Charity Web Design / Checklist
The Charity Website Launch Checklist
A free, detailed checklist for charities planning a website launch, covering planning, content, legal compliance, accessibility, technical setup and SEO.
What's inside
Planning & content
Define your objective, prepare your content, and get your donation pathway, Gift Aid declaration and Payment Processor Account set up before launch.
Legal & compliance
Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, UK GDPR compliance, Safeguarding and Whistleblowing Policies, and a Complaints Procedure.
Accessibility & technical
Contrast, keyboard navigation and alt text, alongside SSL, page speed and broken link checks.
Launch & beyond
Final pre-launch verification, plus domain and admin ownership and an Emergency Contact / Handover Plan.
The eight sections
Planning & Strategy
Define your site's primary objective, map out the pages you need, and agree who has final sign-off before you start.
Content Preparation
Prepare your mission overview, donation pathway, Gift Aid declaration, Payment Processor Account Verification, Photo Permissions & Safeguarding and Copyright Clearance.
Legal & Compliance
Cover your Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, UK GDPR compliance, Safeguarding and Whistleblowing Policies, and Complaints Procedure.
Accessibility & Usability
Check contrast, keyboard navigation, alt text, text zoom and mobile usability.
Technical Infrastructure
Verify SSL, page speed, broken links, analytics and form deliverability, plus a custom 404 error page.
Search Engine Optimisation
Set unique meta titles, submit your sitemap to Google Search Console, and claim your Google Business Profile.
Pre-Launch Verification
Test every form end to end, check display across key browsers, and back up any existing site before migration.
Post-Launch Maintenance
Confirm domain and admin ownership, document an Emergency Contact / Handover Plan, and assign ongoing update roles.
Need assistance?
Yelland Digital specialises in designing and building accessible, easy-to-maintain websites for charities and non-profit organisations.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to give my email address to download it?
No - the download button opens the PDF immediately, with no sign-up required.
Is this only useful for registered charities?
Most of it applies to any small charity or community organisation. Items marked with an asterisk, like Gift Aid, may not apply to every charity and only need completing if applicable to yours.
Can you help us work through the checklist?
Yes - get in touch and we can review your site against it, or build a new one with everything on the list handled for you.