How much does a charity website cost in Australia?
A plain-English breakdown of what Australian charities and not-for-profits should budget for a website, covering new builds, ongoing support, and the hidden costs of going cheap.
New website build costs
Website costs in Australia vary considerably depending on the complexity of the build, the experience of the designer, and what your organisation actually needs. The following table reflects professionally built sites — not the cheapest option, and not enterprise-scale.
| Build type | Typical scope | Cost range (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Simple informational site | 5–10 pages, contact form, basic SEO setup | $5,000 – $9,000 |
| Mid-complexity site | 10–25 pages, donation integration, event listings, service directories, accessibility audit | $9,000 – $18,000 |
| Complex site | Multilingual support, member portals, case management integrations, custom functionality | $18,000+ |
| Template platform (Wix, Squarespace) | Basic setup, template customisation — limited accessibility and compliance suitability | $300 – $2,500 + subscriptions |
These figures assume a professional build with proper accessibility foundations, Google Analytics configuration, and handover documentation. A $2,000 website exists — but the cost of bringing it into compliance after the fact frequently exceeds the cost of doing it properly the first time.
Ongoing support and stewardship costs
A website is not a finished product. It requires ongoing attention — security updates, accessibility monitoring, content maintenance, and compliance oversight. For not-for-profits without an in-house digital team, this is typically handled by an external provider.
| Support level | What is covered | Cost range (AUD/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic maintenance | Security updates, backups, uptime monitoring, minor content edits | $300 – $600 |
| Active stewardship | Accessibility monitoring, search visibility reporting, content support, analytics oversight | $1,200 – $2,500 |
| Full digital stewardship | Everything above, plus Google Ad Grant management, board-ready reporting, strategic oversight | $2,500 – $3,500 |
At Marzipan, ongoing stewardship is structured as an optional monthly providing the kind of ongoing digital oversight that keeps things working. We believe your digital presence should match the heart of your cause. Bring your charity’s mission to life online.
Explore our web design for charities and non profits →Using grant funding for your website
Many Australian not-for-profits are eligible to include website and digital infrastructure costs in grant applications. Relevant funding streams include:
- State and federal government digital capability grants for community organisations
- Foundation and philanthropic grants that include capacity building as an eligible expense
- ACNC-recognised programme grants where digital infrastructure supports service delivery
- Specific accessibility and inclusion funding streams
A formal written assessment of your digital needs — covering what you currently have, what the risks are, and what a remediation programme would involve — strengthens these applications considerably. Funders want to see that an organisation has a clear plan, not just a vague request for “a new website.”
Marzipan’s Digital Capacity Diagnosis is structured specifically to support funding applications. It produces a board-ready written report covering six areas: security, accessibility, search visibility, performance, user journey, and governance. The $1,500 + GST fee is credited toward any subsequent engagement. Learn more about the Diagnosis.
Starting with a Digital Capacity Diagnosis
If your organisation has an existing website — even one that was built years ago — the most useful starting point is usually a clear picture of where things stand, rather than an immediate rebuild conversation.
A Diagnosis establishes what you have, what the risks are, and what should be prioritised. It gives your board something concrete to review, gives funders something to assess, and gives any subsequent web designer a clear brief rather than a blank sheet.
It is a practical starting point, not a sales process.
Want a precise figure for your project?
Every charity has a unique footprint. Let’s map out what your organisation actually needs and give you a transparent, tailored cost breakdown. No Obligation, No fluff. Just a chat.
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