Marketing and digital for charities and non-profits
Your cause deserves to be found. Your budget deserves respect.
Charities and non-profits do vital work on tight budgets, with small teams who wear every hat. Marketing often comes last, even though being found is how you reach the people who need you and the supporters who keep you going.
We're a small, senior UK team that knows how to make modest budgets go a long way. We've worked with not-for-profit bodies including the Gemmological Association (Gem-A), the Open Property Data Association and the British Dental Industry Association. We build websites your team can run, get you found in search and help you tell the story of your impact.
We respect your budget. We'll focus on the few things that make the biggest difference, and tell you honestly what isn't worth doing.
- We've helped a not-for-profit fill its courses, tracing around £275k of course revenue to the forms we built for Gem-A.
- We've taken member newsletters from PDF attachments to campaigns with a 37% open rate for OPDA.
- We've taken a site from near-zero search traffic to 7,400 visits a month on a budget of a few hundred pounds.
- We've built websites that non-technical teams update themselves, so appeals and events never go stale.
- We've designed research reports that turn data into stories people want to read.
No inflated retainers, no jargon. Just practical marketing that helps more people find your cause.
Sound familiar?
- 01
Every pound has to count
Donors and trustees rightly want to see money going to the cause, so marketing budgets are tight and have to be justified.
- 02
Hard to be found
The people who need your services, and the supporters who'd back you, are searching online and not finding you.
- 03
A small team doing everything
Fundraising, comms, events and social media often sit with one or two people who are already stretched.
- 04
A website that's hard to update
Events, appeals and news go out of date because every change needs a developer or a volunteer with the password.
- 05
Showing impact
Funders, trustees and supporters want to see what their money achieves, clearly and credibly.
- 06
Supporter comms that don't land
Newsletters with low open rates, no segmentation and no way to tell who's engaging.
How we help
- 01
Websites your team can run
Accessible, easy-to-update WordPress sites that make it simple to find help, donate or get involved.
Build what’s next - 02
Search on a small budget
Technical fixes, targeted content and a handful of high-quality links that get you found without a big SEO bill.
Get noticed - 03
Supporter email
Newsletters and automated journeys that keep supporters informed, engaged and giving.
Reach the buyers you’re after - 04
Impact reports
Annual and impact reports that turn your data and stories into something funders and supporters want to read.
Land your positioning - 05
Campaigns and appeals
Focused campaigns across search, social and email for appeals, events and awareness days.
Reach the buyers you’re after - 06
Honest advice
We'll tell you where your budget will make the biggest difference, and where it won't.
What that looks like in practice
37%
Email open rate
For OPDA's member newsletters, after moving off PDF attachments
~£275k
Course revenue
Traced to the lead forms we built for Gem-A, a not-for-profit educator
+60%
Course uptake
For Gem-A, from struggling to fill courses to a waitlist
+187%
Email clicks
As OPDA's members engaged with its content
+74%
Member satisfaction
With Gem-A's new website and member experience
Non-profits: the work
Non-profits we’ve worked with
However you like to work, we’ll fit around it.
Whichever you choose: senior people, straight answers, and we teach your team as we go.
- Ongoing
Retainer
An ongoing partner in your corner.
Best forCharities that want website, email and campaign support handled month to month.
- Fixed scope
One-off project
A clear brief and a job done well.
Best forA new website, an impact report or a focused appeal, on a fixed budget.
- Flexible
Consultancy
Our deep expertise, on tap.
Best forA marketing review or plan to help you prioritise a small budget.
- Part-time
Fractional
Senior hands when you need them.
Best forNon-profits without a marketing lead that need senior hands a few days a month.
Not sure which fits?Book a Meeting
Questions we often get asked
Do you offer charity rates?
We scope every project to fit the budget available, and we're always happy to talk about what's possible for registered charities.
Can you work with a very small budget?
Yes. Some of our best results have come from budgets of a few hundred pounds, by focusing on the few things that make the biggest difference.
Can our volunteers update the website?
Yes. We build sites that non-technical people can update safely, and provide simple guides to help them do it.
Can you help with Google Ad Grants?
Yes. We can help you apply for and make the most of Google's free advertising for eligible charities.
“Working with Darwin was a great experience. Communication was clear and consistent, and we always felt listened to. We’re pleased with the final outcome and continue to work with Darwin today.”
