Right now, many of us are reexamining where our dollars go—and that should include website spending. Nonprofits put real thought into whether their messaging reflects their values. But what about the platforms and processes behind the website itself?
While there’s surprisingly few platforms with significant ties to the far-right (other than the Big Tech tools mentioned in below), there are two with connections to Israel’s war on Gaza, which may be of concern to many organization.
Two platforms with ties to Israel’s war on Gaza
Here are two prominent platforms with ties to the war, and how to tell if you’re using these tools. Moving away may take effort—but it’s worth knowing you’re affected, so you can make a plan.
Wix
Wix is a popular build-it-yourself website platform based in Israel. It has faced several controversies related to strong staff support of Israel’s war, including creating and promoting a badge that allows site owners to display a “Stand with Israel” message.
If you’re using Wix, you almost certainly know it. You log into Wix. You pay Wix. Wix emails you. A lot.
Unfortunately, leaving means rebuilding your site elsewhere, such as on Squarespace or Weebly, or hiring someone to rebuild it in WordPress. It’s far from a “click a button and move on with your day” situation.
Vercel and Next.js
Next.js is a free framework used for more complex websites. It’s built by the company Vercel, which also sells paid services that support Next.js sites. In late 2024, Vercel’s CEO posted on X (formerly Twitter) a photo of himself with the Israeli prime minister with a statement of strong support.
You might be using Next.js if you edit content in Drupal, but the public-facing site is handled separately (a “headless” or “decoupled” setup). If so, switching to frameworks like Astro or Remix may cost a few thousand dollars—but that’s probably modest compared to what you invested in the original site.
Website ethics go beyond platforms
Nonprofit website ethics aren’t limited to platform choices. They also show up in how you spend money, who you hire, and what tradeoffs get treated as “optional.”
Here’s some questions to consider. None of us will stack up perfectly to this list—we live in the real world, with limited budgets, time, and capacity. But identifying potential gaps between values and actions is the first step.
- Are you treating accessibility as optional work?
Accessibility too often lives on the “later” list. But accessible websites are about who gets to participate, who can easily find information, and who gets left out. Investing in accessibility is one of the clearest ways a nonprofit website can reflect the world we say we want to create. - Are you telling stories ethically? If you read this regularly, you’re likely sick of me saying it, but it bears repeating: always make sure you’re treating your clients and community with respect.
- Are you using AI tools thoughtfully?
AI images, illustrations, and videos raise serious questions about consent, labor practices, and environmental impact. Choosing ethical and inclusive images matters whether you’re using AI or not—but AI tools add new layers of complexity. - Are you hiring firms and consultants ethically?
Posting salary ranges, sharing project budgets, and being transparent about expectations expands who feels welcome applying. Don’t expect people to do sample work without paying them; this privileges those who have the extra time to do tree “trial work.” - Are you relying on RFPs by default?
Requests for Information (RFIs) can surface excellent firms that don’t have the time or incentive to respond to lengthy proposals. Those firms are often small, in-demand, and more likely to be women- or minority-owned. - Are you able to move away from Big Tech?
Many major platforms are tied to data extraction, monopolistic behavior, misinformation, or military use. Moving away isn’t always simple—but it can be incremental. One platform at a time still counts.
Where to start
List the platforms, frameworks, and vendors that power your website—and note where values, accessibility, and money intersect. Even small steps, like asking questions of your partners or documenting future transition plans, can move nonprofit website ethics from abstract ideals into everyday practice.
Dive Deeper
What Do We Want? To Stop Using Google Docs. (When do we want it? TBH, it’s complicated.) | Dirk Slater
A nuanced reflection on why you would want to move away from Google Docs, and alternatives. But it also serves as a good reminder that tradeoffs are normal AND ethical tech decisions are rarely simple.
Traditional RFPs: inefficient and inequitable | Nonprofit Website Insider
My critique of the traditional RFP process, which often favors large organizations and vendors over smaller, women- or BIPOC-owned firms. The article introduces Requests for Information (RFIs) as a more equitable, efficient alternative, including a practical RFI template.
Ethical and inclusive images —for a better world and website | Nonprofit Website Insider
This tip from back in October looks at how website images communicate values—often more powerfully than words. A checklist offers a way to do a gut-check on whether your images are making you more welcoming to all your visitors.