guide
Ghost accessibility for non-profit sites: setup, plugins, and audit checklist
Running an accessible Ghost site for non-profit sites combines two layers of responsibility: Ghost's platform-level accessibility, and the non-profit-specific compliance frameworks — ADA Title III, Section 504 (federally funded), WCAG 2.2 AA — that layer on top.
Why Ghost for non-profit sites?
Ghost accessibility depends on theme choice — Ghost's default Casper theme targets WCAG 2.1 AA; custom themes vary widely. The platform itself supports semantic markup, alt text, and accessible editorial workflow but does not enforce it.
Non-profit accessibility — the regulated reality
Non-profit accessibility ensures donation portals, volunteer signup, programme information, and grant applications are usable by donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries with disabilities — an obligation under the ADA, Section 504 (for federally funded non-profits), and the EAA for EU-facing non-profit services.
Ghost accessibility challenges that hit non-profit sites hardest
• Custom theme variance
• Inaccessible third-party newsletter integrations
Non-profit pain points your Ghost site will likely have
• Donation forms with poor keyboard support
• Event registration timeouts without warnings
• Inaccessible grant-application PDFs
• Programme content as image-only
• Inaccessible third-party donor platforms
Setup steps
1. Use Casper or audit your theme: Casper is the reference accessibility-aware theme.
2. Editorial discipline on alt text: Ghost editor supports alt; require it.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Cited answers. Sourced. Updated as standards and case law change.
Can a Ghost site be made ADA compliant for non-profit sites?
Yes, provided the merchant or development team applies WCAG 2.2 AA at the source code and content level. No platform — including Ghost — guarantees compliance automatically.
Does the ADA apply to non-profits?
Yes. ADA Title III covers any "public accommodation" — and non-profit charities, foundations, museums, religious-organisation services, social service centres, and educational programmes are typically in scope. Religious organisations themselves are partially exempt from Title III but their auxiliary programmes often are not.
Do grant-funded non-profits have additional obligations?
Federal grants typically require recipients to comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act — which includes a digital accessibility component. Some grant terms now also reference WCAG explicitly.
Is Ghost accessible?
Casper theme and Ghost editor support accessibility. Custom themes vary.
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