s impact via photos and testimonials in the form of blog posts.
(As a bonus, regular blog posts serve to boost your website in Google search results; not only does Google love fresh content, your blog posts also may come up in Google searches for queries on similar topics.)
To facilitate engagement. There’s an old advertising axiom to the effect that “He who has a thing to sell/and goes and whispers in a well/is not so likely to get the dollars/as he who climbs a tree and hollers.” Change “get the dollars” to “give the dollars”, and this axiom is apropos to philanthropy as well.
Even the smallest of small foundations benefits from being findable. A website is the most cost-effective route to visibility; it extends your small foundation’s reach far beyond your local community, making it easier to attract grant seekers. In short, it’s an affordable marketing tool.
Furthermore, not only does it not have to be expensive, you can actually build an attractive, functional, and useful website yourself! Most web-hosting platforms nowadays offer fill-in-the-blanks, drag-and-drop templates that don’t require users to have extensive technical skills. When you’re ready to upgrade, Squarespace (the platform that hosts TheBolgerFoundation.org) will even recommend a selection of professional web design companies.
To provide crucial information and communication all in one place, 24/7/365. A website serves as a round-the-clock resource for your small foundation. It lets you provide FAQs and other clear guidance regarding your focus; grant parameters, requirements, and deadlines; and application process, along with your foundation’s contact information plus a Contact Us option (without which a website for any entity is incomplete).
For easier grant management. A website enables your small foundation to offer an online application process. That’s definitely something you want to do. There’s no available statistic for how many of the 1 in 10 U.S foundations that have a website also have an online application process. However, industry trends show that foundations with websites — especially smaller, family-based foundations — tend to streamline their grant application process by accepting applications electronically.
Managing grant requests digitally eliminates the need for manual, paper-based submissions, making life easier for grantees and grant-makers alike. For example, the Bolger Foundation’s online grant application process first screens applicants for eligibility, then allows eligible would-be grantees to upload required documents.
Bonus pro tip: Optimize your foundation’s website for mobile devices. This key tidbit of internet advice isn’t limited only to foundations; optimizing your website for mobile is a no-brainer in any industry. In addition, of this country’s 1.9 million nonprofit organizations, 94% have websites optimized for mobile. So the 10% of foundations that do have a site are likely to utilize web-based tools for easy engagement, including an online application process.
There you have it: the top five reasons your small foundation needs a website. Now what are you waiting for? To help you get started, here’s How to Build a Website for Your Charitable Foundation.