Websites for charities
Websites for NZ charities and community groups.
Each month we set aside a little time to build free or discounted websites for charities, clubs and community groups that don't have one — or have one that's stopped working. Spots are limited, so it's by application and there's a waiting list.
One thing up front: the build can be free, but hosting isn't. It's paid annually on one of our plans, so your site stays secure, backed up and online.
Join the waiting listThe deal
What's included, and what we ask
What you get
- — A brochure site of up to five pages — who you are, what you do, how to help, news, contact
- — Built to load fast on a phone and be found on Google
- — A clear "donate" or "get involved" button linked to your existing donation page
- — A contact or volunteer form that comes straight to your inbox
What we ask
- — Hosting on one of our plans, paid annually upfront — this is never free
- — One contact person who can make decisions and send content
- — Your words and photos, or help gathering them
- — A small "Website by Virgola" credit in the footer, and permission to show the site as an example of our work
How it works
From application to live site
1. Apply
Tell us who you are, what you do, and whether you're on the Charities Register or an incorporated society.
2. Wait for a spot
We'll confirm whether it's a free or discounted build, and roughly when we can start. No obligation until then.
3. Build and launch
Once hosting is paid for the year, we build the site with your contact person and put it live.
Paying for hosting
Put hosting in your next grant application
Hosting is the one cost we can't waive, but funders will often cover it. Copy one of these into your budget and justification, or ask us for a formal quote to attach.
Site Care Plan
We update it, not you.
Budget line
Website hosting and care: Virgola Site Care Plan, 12 months
$228.00 incl. GST ($198.26 excl. GST)
Justification
Our website is how people find out what we do, get in touch, volunteer and donate. Virgola, a small web studio based in Golden Bay, is building it for us free or at a discount through their charity programme, so hosting is the only ongoing cost. This covers 12 months of secure hosting, backups and uptime monitoring, plus three content updates a year made for us, so the site stays secure and online.
Bare Hosting
Just hosting. Nothing else.
Budget line
Website hosting and care: Virgola Bare Hosting, 12 months
$180.00 incl. GST ($156.52 excl. GST)
Justification
Our website is how people find out what we do, get in touch, volunteer and donate. Virgola, a small web studio based in Golden Bay, is building it for us free or at a discount through their charity programme, so hosting is the only ongoing cost. This covers 12 months of secure hosting, backups and uptime monitoring, so the site stays secure and online.
FAQ
Common questions about charity websites
Is the website actually free?
The build can be — we set aside a small amount of time each month for charity and community sites, and offer either a free or discounted build depending on what you need and what capacity we have. It isn't guaranteed: if we're full, you go on the waiting list and we'll be in touch when a spot opens.
Why isn't hosting free?
Hosting, security updates and backups cost us real money every month, for as long as the site is live. Charging for them keeps the site looked after properly instead of quietly falling apart. Hosting is paid annually upfront on one of our plans.
Can we include hosting in a grant application?
Yes — most funders will cover an ongoing cost like hosting if it supports your work. Use the ready-made budget line on this page, or ask us for a formal quote to attach to your application.
Who can apply?
Registered NZ charities, incorporated societies, and not-for-profit community groups and clubs — for example sports clubs, community gardens, marae committees, playcentres, environmental and animal welfare groups. We give priority to groups with no website, or one that's broken or badly out of date.
How long is the waiting list?
It depends on how many applications come in — we take on a limited number each month. When you apply we'll tell you honestly where you sit and roughly when we could start.
Can people donate through the website?
Yes — we link a clear donate button to the donation page you already use, such as Givealittle or your bank details. That keeps payments and receipting with the platform built for it.
What if we need more than five pages?
The free or discounted build covers a straightforward brochure site. If you need more — event bookings, member logins, an online shop — we'll give you a fixed quote at our normal small business prices, and you can decide from there.
Apply
Tell us about your group — we'll tell you where you sit on the list.
We respond within one business day.
Join the waiting list