- Joe O'Connor
- 7 hours ago
- 8 min read
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If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your passion for a cause into a website that actually makes a difference, Ashley Reckdenwald’s story is one to follow.
After registering Land of Lovies, a charity that provides comfort items to children affected by catastrophic events, Ashley built a Wix nonprofit website that became her organization’s central hub.
She knew getting the website right wasn’t just about appearances—it was also about driving donations. In fact, research shows that digitally mature nonprofits are four times more likely than their less digital-savvy peers to achieve their goals.
So, Ashley turned to Wix for its nonprofit solutions.
TL;DR: building a nonprofit website that gives back
It all started with a simple idea: to bring a little love to children facing unimaginable loss. From that spark, Ashley Reckdenwald created the Land of Lovies website. Built on Wix, her nonprofit site now welcomes visitors to learn more about the cause and give their support.
Here are a few highlights from her story:
Ashley Reckdenwald, founder of Land of Lovies, built a Wix nonprofit website connecting donors with children in need of comfort items.
Using Wix’s user-friendly design tools, Ashley was able to create a professional website quickly while staying mission-focused. She used a template to help with the layout and the AI website builder for inspiration.
Her website features include an embedded donation form, a personal About section, an online store for fundraising, a press section for credibility and an adaptable design for future initiatives.
The Land of Lovies website provides plenty of lessons in how to create a nonprofit website: Start with a template but add your personal touch. Keep the design clean and aim to find the right mix of friendly and professional, while keeping your branding consistent.
Check out the Wix nonprofit website templates for inspiration or your next jumping off point.
Meet Ashley Reckdenwald, creator of this Wix website
In early 2025, while watching news coverage of the LA wildfires, Ashley saw heartbreaking images of families standing in front of what used to be their homes.
Ashley imagined her own family in that situation, and a thought hit her: if she ever had to flee her home, one of the first things she’d try to save is her kids’ favorite stuffed toys.
That thought stuck with her. When she couldn’t find a charity doing that kind of work, she figured, ‘Why don’t I just start something myself?’
First, Ashley created a simple spreadsheet linking families who’d lost their “lovies” with donors who wanted to help. She shared it through her professional network, and the idea quickly took off, gaining momentum and catching the attention of major media outlets.
“It really just exploded,” says Ashley. “People kept calling and emailing, ‘What can I do? How can I help? How can I donate?’ That's when I knew that I had really touched on something.”
After registering Land of Lovies as a charity (she chose “lovies” over “stuffed animals” for SEO purposes), the next step was to create a Wix nonprofit website.
Related reading: What makes a good website
How Land of Lovies built its nonprofit website with Wix
Before diving into building her site, Ashley teamed up with a graphic designer friend to create the logo for Land of Lovies. The result: a sweet illustration of an adult bear holding a baby bear, which became her creative “jumping off point” and inspired the look and feel of her website.
Customizing a Wix nonprofit website template
After researching other nonprofit websites for inspiration, Ashley started with a website template. This approach gave her the best of both worlds: she could follow the structure of a pre-built layout while still making it feel special.
“I always tend to go rogue from the template,” she laughs. “But it gives me a good skeleton. It allows me to take a look at what I have and then customize it.”
The template afforded Ashley just the right mix of images versus content to avoid clutter, and included all the core elements she had noted while researching other nonprofit sites.
Explore more:
Getting the look and feel right
Ashley knew that donors and families affected by the LA wildfires would be visiting the Land of Lovies website, so she wanted to create something that felt welcoming and trustworthy.
Using soft colors, personal family photos and a clean, airy design, Ashley aimed to set the tone. “I wanted visitors to feel that although we’re brand new, we have high levels of quality and service,” she explains. “I wanted an upscale look and vibe so that people know we’re taking this very seriously.”
She drew inspiration from the brand’s logo to create a sense of tenderness and trust. “I didn’t want bright colors. I knew I wanted to keep it white and soft and really speak through the imagery,” Ashley says. “Scrolling down, you see children loving on their lovies—that warmth is the message.”
Making donations easy
When Ashley started building her website, her top priority was simplicity, especially when it came to accepting donations.
“It’s great having so many different integrations, but sometimes you can overcomplicate it,” she says. “Thinking about someone visiting who wants to donate, what’s going to be the easiest way I get them there with the least amount of clicks and filling out of information?”
Ashley designed the homepage so that when you click the “Donate Now” button at the top, it jumps straight to the form at the bottom. “For me, it’s just about keeping it clean,” she says. “I didn’t have to create another page. I just used one form to integrate and link that to our nonprofit bank account.”
Giving is easy and fast. Visitors can just enter a few details and donate right away, without ever leaving the page.
Crafting the About section
The About section of the Land of Lovies website tells a personal story. It features a photo of Ashley with her oldest child running towards her, showing what the charity is all about: adults caring for kids and making sure they feel safe and loved. “Through Land of Lovies, my job is to help parents help their children from a place of care,” says Ashley.
The section also highlights just how much Ashley has accomplished, from shipping more than 700 stuffed animals within four weeks of starting Land of Lovies to creating Working Mom Notes, a social media community.
Adding a merch store
Ashley wanted to give people other ways to get involved beyond direct donations. By using Wix’s native print-on-demand solution, Printify, she began selling branded items like a Land of Lovies hoodie, without the hassle of storing or shipping inventory.
“Some people like to donate, but some people like the idea of buying merchandise,” she explains. “It’s nice marketing, but it’s also nice to say, ‘I bought this for a cause.’”
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Creating a press section
The Press section at the bottom of the homepage came later on, when Ashley realized how vital it was for her nonprofit’s credibility.
“I added the press section after the fact,” she admits. “I was kind of dragging my heels on building that part out at the bottom, but I knew it was really important. With so many different platforms out there, showing that your presence is being recognized and acknowledged helps you stand out.”
The press section does exactly that—showing visitors how Land of Lovies isn’t just making a local impact, but how big names like CNN, NBC and CBS are taking notice too.
Choosing a domain
Ashley selected the Land of Lovies website domain with intention. “I chose .org to really stay in that same thread of showing we are a nonprofit,” she says. “There is no aspect of this website that is trying to profit. I also thought the .org kept everything consistent.”
Choosing .org is a small but powerful signal that every detail of the site—from design to domain—reflects Land of Lovies’ nonprofit mission.
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Explore Land of Lovies’ Wix nonprofit website
All in all, the Land of Lovies' site that you see today is clean, simple and thoughtfully designed. Navigation is a breeze, making it easy for visitors to know where to donate and browse well-organized web content. The flexible layout also allows Ashley to adapt quickly when new causes arise; like during the Texas floods, when she was able to update the content, donation forms and CTAs within the same design.
What we can learn from Land of Lovies’ website
Looking to bring your own nonprofit online? Here are lessons from Ashley’s journey you can take on board when thinking about how to make a website and choosing the best website builder for nonprofits.
Pro tip | What Ashley says | Real-life example |
Start with a template, then make it your own | “I always tend to go rogue from the template, but it gives me a good skeleton… It allows me to take a look and then customize it.” | A small animal rescue could start with a Wix nonprofit website template, then personalize it with photos of their animals, custom colors and donation links tailored to adoption or medical fund campaigns. |
Design for warmth and professionalism | “I wanted visitors to feel that although we’re brand new, we have high levels of quality and service… I wanted an upscale look and vibe.” | A mental health charity could use calm colors and thoughtful white space to create a site that feels both trustworthy and compassionate. |
Make donations effortless | “Thinking about someone visiting and they want to donate, what’s going to be the easiest way I get there?” | A food bank could use a fixed “Donate Now” button that anchors to a one-step form, allowing supporters to give quickly from any page. |
Offer multiple ways to support your cause | “Some people like to donate. Some people like the idea of buying merchandise.” | An animal shelter could open an online store selling branded merchandise or “sponsor a pet” gifts to give supporters flexible ways to contribute. |
Tell your story visually | “That’s actually a photo of [my daughter] when she was a child running towards me… trying to evoke that sense of grown-ups caring for children.” | An education nonprofit could feature photos of teachers and students to emotionally connect visitors to their mission before they read any website content. |
Stay true to your mission | “I chose .org on purpose… There is no aspect of this website that is trying to profit.” | Any nonprofit can reinforce its legitimacy with a .org domain and clear messaging that highlights transparency and service over profit. |
Show your credibility | “I knew it was really important to show people that this is what we’re all about and that other people are recognizing it as well.” | A community outreach program could create a “Press & Partners” section to showcase news coverage and collaborations, building trust with donors. |
Why charities choose Wix
For nonprofits like Land of Lovies, a website isn’t just about having an online presence. It’s about sharing their story and making it easy for people to get involved.
That’s where Wix really shines. It gives you the tools to design something meaningful while also offering built-in features like donation forms, niche website templates and eCommerce solutions.
“I think Wix is really the platform for this type of work, because as a nonprofit, there's so many other things to worry about,” says Ashley. “You don’t have to rely on anyone for coding or website design. Wix covers all of that.”
Building a Wix nonprofit website FAQ
Can I create a free nonprofit website on Wix?
Yes, you can create a free nonprofit website on Wix using built-in tools and templates. Upgrading to a paid plan gives you more flexibility, such as a customized domain.
What are the advantages to building a Wix nonprofit website?
Building a Wix nonprofit website comes with plenty of benefits. It helps your nonprofit get noticed, build credibility and make online fundraising much easier. Plus, it’s a great way to connect with your supporters. A nonprofit website becomes the go-to place to share your story, recruit volunteers and keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
Does Wix support online donations for nonprofits?
Yes, Wix supports online donations for nonprofits by allowing you to integrate donation forms through built-in apps or third-party services.
What features should I include in a Wix nonprofit website?
Wix nonprofit websites stand out when they include the following features:
Donation tools
Volunteer forms
Event calendar
Contact and About Us pages/sections
Calls-to-action (CTAs)