Secure Your Nonprofit Website: What to Check Regularly

Your nonprofit website serves as a vital bridge between your wildlife conservation mission and your valued supporters. It’s where potential donors learn about your cause, volunteers sign up, and critical financial contributions are collected. However, as your organization has recently noticed, online platforms handling donations can attract unwanted attention from cybercriminals looking to steal sensitive information or disrupt your operations.

In recent months, nonprofits have become increasingly targeted by hackers seeking sensitive donor data such as names, addresses, credit card details, and other personally identifiable information. For your organization, a security breach could mean more than a technical inconvenience—it can lead to lost donations, damage your reputation, and compromise supporter trust.

To keep your website secure, you don’t need extensive technical expertise—just clear, regular security checks. This article outlines essential, practical steps your wildlife conservation nonprofit should regularly undertake to safeguard sensitive donor data, protect your reputation, and maintain ongoing trust with your supporters.

Why Nonprofits Must Prioritize Website Security

Nonprofit websites often hold valuable personal and financial data from donors. Cybercriminals frequently target nonprofits because they tend to have limited cybersecurity resources compared to commercial entities. For an organization focused on wildlife conservation, a single security breach can severely undermine donor confidence and threaten funding vital to your mission.

By routinely checking your website’s security, you help ensure:

• Protection of Sensitive Data: Secure handling of donor information prevents data leaks and identity theft.
  
  

• Maintained Donor Trust: A secure website signals professionalism and reliability, helping retain existing supporters and attract new ones.
  
  

• Compliance with Regulations: Proper security measures help your organization comply with data protection regulations (such as GDPR), avoiding fines or legal complications.
  
  

• Continuous Operations: Avoid costly downtime caused by security incidents.
  
  

Regular Security Checklist for Your Nonprofit Website

Follow these clear and straightforward checks regularly (weekly or monthly) to protect your website effectively:

1. Verify SSL Encryption (HTTPS)

Your website should always use HTTPS, secured by an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate. SSL encrypts sensitive data transmitted between visitors and your site, crucial when accepting online donations.

• Regularly confirm your SSL certificate is active and valid.
  
  

• Look for the padlock icon in browsers to ensure secure connections.
  
  

• Renew SSL certificates before expiration to avoid security warnings.
  
  

2. Keep Your Website Software Updated

Outdated software is among the top reasons nonprofit websites become vulnerable:

• Regularly check for updates to your CMS (e.g., WordPress, Joomla), plugins, and themes.
  
  

• Schedule weekly or bi-weekly update checks.
  
  

• Enable automatic updates if available to ensure constant security against known vulnerabilities.
  
  

3. Regularly Scan for Malware and Security Threats

Schedule regular malware scans using reliable, user-friendly security tools or plugins:

• Run scans at least weekly or immediately if suspicious activity is noticed.
  
  

• Use trusted services such as Sucuri, Wordfence, VirusTotal, or SiteLock to identify and address vulnerabilities early.
  
  

4. Monitor for Unauthorized Access Attempts

Keep a close eye on login activity, particularly around administrative accounts and donation-related pages:

• Enable alerts for unusual login attempts.
  
  

• Limit admin access to essential staff members only.
  
  

• Regularly review user accounts, immediately disabling access for former volunteers or staff.
  
  

5. Back Up Your Website Regularly

Regular backups are crucial for quickly recovering from cyberattacks:

• Perform automatic daily or weekly backups, depending on your website's activity.
  
  

• Store backups securely in a separate location (cloud-based or external servers).
  
  

• Test restoring backups periodically to ensure you can quickly recover your website if compromised.
  
  

6. Check and Adjust User Permissions

Ensure the appropriate access levels for all website users:

• Regularly review all user accounts and permissions, limiting administrative privileges strictly to necessary individuals.
  
  

• Remove inactive or unnecessary accounts promptly.
  
  

Additional Practices to Strengthen Your Website’s Security

Beyond regular checks, these additional measures further protect your nonprofit website:

Use Trusted Payment Gateways for Donations

Your online donations are sensitive transactions requiring the highest security standards:

• Use reputable, PCI-compliant donation platforms and payment gateways.
  
  

• Avoid handling or storing donor payment information directly on your website whenever possible.
  
  

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Adding an extra authentication step significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access:

• Enable 2FA on admin accounts to require additional verification beyond passwords.
  
  

• Popular methods include authenticator apps, SMS codes, or email verification.
  
  

Train Staff and Volunteers in Security Basics

Human error remains a leading cause of security breaches:

• Regularly educate your team on recognizing phishing emails, creating secure passwords, and securely handling donor information.
  
  

• Reinforce the importance of promptly reporting suspicious activities.
  
  

How to Respond if You Suspect a Security Issue

If you detect or suspect a breach involving donor data or unauthorized website access, act quickly and transparently:

• Immediately notify your hosting provider or cybersecurity professional to investigate the issue.
  
  

• Change all website, hosting, and connected account passwords immediately.
  
  

• Temporarily suspend donation acceptance if you suspect ongoing data compromise.
  
  

• Clearly communicate with donors if their data may have been exposed. Transparency helps rebuild trust faster.
  
  

• Implement additional security measures and monitoring to prevent recurrence.
  
  

Keeping Your Donors Confident and Informed

Building and maintaining trust with supporters is key. Transparency around your security efforts reassures donors that their data is safe:

• Display security badges or SSL indicators on your donation pages prominently.
  
  

• Regularly update your privacy policy, clearly outlining how you protect donor data.
  
  

• Communicate your security practices proactively in newsletters, updates, or social media to reassure donors.
  
  

Final Thoughts: Security as a Foundation of Trust

For a nonprofit dedicated to wildlife conservation, donor support is the lifeblood of your mission. Protecting the sensitive data of your supporters isn’t just a technical task—it’s an ethical and operational necessity. Regularly performing simple, proactive security checks outlined in this guide helps you maintain your website’s integrity, donor trust, and ultimately ensures the continued success of your conservation efforts.

Remember, strong security doesn’t need to be complex. Incorporating regular checks into your routine, staying transparent with your donors, and swiftly responding to any security issues will help your organization remain trusted, respected, and ready to fulfill your mission securely and effectively.