This article explains why nonprofit websites are frequent targets for cyberattacks, how the responsibility for website security is divided between hosting and WordPress itself, and what practical, affordable protections leadership teams should prioritize.
Your website is one of the most important tools you have. It carries trust, handles donations, collects form submissions, and often serves as the public face of the organization.
Unfortunately, this also makes it especially appealing to attackers.
In 2024, nonprofits experienced a 30% year-over-year increase in weekly cyberattacks, and research shows they were the second-most targeted sector, with a staggering 241% increase in attacks between 2024 and 2025.
This is not a distant threat.
85% of nonprofits have already experienced at least one cyberattack.
The stakes are high. The average cost of a data breach can reach up to $2 million. But the true cost extends far beyond dollars. A breach can damage years of relationship-building in an instant. When trust diminishes, so do donations. Service delivery gets disrupted. Resources meant for mission work get diverted to crisis response.
Cybersecurity is only one part of a larger picture.
Many of the same issues that lead to breaches also appear in the broader risks of neglecting a nonprofit website, where small gaps compound into serious financial, legal, and trust consequences.
For boards and leadership teams, the question is no longer whether to prioritize cybersecurity, but how to do so responsibly without overburdening already-stretched teams.
Why nonprofit websites are targeted by cyberattacks
Website attacks are no longer manual or selective. Today, automated systems scan thousands of sites per second, looking for known weaknesses.
Nonprofits are particularly vulnerable because they rely heavily on public trust, use donation and form tools that process sensitive data, and often have limited internal technical oversight.
Over 80% of nonprofits operate on annual budgets of $500,000 or less.
Among those with any IT staff at all, the average is just one IT staff member per 96 employees. Many run older plugins or themes longer than intended simply due to capacity constraints.
Most attacks are not personal. They are opportunistic.
Attackers look for the path of least resistance, and under-resourced organizations often provide it.
Recent nonprofit cyberattacks and breaches
The threat is not theoretical. Major nonprofits have experienced significant breaches:
- UNICEF suffered a data breach in April 2024 involving data from 11 countries
- Save the Children International had 6.8TB of data stolen, including HR files, financial records, and medical data
- The International Committee of the Red Cross breach compromised the personal information of 515,000 vulnerable people
- The British Library was still recovering 10 months after a cyberattack that locked them out of vital systems
Without adequate safeguards, nonprofits risk severe service disruption, irreparable damage to vulnerable populations, and erosion of public trust that undermines fundraising for years to come.
Here are some key questions you should be asking regularly:
- How are we identifying and prioritizing our most critical cyber risks?
- Who is responsible for cybersecurity strategy and execution?
- Do we have an incident response plan, and when was it last tested?
- How often do we conduct security assessments?
- What training do staff receive, and how frequently?
The two layers of nonprofit website security
Understanding where responsibility lies is essential for effective oversight. Website security operates at two different layers, each with a distinct role.
1. Hosting-level security
This is the responsibility of the hosting provider and typically includes network firewalls and traffic filtering, protection against large-scale attacks, automated backups and restore points, secure SSL connections, and infrastructure and server maintenance.
High-quality managed WordPress hosts do this well. Providers such as WP Engine are widely respected for their investment in server-level protection, performance, and reliability.
2. Site-level (WordPress) security
This layer operates inside the WordPress website itself and focuses on login attempts and user behavior, plugin and theme vulnerabilities, file changes and uploads, malware embedded in site files, and activity that looks legitimate on the surface but is not.
Hosting providers generally do not monitor this level of activity in detail. This gap between hosting security and WordPress security is where most compromises occur.
Why hosting security alone is not enough
Even on strong managed hosting, WordPress sites can be compromised through weak or reused passwords, outdated plugins, compromised user accounts, and file uploads or edits that bypass basic checks.
These issues happen inside the application, not at the server level. They require tools that are aware of how WordPress works and what normal activity looks like within it.
The numbers tell the story. According to industry research, 68% of breaches involved human elements like phishing or human error. Among nonprofits specifically, 70% lack basic cybersecurity policies, and 53% do not offer any cybersecurity awareness training for employees. Technology alone cannot solve a problem that is fundamentally about people, processes, and awareness.
Emerging cybersecurity threats nonprofit leaders should understand
The threat landscape continues to evolve in ways that outpace traditional defenses.
AI-powered attacks: Artificial intelligence now enables attackers to craft highly convincing phishing emails that bypass traditional detection methods. These messages can mimic the writing style of trusted colleagues, reference recent organizational activities, and create a sense of urgency that prompts hasty decisions.
Attacker-in-the-middle: Even multi-factor authentication can be circumvented through sophisticated techniques that intercept authentication codes in real time. Organizations using basic MFA methods like SMS codes remain vulnerable.
Credential stuffing: When staff reuse passwords across multiple sites, a breach at one unrelated service can compromise your entire organization.
What responsible site-level protection looks like
For WordPress websites, responsible site-level protection usually includes a dedicated application firewall, malware scanning of themes, plugins, and uploads, monitoring for unexpected file changes, protection against automated login attempts, and clear visibility into what is happening on the site.
Tools such as Wordfence Premium are built specifically for this purpose and are widely used across the WordPress ecosystem. On their own, these tools generate a large amount of technical data. Their value increases significantly when they are properly configured, kept current, and reviewed regularly.
Where nonprofits often struggle
Nonprofit teams are often stretched thin. Security alerts may arrive by email, but no one is sure which alerts matter. Warnings may be ignored because they are unclear, and small issues can go unnoticed until they become larger problems.
This is rarely due to negligence. It is usually a matter of capacity and clarity. When 95% of cybersecurity breaches involve human error, the solution is not to blame staff but to empower people through training and provide systems that make the right choice the easy choice.
A practical, balanced approach
A strong security posture does not require fear or complexity. For most nonprofits, a practical approach looks like this:
Foundation:
- Use a reputable managed WordPress host when possible
- Add site-level security software designed for WordPress
- Ensure the software is properly configured and kept current
Ongoing practice:
- Conduct annual cybersecurity risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities before attackers do
- Implement stronger MFA methods like physical security keys for high-risk roles (executive director, finance staff, anyone with donor database access)
- Review activity periodically in plain language
- Develop a cyber incident response plan that outlines steps for containment, stakeholder notification, and post-incident analysis
- Document what is happening so leadership has visibility
Culture:
- Provide regular cybersecurity awareness training for all staff and board members
- Make security updates a standing agenda item at board meetings
- Include security certifications in annual reports to reinforce donor trust
This combination addresses both layers of risk without overburdening staff.
Cybersecurity on a small nonprofit budget
More than 80% of nonprofits operate on annual budgets of $500,000 or less, but that doesn’t make cybersecurity out of reach. In fact, some of the most effective security measures cost little or nothing to implement.
- Implementing multi-factor authentication can make you 99% less likely to be hacked.
- Regular software updates close known vulnerabilities that attackers actively exploit.
- Staff training transforms your team from a potential liability into your first line of defense.
The question is not whether you can afford to invest in security. The question is whether you can afford not to.
How we support this process
For organizations that want help setting up and overseeing WordPress security tools, we provide a Managed Security Service focused on configuration, review, and reporting.
This service centers on installing and configuring WordPress security software, keeping security definitions up to date, reviewing activity and scan results regularly, and providing clear, non-technical monthly summaries that leadership and boards can actually use.
It does not replace hosting security or provide emergency incident response. Its purpose is to bring clarity, consistency, and oversight to a part of website management that is often invisible until something goes wrong.
Protecting trust, not just technology
For nonprofits, website security protects trust, continuity, and mission.
Understanding these risks and ensuring that appropriate safeguards are in place may seem daunting. But it doesn’t require becoming technical experts. What it does require is asking the right questions, allocating appropriate resources, and creating a culture where maintaining and optimizing your nonprofit website is viewed as an enabler of mission delivery rather than an IT burden.
The threat landscape has changed. Inaction is itself a decision, one with potentially serious consequences for the communities you serve and the trust you’ve worked years to build.
If you have questions about your current setup or want help reviewing your site’s security posture, give us a call. The best time to address these risks is before they become crises.
Frequently asked questions about nonprofit website security
Why are nonprofit websites targeted by hackers?
Nonprofit websites are targeted because they process donations, store personal information, and often lack ongoing technical oversight. Automated attacks look for outdated plugins, weak passwords, and unmonitored activity rather than targeting organizations personally.
Is hosting security enough to protect a WordPress nonprofit website?
No. Hosting security protects servers and networks, but most WordPress breaches occur inside the site through compromised accounts, outdated plugins, or unauthorized file changes. Site-level WordPress security tools are required to detect and stop these issues.
What is the most cost-effective cybersecurity step for nonprofits?
Multi-factor authentication, timely software updates, and basic staff security training reduce the majority of nonprofit website breaches. These steps are low-cost and address the most common attack methods.
Who is responsible for cybersecurity in a nonprofit organization?
Nonprofit leadership and boards are responsible for cybersecurity oversight and accountability. Technical tasks may be delegated, but governance bodies must ensure risks are monitored, responsibilities are defined, and reporting is reviewed regularly.
What happens if a nonprofit website is hacked?
A hacked nonprofit website can expose donor data, disrupt services, and damage trust. Recovery often requires emergency technical work, stakeholder communication, and legal review, diverting resources away from mission delivery.