Why NGO And Nonprofit Websites Matter: A Case Study with Women Fund Trust Tanzania

Nonprofit organizations (NGOs) play a vital role in driving social change and improving communities. However, in today's digital age, having a strong online presence is just as important as the work they do offline. 

A well-designed and informative website can help local NGOs in Tanzania and East Africa better communicate their mission, vision, and impact to stakeholders, including donors, partners, and beneficiaries in the international space. 

Unfortunately, many local NGOs do not invest in their online presence, which can negatively impact their fundraising activities and outreach efforts. 

In this article, we will explore the importance of a strong website for NGOs and nonprofits, with a specific focus on website design and development in Tanzania. 

We will use a recent case study with Women Fund Trust Tanzania to highlight how iPF Softwares helped them improve their online presence by revamping their 10-year-old website into a more robust, responsive custom-designed website. 

This boosted their online presence and engagement by 40% one month after launching the website. 

Through this case study, we will offer insights and recommendations for NGOs looking to improve their website and digital marketing efforts, including custom website design and development, responsive design, mobile-friendly websites, and the importance of clear communication of their mission, vision, and impact.

Additionally, we will provide tips for effective website management and maintenance to ensure ongoing success.

"As the world becomes increasingly digital, NGOs that do not invest in their online presence risk being left behind. A well-designed website is not just a tool for communication, but a powerful way to connect with supporters and increase impact."

Why a Modern and Responsive Website is Essential for NGO and Nonprofit Organizations in Tanzania and East Africa.

According to Nonprofit Source, 54% of donors worldwide prefer to donate online using a credit or debit card, with 14% preferring to donate through PayPal. 

While the funding landscape in East Africa may differ, this statistic still highlights the importance of having a strong online presence for nonprofit organizations. 

Even if donors do not donate directly through the website, organizations without a modern and responsive website risk missing out on potential donors who may be looking for causes to support online. 

A strong online presence can attract donors and encourage them to reach out to the organization to learn more about their cause and how they can support it.   

Nonprofits and NGOs face unique challenges when it comes to building a strong online presence. Unlike for-profit businesses, they rely heavily on the generosity of donors to fund their activities and social impact programs. 

A modern and responsive website is a crucial tool for NGOs and nonprofits, serving as the digital front office for the organization to connect with stakeholders, share their impact stories, mission, vision, and goals, and secure the resources they need to achieve their objectives.  

Unfortunately, many NGOs in Tanzania and East Africa lack the resources or expertise to build an effective website that meets their needs. An outdated or poorly designed website can harm an NGO's reputation and reduce the likelihood of receiving donations or support. 

On the other hand, a modern and responsive website can help NGOs and nonprofits better communicate their mission, vision, and impact to stakeholders, including donors, partners, and beneficiaries. 

 Investing in custom website design and development can help NGOs better communicate their values and achievements while engaging with supporters and attracting new ones. 

Incorporating key functionalities such as online donation forms, event registrations, and volunteer sign-ups, along with impact stories and testimonials, can make it easier for people to support their cause. 

However, many NGOs in Tanzania and East Africa do not prioritize their online presence, which can hinder their fundraising activities and outreach efforts.

In the following sections, we will explore the various aspects of website design and development for NGOs and nonprofits, with a specific focus on Tanzania, Burundi, Congo, Uganda, Malawi, and other East African countries. 

Drawing on our experience working with Women Fund Trust Tanzania, we will offer insights and recommendations for organizations looking to improve their website and digital marketing efforts.

During the Women Fund Tanzania's 15-year anniversary celebration in February 2023, where the newly designed Women Fund Trust Tanzania website was launched, our team had the privilege of speaking with interested stakeholders in the NGO space.

One emphasised the importance of local NGOs in East Africa adapting to the changing donor space by having a strong online presence.  

"Gone are the days when traditional fundraising was the only way to secure funding for an NGO. Donors now actively seek out organizations making a difference and want to learn more about their impact before making a decision to support them,"

"Donors are no longer waiting for organizations to come to them, but instead actively seek out NGOs that align with their values and impact stories. Local NGOs that do not prioritize their online presence risk missing out on this opportunity to attract and engage with potential donors."

As an expert with more than 7 years of experience working with local and international NGOs on strategic planning, communication, and fundraising activities, above comments from an expert highlight the significance of having a modern and responsive website for NGOs and nonprofits in Tanzania and East Africa. 

A strong online presence can impact their ability to secure funding and support from donors, who now actively seek out organizations that align with their values and impact stories.

Summary : 7 Reasons Why NGOs and Nonprofits in East Africa Need a Strong Online Presence.

1. Increase donations by providing an easy for donors / funders to find your organization through search engine result pages ( SERP )
2. Build awareness for your cause and the impact you're making by showcasing success stories, photos, and videos.
3. Engage the community and grow membership by offering ways to get involved, such as events, volunteer opportunities, and newsletters.
4. Garner loyalty and trust by demonstrating transparency and accountability through clear information about your mission, programs, and strategic plans.
5. Save time and resources by streamlining administrative tasks, such as event registration and donation processing, with your digital front office 
6. Stay competitive in the digital age by optimizing your website for search engines and social media, while keeping up with modern website design and functionality trends to reach a wider audience.   
7. Improve brand recognition and touchpoints by providing a professional and cohesive online presence.

Top 5 Challenges Facing NGOs and Nonprofits in East Africa in Building a Strong Online Presence

The importance of a strong online presence for NGOs and nonprofit organizations cannot be overstated in today's digital age. 

However, building and maintaining such a presence can be particularly challenging for organizations based in Tanzania and  East Africa in general. 

At iPF Software, we have worked with both local and international NGOs and have seen firsthand the unique challenges they face. 

These challenges include a lack of resources and infrastructure, limited technical expertise and support, and difficulty in managing digital assets and maintaining a clear branding and strategic plan.  

In this section, we will explore these challenges in more detail and provide insights and recommendations on how NGOs in East Africa can overcome them and build a strong online presence that supports their mission and goals.   

From a lack of resources and infrastructure to limited technical expertise and support, these challenges require careful consideration and strategic planning in order to be overcome.   

1. Unclear plans for their online presence and digital strategy: Many NGOs in East Africa do not have a clear plan for their online presence and digital strategy. As a result, they struggle to effectively communicate their message to their target audience and to make use of the available online tools and platforms to reach out to potential donors and supporters.
2. Lack of commitment or key person in maintaining and updating website contents: Many NGOs in East Africa lack the resources, including personnel, to maintain and update their websites regularly. This leads to outdated content, which can negatively impact their online presence and credibility.
3. Lack of support from leadership team and other partners: In some cases, the leadership team and other partners within the NGO may not fully understand the importance of maintaining a strong online presence. This can lead to a lack of support and resources for digital initiatives, making it difficult for the NGO to stay competitive in the digital age.
4. Poor management of  digital assets: Managing digital assets, such as pictures, videos, and other content, can be a significant challenge for NGOs in East Africa. Many organizations lack the necessary tools or expertise to properly manage these assets, which can result in misplaced or lost content. This can lead to the use of poor-quality digital content when developing an online presence, ultimately hindering the organization's ability to effectively communicate its mission and impact to potential donors and supporters.   
5. Missing clear branding and strategic plan: Some NGOs in East Africa may not have a clear branding and strategic plan in place, which can lead to confusion among their audience and partners. This can also make it difficult to create a consistent and effective online presence.

These challenges highlight the need for NGOs in East Africa to prioritize their online presence and digital strategy, and to seek out the necessary resources and support to effectively communicate their message and attract potential donors and supporters.

Empowering African NGOs: How iPF Software Helped Women Fund Trust Tanzania & Local NGOs Build a Strong Online Presence

In this case study, we will explore how iPF Software has helped Women Fund Trust Tanzania (Women Fund Trust Tanzania) and other local NGOs overcome the unique challenges they face when it comes to building and maintaining a strong online presence. 

Drawing on our experience working with both local and international NGOs, we will highlight some of the key obstacles that organizations face in this area and explain how our customized solutions have helped Women Fund Trust Tanzania and other NGOs achieve their online goals. 

 As part of our commitment to providing customized digital strategies and solutions for our business in Africa, we believe that every organization is unique and deserves a custom design for their website. 

Ideation and Discovery Session: Our team of UX researchers, designers, and business analysts first worked together to gain a deep understanding of Women Fund Trust Tanzania's values, mission, impact, and long-term goals.

We conducted an ideation and discovery session to uncover Women Fund Trust Tanzania's branding message, target audience, key activities and their impact as well  identify areas of improvement from their previous website.

One on one with Women Fund Trust Tanzania staff : To ensure that the new website met the needs and wishes of Women Fund Trust Tanzania staff, we interviewed 80% of their staff to understand their inspiration and vision for the website. This helped us understand how they imagined the look and feel of their website, ensuring that the final design was tailored to their unique needs.

Strategic Alignment with Women Fund Trust Tanzania's Strategic Plan :  Lucky enough Women Fund Trust Tanzania had their next 5 years strategy in place. We leveraged Women Fund Trust Tanzania's strategic plan to understand how to build the new website to align with the organization's goals and objectives.

This helped us ensure that the website was not only visually appealing, but also functional and effective in helping Women Fund Trust Tanzania achieve its mission.

Dynamic Website with Custom CMS: In this activity, our team ensured that the Women Fund Trust Tanzania team could easily manage the website contents by creating a custom-made content management system (CMS).

We made sure that 90% of the contents were dynamic, meaning they could be managed through the CMS without requiring any technical knowledge. This allowed the Women Fund Trust Tanzania team to easily update their website with new content and keep their supporters and donors up-to-date with the organization's latest activities and achievements.

Empowering Women Fund Trust Tanzania’s communication and IT team : Our team provided guidance on various aspects of website management, including content creation, digital asset management, and best practices for search engine optimization (SEO).

We ensured that the Women Fund Trust Tanzania team was equipped with the necessary skills to manage and update their website effectively, enabling them to keep their website up-to-date and engaging for their audience.

Mobile-Responsive Design for Better Engagement: Our team ensured that Women Fund Trust Tanzania's website was not only visually appealing but also mobile-responsive and optimized for different devices and screen sizes.

With more and more people accessing the internet through mobile devices, it was crucial for the website to be accessible and user-friendly on smartphones and tablets.

By designing a mobile-responsive website, we were able to improve the user experience for donors and supporters on the go, making it easier for them to navigate the site, access information, and donate to the organization.

This helped to increase engagement and ultimately drive more support for Women Fund Trust Tanzania's cause.

Finally, we provided ongoing technical support and maintenance for the website, ensuring that it is always up-to-date and running smoothly. This included configuring Google Analytics to track website traffic and user behavior, providing valuable insights for Women Fund Trust Tanzania's digital strategy.

Driving Impact: The Results of Women Fund Trust Tanzania's new dynamic and responsive Website 

After the launch of the new website, we have observed significant improvements in the online presence of Women Fund Trust Tanzania. The new website has been live for just over a month, and we have already seen some positive results.

Firstly, we have noticed an increase in the number of visitors to the website. Compared to the old website, the new site has experienced a 40% increase in traffic, indicating that the new design and user experience have been well received by the audience.

Secondly, the Women Fund Trust Tanzania team has reported an improvement in the time taken to manage the website. With the custom-made CMS and training provided by our team, the Women Fund Trust Tanzania communication team can easily manage the website contents, reducing the time spent on website management by 50%.

Thirdly, the new website has improved the overall engagement of the Women Fund Trust Tanzania audience. Through our mobile-responsive design, the website can now be accessed from any device, which has led to an increase in engagement with their beneficiaries  and supporters on the go.

Overall, the impact of the new website has been positive, with increased traffic, improved user experience, and an increase in online engagement and donations. 

While it is still early days since the launch of the new site, we are confident that it will continue to have a positive impact on the organization's online presence and ability to engage with its stakeholders.

Conclusion and Future Recommendations

In conclusion, the redesign of Women Fund Trust Tanzania's website has successfully enhanced their online presence, improved user experience, and increased donor engagement. 

The new website, which is mobile-responsive, SEO-optimized, and user-friendly, has provided a platform for Women Fund Trust Tanzania to share their story, impact, and accomplishments with a wider audience.

Going forward, we recommend that Women Fund Trust Tanzania continues to update their website regularly with fresh and engaging content, as well as implementing a content marketing strategy that aligns with their overall goals and objectives. 

Additionally, we advise that they continue to monitor and track their website metrics to ensure that they are meeting their targets and goals.

Furthermore, we encourage CEO/MDs and founders of NGO and nonprofit organizations in Tanzania to take advantage of our expertise and consult with iPF Software on how to enhance their online presence. 

At iPF Software, we believe in providing custom website design and development to help organizations meet their online objectives and drive impact. Our team of experts is ready to assist interested parties in optimizing their online presence.

To get started, simply contact us through our email business@ipfsoftwares.com or

Through our Contact form. 

We look forward to hearing from you and helping you make a difference.