Pricing & buying
How much does a nonprofit website cost in Canada?
In Canada, a small nonprofit website typically costs between $0 and $5,000 to build, depending on who builds it: a pro-bono or grant-funded build can be free, a freelancer commonly falls in the low thousands, and an agency build usually starts around $2,500. Launch72 builds a custom site for a flat $499, and one free build a month goes to a registered Canadian non-profit.
The build price is only half the question. What quietly costs a small organization more is the recurring side — hosting, platform fees, and paying someone every time a board member wants a paragraph changed.
What the options actually cost
| Route | Typical build cost | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer or board member | $0 | Depends on one person staying available. Handover is often the problem, not the build. |
| DIY website builder | $0 upfront | Monthly platform fees that never stop, and the site can't be moved off the platform later. |
| Freelancer | Low thousands | Quality and availability vary widely. Get the handover terms in writing. |
| Agency | $2,500+ | Thorough, slow, and priced for organizations with a marketing budget. |
| Pro-bono programme | $0 | Limited spots, and you're on someone else's schedule. |
| Launch72 | $499 flat | One-time, plus HST. One free build a month goes to a registered Canadian non-profit. |
The ongoing costs nobody quotes
Ask about these before you compare build prices, because they are what a small organization actually feels year after year:
- Hosting — often $10–30 a month elsewhere. On a Launch72 build it is free for life on Cloudflare.
- Domain renewal — roughly $15 a year, paid to your registrar. Unavoidable, and it should be registered in the organization's name, not a volunteer's.
- Platform or plugin subscriptions — the DIY route's real price, and it rises as you add what you need.
- Edits — whether a text change costs you an email or an invoice. If you cannot update your own hours, event dates and donate link, you will stop updating them.
Register the domain in the organization's name with a shared board email as the contact. Domains registered to a departing volunteer are the single most common way a small charity loses its website.
What a nonprofit site needs to include
Cost follows scope, and nonprofit scope is usually smaller than people expect. Most registered charities need one clear page each for what they do, who they serve, how to donate, and how to reach them — plus the accountability details funders and donors look for.
- A donate path that works on a phone, in as few taps as possible
- Your registered charity number and, if you have them, your annual reports
- Programs or services, described plainly, without sector jargon
- Board and staff, so people can see who is behind the organization
- Contact details and how to volunteer
Where grants fit
Some funders will cover a website under capacity-building or communications, but many will not fund it as a standalone line. It is usually easier to get a site funded as part of a larger program grant — for example, a campaign that needs a landing page — than as an infrastructure request on its own. Check the funder's guidelines before you build the request around it.
FAQ
Related questions
Can a nonprofit get a website for free in Canada?
Yes, through pro-bono programmes, grant funding, or a volunteer build. Launch72 gives one free custom website a month to a registered Canadian non-profit — full build, free hosting for life, and you own the code.
How much should a small charity budget for a website?
If you are paying for it, budget the build plus the recurring costs. Our build is $499 one-time plus HST, with free hosting for life, so the only ongoing cost is your domain at roughly $15 a year.
Do we need to be a registered charity to qualify for the free build?
For the non-profit programme, yes — it is open to registered Canadian charities and non-profits in good standing. Anyone can enter the separate monthly free-website draw.
Is a DIY builder cheaper for a nonprofit?
It looks cheaper on day one and rarely is by year three. The monthly fee never stops, it usually rises as you add what you need, and the site cannot be moved off the platform if you outgrow it.
How long does a nonprofit website take to build?
72 hours from the intake call for a Launch72 build. The clock pauses if we are waiting on you — which, with a board approval in the middle, is worth planning for.
Who should own the domain and the site?
The organization, not a volunteer or a vendor. Register the domain to the organization with a shared board email, and make sure whoever builds it hands over the code. On our builds you own the code outright.