How to Determine if Your Nonprofit Needs a Website Redesign

Earlier today, I had the opportunity to speak as a guest during a webinar hosted by The Center for Nonprofit Advancement. Our discussion focused on the ins and outs of planning and executing a nonprofit website redesign. It got me thinking—sometimes, one of the hardest parts is simply recognizing whether a redesign is even necessary. That question isn’t always easy to answer. With that in mind, we hope this blog post offers some clarity and helps you determine if it’s time for a change.

Your website often gives people the first impression of your nonprofit and serves as your “digital” hub. If it’s outdated, hard to navigate, or doesn’t reflect your mission well, you’re likely missing out on donations, volunteers, and engagement. But how do you know if it’s time for a redesign?

Here are some clear signs it might be time for a website redesign:

1. Your Website Is Not Accessible

Accessibility isn’t optional—it’s a must. If your site doesn’t meet current WCAG standards, you’re not only excluding users with disabilities but could also be putting your organization at legal risk. A redesign gives you the chance to build with accessibility at the core. Curious how your site performs for accessibility? Try the WAVE Tool to spot issues and quickly see where improvements are needed. 

Pro tip: Don’t treat accessibility as a one-time task during your website redesign. Make it an ongoing priority. As your site evolves, new content and features can introduce new issues—regular reviews help ensure everyone can continue to access your site.

2. It’s Not Mobile-Friendly

According to Oberlo, ​as of early 2025, mobile devices account for approximately 60% of global website traffic, while desktops contribute around 38%, with tablets making up the remaining 2%. If your site isn’t easy to use on a phone or tablet, you’re likely losing a significant portion of your audience. Mobile responsiveness is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s essential. 

Pro Tip: Review your analytics to gain additional insights about your mobile users and how they interact with your site. If your traffic is mainly mobile users, take a mobile-first approach to your website redesign. 

3. It Looks Outdated

Design trends change. If your site hasn’t had a visual update in 4 to 5 years, it might look unprofessional or untrustworthy to visitors, especially younger ones who expect modern aesthetics.

Pro Tip: Take an honest look at your website. Are you still using outdated elements like sliders, low-contrast text, or auto-playing videos? If so, consider a redesign.

4. Your Content Is Hard to Find or Update

If your team struggles to update the site, or users can’t easily find key information (like how to donate or volunteer), you’re likely losing engagement. A redesign can streamline your navigation and improve your content management experience.

Pro Tip: Use a heatmap tool like CrazyEgg to visualize how users interact with your site. These insights can help you spot friction points and uncover opportunities to improve the user experience.

5. It’s Slow or Buggy

A slow website isn’t just frustrating; it drives people away. Speed, performance, and technical stability are all indicators that it might be time for a fresh foundation. They also influence your site’s visibility in search results. 

Pro Tip: Use tools like Google Search Console and Page Speed Insights to test your site’s search performance. 

6. Your Mission Has Evolved

Has your nonprofit pivoted, expanded its programs, or rebranded? Your website needs to reflect your current vision and work. If it doesn’t, it’s time to realign.

Pro Tip: When rolling out your new branding or redesign, make sure to use inclusive imagery, and remember that real photography is optimal over stock photography. 

7. Your Analytics Show a Problem

Pay attention to bounce rates, time on site, and conversion rates (such as low overall engagement rates, newsletter signups, or donations). Your website could be the culprit if engagement is low or trending downward.

Pro Tip: Use an analytics dashboard like Looker Studio to review and share analytics data easily. 

Final Thoughts

A website redesign is an investment, but when done strategically, it can boost your visibility, credibility, and impact. If you see any of the signs above—or just have a gut feeling your site isn’t working as well as it should—it might be time to explore what a modern, accessible, and mission-aligned redesign could do for your organization.