- Nonprofits engaging the public as public accommodations must meet ADA Title III.
- Nonprofits receiving federal funding must meet Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
- Donation forms, program applications, and volunteer signup must be WCAG 2.2 AA accessible.
- Many nonprofit platforms (Classy, Donorbox) have accessibility gaps — testing required.
- complyTech offers nonprofit discounts — contact us to discuss your budget.
Which Laws Apply to Nonprofit Websites?
ADA Title III
Applies when: Nonprofit operates as a public accommodation — providing services or programs to the general public. Covers websites as part of the public-facing operation.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Applies when: Nonprofit receives federal financial assistance (HHS, HUD, DOE, AmeriCorps grants, etc.). Requires program accessibility including digital access.
Section 508
Applies when: Nonprofit receives federal funding AND uses those funds to develop or procure IT. Requires Section 508 conformance for funded technology.
For most nonprofits that engage the public and receive any form of federal, state, or foundation support, WCAG 2.2 Level AA compliance is the practical standard across all applicable frameworks.
Most Common Violations on Nonprofit Websites
Donation forms with inaccessible amount selectors
Custom donation amount pickers with visual-only selected states and inaccessible keyboard navigation prevent donors with disabilities from making contributions.
Program application forms without accessible field labels
Service program application forms — often long and complex — frequently have ambiguous field labels, missing required field indicators accessible to screen readers, and inaccessible error handling.
Event registration systems (Eventbrite, GiveSmart) with accessibility gaps
Third-party event registration platforms embedded in nonprofit sites have varying accessibility levels. Date/time pickers, seat selectors, and fee option inputs are frequent failure points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Nonprofits that are public accommodations, receive federal funding, or have 15+ employees must comply with ADA Title III and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Organizations that engage with the public through donation pages, program applications, event registration, or direct services have legal accessibility obligations. Nonprofits serving people with disabilities have a heightened ethical obligation to ensure accessibility.
Most nonprofits must meet ADA Title III (public accommodations) and/or Section 504 (federal funding recipients). Both reference WCAG 2.2 Level AA as the technical standard. Nonprofits receiving federal grants that procure IT with those funds must also meet Section 508. The practical compliance requirement across all three is WCAG 2.2 Level AA.
Yes. Online donation forms are a critical service point for nonprofits. If donation forms are inaccessible to users with disabilities, the organization is effectively denying them the ability to support its mission. Donation platforms like Classy, Donorbox, PayPal Giving Fund, and Stripe-based integrations have varying accessibility levels and must be tested.
Nonprofits that pay federal taxes (unusual) may qualify for the IRS Disabled Access Credit. Most nonprofits (501(c)(3)) are tax-exempt and cannot directly benefit from the Disabled Access Credit. However, many states offer accessibility grant programs for nonprofits. Additionally, funders and grant-makers increasingly require accessibility as a condition of funding — making a professional audit a grant-eligible expense.
Nonprofit website ADA compliance audits typically cost $1,500–$3,500 for standard sites. complyTech offers a nonprofit discount — contact us on WhatsApp to discuss your budget. Many nonprofits include audit costs in grant applications as a legitimate program expense.