How do I get help from you?

What charities and nonprofits need to publish

The people who most need this page are often the least able to navigate a complicated one. Clarity here is a service obligation, not marketing.

How customers actually ask it

The same intent arrives in wording your page probably does not use. All of these mean the same thing:

  • How do I get help from you?
  • do I qualify
  • can you help me
  • how do I apply
  • eligibility criteria

What a complete answer contains

For charities and nonprofits specifically, an answer is only complete when it covers all 5:

  1. 1

    Eligibility criteria in plain language, at a low reading level

  2. 2

    What the application actually involves and how long it takes

  3. 3

    What documents or information are needed before starting

  4. 4

    Realistic time to a decision

  5. 5

    Where to go instead if they are not eligible — never a dead end

A worked example

Illustrative — not a real business

You can apply if you live in the county and are over 60. The form takes about 15 minutes and you will need your address and date of birth — no financial documents at this stage. We decide within ten working days and call you either way. If you are not eligible, we will tell you who can help instead.

Which page should own it

Get help page, linked prominently from the homepage

What silence costs

An unclear eligibility page means the people your organisation exists to serve do not reach it. That is a mission failure, not a conversion one.

More questions charities and nonprofits get

Related

Does your site answer this already?

Point RubyRep at your website and ask it this exact question. If it cannot answer, neither can your customers.

https://

Takes about a minute. No credit card.