Squarespace for Non-Profits: Is It the Right CMS in 2024?
As an Oregon resident who has supported my fair share of non-profits, I know exactly what organizations need in a website. And with over seven years of experience working at Squarespace, I’m familiar with their tools and how well they cater to non-profits. So when clients ask me, “Is Squarespace for non-profits ideal?” My answer is an emphatic “Yes.”
Squarespace allows charity organizations to create a stylish online presence and immediately start accepting donations. The platform’s simple interface lets you manage your site without typing any code. You have complete control to customize pages however you like — and their e-commerce features make accepting payments a breeze.
Squarespace should be top if you want an affordable, user-friendly platform to help spread your mission. I’ve built and supported dozens of non-profit sites on their platform, and my clients have been thrilled with the results. So, take it from a professional Squarespace website designer like myself — Squarespace is ideal for non-profits.
Squarespace for Non-Profits Pricing: Affordable & Customizable
Squarespace websites start at just $16 monthly, including a free custom domain name and a Squarespace non-profit discount of 10% off your first payment via the code “NONPROFIT.” You can access beautiful designer templates, an easy-to-use website builder, and features like email campaigns, donor management, and secure online donations.
Donor Management and Secure Donations: With Squarespace, you can easily create donor profiles, track donations, and issue tax receipts. Their partnership with Stripe also allows you to securely accept one-time and recurring online donations on your website — no need for a third-party service.
Email Marketing and Newsletters: Squarespace makes building professional email newsletters and running targeted email campaigns simple. You can create sign-up forms and landing pages for your newsletter on your site and start engaging with your supporters.
Great for Small Teams: As a non-profit, you likely have limited resources and a small web team. Squarespace is designed to be user-friendly, so you don’t need advanced technical skills to update your website after a web designer has created it. Their support team is also available 24/7 to help you with any questions.
Squarespace non-profit pricing allows you to get started easily, and start making the customizations you need to begin collecting donations.
With affordable non-profit pricing, valuable features designed for organizations like yours, and an easy-to-use platform, Squarespace has everything you need to establish a professional web presence and further your mission. I highly recommend them for any non-profit looking for an all-in-one solution to build their website and grow their community of supporters.
Easy-to-Use Squarespace Non-Profit Templates
As someone who has worked at Squarespace for over seven years and now helps non-profits build their websites, I can confidently say that Squarespace is an excellent choice for non-profit organizations.
Squarespace makes it easy to create a professional and impactful website without needing any technical skills. They have beautiful, mobile-friendly “Community & Non-Profits” templates designed for non-profits ready to customize. You just add your images, content, and branding to make it your own.
Although if you need advanced design features or don’t want your website to look exactly like the next website with a similar template, you’d have to hire a Squarespace website designer to add custom CSS codes and do advanced designs.
While Squarespace doesn’t necessarily need it, if you want a custom website with a unique look, you’ll need a designer to apply some custom code.
With Squarespace, you get an all-in-one platform with everything you need — a website, online donations, email campaigns, social media integration, and more. You can start accepting online donations directly through your Squarespace site, which is huge for non-profits — no need for a third-party service.
As someone deeply involved in the non-profit community here in Oregon and beyond, I know how important an effective website and online presence is. Squarespace gives you the ability to tell your story and connect with supporters in a meaningful way. If you want to refresh your non-profit website or are just starting, I highly recommend checking out Squarespace — you won’t regret it!
5 Robust Squarespace Non-Profit Website Features
Squarespace offers powerful features that non-profits will find helpful, including the following:
Payment processors
Email signup form
Email campaign
Automatic updates
24/7 support team
The Squarespace platform provides an easy way to accept online donations through Stripe or PayPal and automatically issue tax receipts to donors. You can create an email signup form to build your mailing list and use the email campaign feature to keep supporters engaged.
As a non-profit, your time and resources are limited; Squarespace makes it easy to maintain your site without needing a tech team. The platform automatically updates in the background, so you always have the latest features. And if you do run into issues, their support team is available 24/7 to help.
With powerful features tailored to non-profits, flexible designs, low maintenance, and budget-friendly plans, Squarespace is an ideal solution for non-profit organizations looking to build an impactful website. I highly recommend it based on my experience helping similar organizations. Reach out to me if you have any other questions!
Expert Support for Non-Profits
Squarespace offers live chat and email support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As a Squarespace non-profit customer, you get support from specialists trained to understand your needs. They can walk you through setting up donation tools, creating email signup forms, and other essential non-profit website features.
Squarespace also has a network of skilled web designers and developers, like Coyote Moon, who offer non-profit website development services at affordable rates. We’re familiar with Squarespace and can help you create a site tailored to your organization’s goals.
Having worked for Squarespace for 7 years, I know they care and listen to your needs.
Some of the ways we support non-profits include the following:
Optimizing your site for mobile devices so donors can give on the go.
Integrating your donor database so you have a 360-degree view of your supporters.
Setting up recurring donation options to provide your non-profit with predictable income.
Training your staff to update the website so you’re not reliant on web experts.
Providing guidance on accessibility best practices to reach the broadest possible audience.
With Squarespace, non-profits of any size can create a professional website and get ongoing support from industry experts. The platform is intuitive enough for novices but robust enough for web professionals. Whether you need help launching your site or want to take it to the next level, Squarespace has the tools and expertise to empower your mission.
Endless Customization With CSS
You have endless ways to customize your Squarespace non-profit website design using CSS. You can tweak fonts, colors, spacing, and more to create a look that perfectly represents your non-profit’s brand and mission. I’ve helped clients add custom fonts, change button styles, adjust image galleries, and make their Squarespace site their own.
The best part is you don’t need any technical experience to make these customizations. Squarespace’s style editor uses a simple point-and-click interface to quickly see how your changes will look live on your site. And if you do want to dig into the code, Squarespace’s CSS is clean and standards-compliant.
I’ve enjoyed working with many local non-profits as an Oregon-based web designer. I understand how important it is for non-profits to have a professional, customized web presence to help share their mission and connect with supporters. Squarespace enables this by allowing you to create a unique site experience for your visitors.
Check out the below video to see how I use my insider tips to maximize the aesthetics of your Squarespace site 👇
Between the style editor, designer templates, and CSS customization, you have all the tools to make your Squarespace non-profit site distinctly your own. And if you do get stuck or have more advanced needs, Squarespace’s support team and their network of web professionals (like myself) are here to help. Overall, Squarespace is an ideal platform for non-profits looking to craft a customized website to spread their mission.
Getting Started With Squarespace for Non-Profits
When you sign up for Squarespace, you can choose a template that suits your non-profit’s style and objectives. These templates are carefully crafted to be visually appealing and user-friendly, allowing you to easily add personalized content, images, and branding elements. With Squarespace’s intuitive editing tools, you can customize the template to match your organization’s unique identity and create a compelling online presence.
However, it’s important to note that while Squarespace templates are highly customizable, there’s a possibility that your website might resemble others who have chosen the same template. This can result in a website similar to other non-profits using Squarespace.
To truly differentiate your non-profit’s website and make it stand out from the rest, consider the benefits of a custom design. A unique design allows you to go beyond the limitations of pre-designed templates and create a website tailored specifically to your organization’s needs and brand. With a custom design, you can incorporate your own color schemes, typography, and layout choices to create a genuinely distinctive online presence.
If you’re looking for a unique design for your Squarespace website, I’m here to help. As a Squarespace designer, I specialize in customizing templates and creating personalized designs that perfectly align with your non-profit’s goals and vision. Together, we can transform your website into a captivating online experience that leaves a lasting impression on your audience.
Whether you choose to customize a template on your own or work with a Squarespace designer like myself, Squarespace provides the tools and flexibility to create a visually appealing and engaging website for your non-profit. Remember to consider your organization’s goals, target audience, and branding when making design decisions.
Working with me will allow your Squarespace website to stand apart from the crowd making Squarespace for non-profits the perfect choice.
With Squarespace, you can establish a compelling online presence that effectively communicates your non-profit’s mission and drives meaningful engagement with your supporters. And if you’re looking for a unique design that truly sets you apart, don’t hesitate to book a call with me to discuss your exact project needs. Together, we can bring your vision to life.
FAQs on Squarespace for Non-Profits
Does Squarespace have non-profit pricing?
Squarespace doesn’t have a specific pricing plan exclusively for non-profit organizations. However, they offer various pricing plans catering to different needs, including non-profit organizations.
Also, Squarespace occasionally provides discounts and promotional codes for which users should watch — there’s currently a 10% discount when you use the code “NONPROFIT” on checkout. I recommend you explore Squarespace’s website and stay updated on any available promotions or contact their customer support for the most accurate and up-to-date information on pricing and discounts.
Is Squarespace for Non-Profits a good option?
Yes, Squarespace can be a good option for non-profits for various reasons, such as its user-friendly interface, mobile responsiveness, security and reliability, analytics and SEO, and other built-in features like donation forms.
User-Friendly Interface: Squarespace provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easy for non-profits to manage and update their websites. This allows them to focus on their mission rather than technical complexities.
Mobile Responsiveness: Squarespace templates are designed to be mobile-responsive, ensuring your website looks great and functions well on various devices, including smartphones and tablets.
Built-in Features: Squarespace offers built-in features such as donation forms, event calendars, and email marketing tools, which can be beneficial for non-profits to engage with their audience, receive donations, and promote events.
Security and Reliability: Squarespace handles website security, updates, and hosting, providing non-profits with a reliable platform to ensure their website is safe and accessible to visitors.
Analytics and SEO: Squarespace provides analytics and SEO tools to help non-profits track website performance, understand visitor behavior, and optimize their online presence to reach a wider audience.
What is the best platform for non-profit organizations?
While using Squarespace for non-profits is the way to go for many, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to which platform is the best for non-profit organizations, as it depends on specific needs and goals.
However, here are some popular platforms that are good for non-profits:
Squarespace: Squarespace offers user-friendly templates, built-in features, and a visually appealing design, making it suitable for non-profits prioritizing aesthetics and simplicity.
WordPress: WordPress is a highly customizable platform with a large community and extensive plugin options. It can be a good choice for non-profits that require advanced functionality and flexibility.
Wix: Wix provides drag-and-drop website building tools, making it easy for non-profits to create and customize their websites. It offers a wide range of templates and features suitable for different organizations.
Weebly: Weebly is known for its affordable plans, user-friendly interface, and intuitive website builder. It offers various features and templates that can benefit non-profits looking for simplicity and ease of use.
Ultimately, the best platform for a non-profit organization depends on its specific requirements, budget, and technical expertise. It’s essential to consider factors such as design options, ease of use, available features, fundraising capabilities, and support when choosing a platform for your non-profit organization.
Does Squarespace take a percentage of donations?
Squarespace takes a 3% transaction fee from all donations made on the Business plan but takes 0% from those made on the Commerce Basic and Commerce Advanced plans. This is in addition to the payment processor fee that applies to all plans.
When non-profits on the Commerce plans use Squarespace to collect donations, they receive the total donation amount without any additional fees or deductions from Squarespace. This allows non-profits to maximize the impact of their fundraising efforts and allocate the total amount towards their cause.
Squarespace for non-profits is the option I would recommend - if you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
Conclusion
As someone with years of experience working at Squarespace and building websites for non-profits, I can confidently say that Squarespace for non-profits is an excellent choice. The website builder’s beautiful templates, affordable pricing, and powerful features like online donations, email campaigns, and event registrations make it easy for non-profits to create an impactful web presence.
Overall, Squarespace should be at the top if you want an all-in-one solution to help spread your mission and connect with supporters.
So, what are you waiting for?
Contact me today to discuss your non-profit organization’s website design needs.
Your Designer
I'm Travis, an expert Squarespace web designer and 7+ year former Squarespace employee. I have worked with every type of business, building platforms for solo entrepreneurs through to multi-million dollar corporations. If you want to discuss a potential project, you can email on travis@coyotemooncreative.com or get in touch with me here. Alternatively, you can book a 30-minute consultation call here.
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