Nonprofit Marketing Agency
Reach more supporters, raise more and show your board what worked.
Softscotch is a nonprofit marketing agency that helps charities turn attention into donors who give again. We design donor-friendly websites and donation pages, manage Google Ad Grants (free Google search ads for eligible nonprofits), run email and year-end campaigns and report results your board can understand.
What a nonprofit marketing agency does for your cause
Nonprofit teams are small, budgets are tight and boards check every dollar. A nonprofit marketing agency should understand donors, gifts and mission, not just clicks. These are the six parts we work on, and you only take the ones you need.
A website and donation pages that work
We design or improve your website so people understand your mission and can give in a few taps, on any device.
See how we can help ↗Google Ad Grants and paid ads
We set up and manage Google Ad Grants for eligible nonprofits, and add paid ads for big campaigns when they make sense.
See how we can help ↗Help people find your cause on Google
SEO (search engine optimization) helps people find your programs, services and volunteer roles in unpaid Google results.
See how we can help ↗Email and year-end appeals
Thank-you emails, impact updates and well-planned appeals for Giving Tuesday and the end of the year.
See how we can help ↗Stories told with respect
We help you share impact honestly, with consent from the people in your stories and without pressure tactics.
See how we can help ↗Reports your board can read
Plain reports on money raised, cost, donor retention and monthly donors, not just likes and reach.
See how we can help ↗Marketing built around donors, not sales
Nonprofit marketing is different from selling a product. Commercial playbooks used unchanged often read wrong to supporters. Three things shape our approach.
The goal is a gift, not a sale
Success means a donation, a volunteer or an event sign-up. Every page and ad is planned around making that one action easy.
The second gift matters most
A donor who gives again, or switches to monthly giving, is often worth more over time than several one-off gifts. Keeping supporters is as important as finding them.
Trust is everything
People give to causes they believe in. Honest stories, clear impact and showing where money goes build that belief.
Make giving, volunteering and signing up easy
Not every supporter wants to give money today. Some want to volunteer, some want to attend an event and some just want updates. Each needs a clear page and a short form. We plan these pages around the searches people actually use.
food bank volunteer opportunities near me
Someone searching for "food bank volunteer opportunities near me" should land on a page that answers that need. The page can show impact stories and explain how to donate, volunteer or sign up for updates.
- What the page explains
- Impact stories, plus your offer and a clear next step.
- What you may need to ask
- How they want to help, plus how they heard about you.
- What to check next
- Donations.
donate to animal rescue near me
Someone searching for "donate to animal rescue near me" should land on a page that answers that need. The page can show where donations go and explain how to donate, volunteer or sign up for updates.
- What the page explains
- Where donations go, plus your offer and a clear next step.
- What you may need to ask
- A one-time or monthly gift, plus how they heard about you.
- What to check next
- Monthly donors.
youth mentoring program near me
Someone searching for "youth mentoring program near me" should land on a page that answers that need. The page can show reviews from volunteers and donors and explain how to donate, volunteer or sign up for updates.
- What the page explains
- Reviews from volunteers and donors, plus your offer and a clear next step.
- What you may need to ask
- Where they live, plus how they heard about you.
- What to check next
- Returning supporters.
These are example searches. We research what people search for in your area and cause before choosing the pages and ads to work on.
Donation pages that make giving easy
A confusing donation page loses gifts from people who already decided to give. Small changes can help. We can usually improve your page without changing your donation platform.
Fewer fields
Ask only for what you need to process the gift and say thank you.
Suggested amounts
Show a few amounts with a short line on what each can do, where you can back it up.
A clear monthly option
Offer monthly giving clearly, without tricks, so supporters choose it knowingly.
Easy on a phone
Large buttons and fast payment options, such as digital wallets where your platform supports them.
Trust signals
Your charity status, a secure payment note and a link to how donations are used.
A real thank-you page
Confirm the gift, say thanks and offer one next step, such as sharing or following updates.
Help people find your cause on Google
Many people find nonprofits by searching for a service they need, a way to volunteer or a cause to support near them. SEO helps your pages show up for those searches without paying for each click. It takes time, and no one can promise a ranking.
Two audiences search for you.
People who need your services and people who want to support them use different words. We plan pages for both, so neither group lands in the wrong place.
- food bank volunteer opportunities near me
- donate to animal rescue near me
- youth mentoring program near me
What we do to help you get found
We explain the work, make the agreed changes and check what happens after they go live.
Pages for each program
A clear page for each program or service, so people who need help and people who want to give can both find it.
Volunteer and event pages
Pages for volunteer roles and events, with dates, locations and a simple sign-up form.
Local search and Maps
If you serve a local area, we keep your Google Business Profile accurate, so people see your hours, location and how to reach you.
Fix technical problems
We check that Google can find your pages and fix slow pages, broken links and problems on phones.
Show up in AI search answers
AI tools now answer questions about local services and causes. Clear, factual pages help them describe you correctly.
Keep content fresh
We update old pages and link programs, stories and giving pages together, so visitors keep finding the next step.
Use Google Ad Grants and paid ads wisely
Google Ad Grants gives eligible nonprofits free search ads on Google, currently up to $10,000 a month in ad credit. It is a valuable resource, but it comes with rules, and many accounts are underused or paused. We set up and manage Ad Grants accounts, and add paid ads only when a campaign needs more reach.
Is Ad Grants enough on its own?
Usually not. It is a strong starting point, but it should support your website, email and fundraising plan, not replace them.
Google's rules change from time to time, so we check the current policy before making changes to your account.
What we do with your ads
The ad, the page it opens and the next step need to work together.
Check eligibility first
Google sets the rules. In the US, you generally need valid charity status, such as 501(c)(3), and a Google for Nonprofits account. Government bodies, hospitals and schools are not eligible. We help you check before you apply.
Set up the grant account
We build campaigns around your programs, volunteer roles and giving pages, with searches that bring the right people.
Keep the account in good standing
Grant accounts must meet ongoing rules, such as a minimum click-through rate and tracking real actions. We monitor these so the account is not paused.
Use the grant for the right goals
Grant ads work well for programs, volunteers, events and awareness. We point them at pages with a clear next step.
Paid ads for big campaigns
Grant ads only appear on Google search and are limited. For year-end or Giving Tuesday, paid Google or Meta (Facebook and Instagram) ads can add reach.
Keep grant and paid results separate
We report free grant results and paid ad results apart, so your board sees exactly what each dollar of real spend did.
Examples of ads we could plan with you
These show how different searches can need different pages. We choose the actual ads after checking your offer, budget and the rules for your account.
food bank volunteer opportunities near me
What the page shows: the advertised offer, plus impact stories.
What to ask: how they want to help, plus how they heard about you.
What to check: ad costs and donations.
donate to animal rescue near me
What the page shows: the advertised offer, plus where donations go.
What to ask: a one-time or monthly gift, plus how they heard about you.
What to check: ad costs and monthly donors.
youth mentoring program near me
What the page shows: the advertised offer, plus reviews from volunteers and donors.
What to ask: where they live, plus how they heard about you.
What to check: ad costs and returning supporters.
A nonprofit website that earns trust and donations
Your website is where most supporters decide whether to give. Web design for nonprofits has a few jobs: explain your mission in seconds, show your impact, make giving easy and be simple for your team to update. We design new nonprofit websites and improve existing ones, and we have a real website design portfolio you can ask to see.
What a nonprofit website should do
Tell visitors what you do and who you help, prove it with real impact and give them one clear way to donate, volunteer or sign up on every page.
- Your mission, clear in seconds
The first screen says what you do and who you help, in plain words, with a real photo from your work.
- Impact people can see
Stories, simple numbers you can back up and updates that show what supporters' gifts achieved.
- Where the money goes
A clear explanation of how donations are used, with links to annual reports and financial information.
- A donate button on every page
Easy to find on desktop and phone, leading to a short donation form with a monthly giving option.
- Accessible to everyone
Readable text, good color contrast, image descriptions and forms that work with a keyboard and screen reader.
- Easy for your team to update
Built on a platform such as WordPress, so staff can add stories, events and updates without a developer.
Web design for nonprofit organizations: what to plan for
If you are planning a new nonprofit website, these are the decisions that matter most. We work through each with you before design starts.
Clear structure
Simple menus for About, Programs, Get involved and Donate, so every visitor finds their path.
Works with your donation platform
We connect the giving tools you already use, so you do not have to switch systems.
Accessibility from the start
We design with common accessibility guidelines (WCAG) in mind, so more people can use the site.
Fast, secure and mobile-friendly
Quick loading, secure connections and layouts that work on any phone.
Easy editing and handover
Training and simple guides so your team can update the site after launch.
Website design ↗What drives website cost
The number of pages, custom features, content writing and integrations. We quote after a review.
WordPress design ↗Tell stories that respect the people you serve
Stories move people to give, but they must be told with care. We help you share impact with dignity, get consent from the people featured and avoid guilt or false urgency. Every fact and figure is one you have approved.
Campaign ads that invite, not pressure
We write ads and social posts around one clear ask, such as a gift, a sign-up or an event, with honest urgency when a real deadline exists.
- A clear message for the people you want to reach
- Images and words that fit the ad format
- A small test with a result we agree to check
Impact stories told with consent
We help you gather stories, photos and quotes with written permission, and protect the privacy of people who prefer not to be named.
- Photos or examples that match the work you offer
- Checks that the facts are right and the material can be used
- Simple captions that explain what someone is seeing
Follow one supporter from first visit to second gift
Here is how one person might go from a Google search to becoming a monthly donor, and what we set up along the way.
They search and read a story
Someone searches for a way to help local families. A grant ad leads to your program page, where they read a story about a family you supported.
They make a first gift
The donate button opens a short form with suggested amounts. They give once and get a warm thank-you email straight away.
They hear the impact and give again
A few weeks later, an update shows what their gift did, with an invitation to give monthly. They sign up, and your report shows how it started.
Thank, update and keep your donors
Many first-time donors never give again, often because they never hear what their gift did. Good follow-up is the cheapest way to raise more. We set it up in the email and donor tools you already use.
Thank-you and welcome emails
A prompt, personal thank-you after every gift, plus a short welcome series that explains your work and how to stay involved.
Impact updates and monthly giving
Regular updates that show what gifts achieved, with a gentle invitation to become a monthly donor at the right moment.
Win back lapsed donors
Respectful messages to past donors who have not given in a while, linked to your donor database so lists stay accurate. Messages follow each person's contact choices.
Plan for year-end and Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday falls on the Tuesday after US Thanksgiving, and many nonprofits raise a large share of their year in the last weeks of December. Good results need planning that starts well before the peak.
Start planning early
We agree goals, messages and a calendar a couple of months ahead, so pages and emails are ready and approved in time.
Test before the peak
We test subject lines, donation pages and ads in the weeks before, so the busiest days run on what works best.
Phase budget and emails
We plan when to send emails, when to use grant and paid ads and when to remind past donors, without overwhelming them.
Clear nonprofit marketing work you can see
You get a written plan and the work we agree to deliver, with clear notes on what is done, what needs your input and what comes next.
A website or website improvements
A new nonprofit website or a clear list of fixes to your current one, with pages for programs, impact, volunteering and giving.
Donation page improvements
A shorter, clearer giving form with a monthly option, tested on desktop and phone.
Google Ad Grants management
Grant account setup or repair, campaigns for your programs and checks that keep the account in good standing.
Email and appeal plans
Thank-you, welcome and impact emails, plus a calendar for year-end and Giving Tuesday appeals.
Stories and campaign content
Impact stories, social posts and campaign pages based on facts and consent you have approved.
Board-ready reports
Plain reports on money raised, cost, retention and monthly donors, with gaps in the data clearly marked.
Add when you need it
Start with the core work above. Add these when your plans need them. The last three link to related industry pages.
Email campaigns
Appeals, newsletters and impact updates, planned and sent for you.
Email campaigns ↗Drip sequences
Automatic welcome, thank-you and monthly upgrade emails.
Drip sequences ↗Landing pages
Campaign pages for appeals, events and petitions.
Landing pages ↗Social media management
Regular posts that keep supporters informed and involved.
Social media ↗Infographic design
Clear visuals for impact reports and annual reviews.
Infographics ↗CRM automation
Connections between your forms, email and donor database.
CRM automation ↗Healthcare
Marketing for clinics and care providers, many of them nonprofits.
Healthcare marketing ↗Credit unions
Marketing for member-owned financial organizations.
Credit union marketing ↗Small businesses
Practical marketing for small teams on careful budgets.
Small business marketing ↗Across our client work we have ranked 2,140+ keywords on Google's first page, managed $12M+ in ad spend, generated $28M+ in revenue and 87,200+ leads. Past results do not promise future ones.
Start with a review, then improve
Here is how the first three months usually work. Timing depends on your campaign calendar, access to your tools and how quickly your team can approve the work.
Review and set up tracking
We review your website, donation page, Ad Grants account and emails, and set up tracking for gifts and sign-ups.
- A review of what you have
- The first jobs and who handles them
- Checks that requests are recorded
Fix and launch
We improve the donation page and key website pages, launch or repair grant campaigns and start thank-you and welcome emails.
- Changes to the first pages
- A small ad test where agreed
- Checks that replies reach the right team
Measure and plan ahead
We review gifts, sign-ups and costs, then plan the next campaign, such as Giving Tuesday or year-end.
- A review of results and costs
- Changes based on what we learned
- A clear plan for the next jobs
Start by sending your website and telling us what you want help with.
Know what is included before you agree
Boards want to know exactly what they are paying for. After a review, we send a written proposal with the work, our fee, the timing and who does what. We scope the work to fit your budget and campaign calendar.
What affects the cost
Website work: a new website costs more than improving the pages you have.
Channels: how many of Ad Grants, SEO, email, social and paid ads are included.
Campaign load: year-end and Giving Tuesday need extra work in the weeks before.
Ad spend: Ad Grants credit is free; any paid ad spend is shown separately from our fee.
Reports your board can understand
Likes and reach do not tell a board much. Your report shows what marketing raised, what it cost and whether supporters are staying, in plain words you can share at a board meeting.
What your report shows
- Money raised and what it cost
Gifts by channel and campaign, the marketing cost behind them and the net amount raised.
- Donors who stay
How many donors gave again, how many moved to monthly giving and the average gift.
- Grant and paid results, apart
What free Ad Grants clicks brought, kept separate from paid ads, plus volunteer and event sign-ups.
Some gifts arrive by check or at events. We show what we can track online and point out what we cannot.
Make the basics work first
Before adding campaigns, we make sure gifts are tracked, consent is recorded and your team knows who handles what.
Track every gift and sign-up
We connect your donation platform and forms to analytics, so each gift is recorded with its source.
Respect donor privacy
We record contact consent, keep personal donor details out of ad reports and work with your team on privacy questions.
Agree who does what
Your team approves stories, facts and appeals. We agree who replies to volunteers and donors, and how fast.
How to choose a nonprofit marketing agency
Whoever you hire, these questions help you find an agency that understands donors, not just advertising.
How do you turn one-time donors into monthly donors?
Look for a clear plan for thank-you, updates and monthly asks, not just new donor ads.
How do you manage and report on Ad Grants?
They should know the rules, keep the account in good standing and report grant results separately.
How do you plan year-end and Giving Tuesday?
Ask when planning starts and how they test before the busiest days.
Can you work with our donor database?
They should work with the tools you have before suggesting new ones.
How do you tell stories about the people we serve?
Listen for consent, dignity and honesty, not guilt.
Who manages our account day to day?
Know who does the work and who you can call with a question.
Nonprofit marketing questions
Clear answers about websites, Ad Grants, cost, timing and what we need from your team.
How is a nonprofit marketing agency different from other agencies?
It plans around donors, volunteers and supporters instead of sales. That means donation pages, thank-you and impact emails, year-end appeals, Google Ad Grants and reports on money raised and donor retention. It also means telling stories with consent and respect.
How much should a nonprofit spend on marketing?
There is no single right number. It depends on your goals, your current website and how much your team can do in-house. We start with a review and suggest where a small budget will do the most, such as fixing the donation page or using Ad Grants fully.
Do you offer nonprofit pricing?
We scope every proposal to the work you need and your budget, and we can phase work around your campaign calendar. Ask us when you request a proposal, and we will explain the options.
How much does a nonprofit website cost and what should it include?
Cost depends on the number of pages, custom features, content writing and connections to your donation and email tools. We quote after a review. A good nonprofit website explains your mission, shows impact, explains where money goes, has a donate button on every page and is easy for your team to update.
What is Google Ad Grants and do we qualify?
It is a Google program that gives eligible nonprofits free search ads, currently up to $10,000 a month in ad credit. In the US you generally need valid charity status and a Google for Nonprofits account. Government bodies, hospitals and schools are not eligible. We help you check before you apply.
What marketing channels work best for nonprofits?
For most nonprofits, a clear website and donation page, Ad Grants, email and SEO are the core. Social media helps keep supporters involved. Paid ads can add reach for big campaigns. The right mix depends on your cause and team.
Can you help with volunteer and event sign-ups?
Yes. We build clear pages and short forms for volunteer roles and events, promote them through search and grant ads and send reminders and thank-you messages after people sign up.
Can small nonprofits compete online?
Yes. Ad Grants is free for eligible organizations, and local searches often favor organizations that serve the area. A clear website, a good donation page and steady email can make a real difference without a big budget.
Can you improve our donation page without changing our donation platform?
Usually, yes. Most platforms let you change the amounts, fields, wording and monthly option. We work within your platform first and only suggest a change if it is truly holding you back.
Is our website accessible to everyone?
We can review it against common accessibility guidelines (WCAG) and fix issues such as color contrast, missing image descriptions and forms that do not work with a keyboard. This is a practical review, not legal advice.
How do you plan year-end and Giving Tuesday?
We start planning a couple of months ahead, agree goals and messages, prepare pages and emails, test them before the peak and plan when to use grant ads, paid ads and reminders.
How do you report results to our board?
We report money raised by channel, marketing cost, net revenue after cost, donor retention, monthly donors and sign-ups, in plain words. Grant results and paid results are shown separately, and gaps in the data are clearly marked.
No questions match. Try a different word or choose all questions.
More ways we can help
Before you decide
Explore related industries
Let’s look at your nonprofit together.
Send your website and tell us what you would like to improve. We will explain what we find and talk through the next useful steps with you.