All images from Unsplash… which doesn’t actually need to be credited!

Luckily, the world of nonprofit-friendly stock photos has improved a lot in recent years. You don’t have to settle for the old “two business people shaking hands in a white room” cliché. The best sites make it much easier to find authentic, high-quality images, without surprise fees or endless pages of unusable filler.

Here’s my go-to list for free stock photos:

Unsplash
One of the most popular and reliable sources for free, high-quality images. The photos here tend to feel modern and natural—great for nonprofits aiming for a polished yet authentic look. The search function is solid, and new content is added regularly.

Pexels
Another solid all-around site. I feel that the quality can vary a bit more than Unsplash, and somewhat more of the images lean toward the classic “stock photo” vibe. 

Nappy.co
Primarily pictures of black and brown people, in a variety of settings. This library continues to grow: if you’ve tried it before and had trouble finding what you need, it’s worth checking back.

EDU Images by All4Ed
If you need photos of students or teachers, this is a goldmine: over 700 high-quality, professional images in real educational settings.

US National Park Service Photos
Need nature or history settings? The NPS photo archive offers tens of thousands of free images, including a number featuring people interacting with the parks. Most are free to use, but always check the copyright—a few require permission.

Public Domain Image Archive
A treasure trove of old maps, diagrams, and unique illustrations. Great if you want your nonprofit’s visuals to stand out from the crowd.

Pro tip: Most sites expect you to credit the photographer or source. Add a small line of credit under each image—it keeps your conscience and your website clean.

From one photo-forager to another,

Laura

Dive Deeper

Choosing Stock Photography That Isn’t Cheesy | Wired Impact
Guidance on how to select photos that feel real, not staged, including tips on perspective, lighting, and depth of field.

5 Ways to Successfully Use Stock Photography on Your Website | Boss Project
Tips for selecting and customizing stock images, with notes on aligning photos with your site’s tone, and improving SEO.

How to Crop Photos | The eLearning Coach
A straightforward guide to cropping stock photos to fit your needs, including how to highlight what matters without losing quality or professionalism.

The Next Webinar

Clean and Current Website Content… Without the Stress

Wednesday, July 16th, 2025 at 12-12:30 ET

Keeping the content on your nonprofit website useful and current requires a plan—but not the kind that takes over your life. In this webinar, we'll look at sustainable processes for maintaining your website that actually fit your team's reality. 

You'll learn how to assign clear ownership, create simple workflows that match your capacity, and set content principles that guide what stays and what goes. We'll also cover quick audit techniques to spot problems before they become disasters, plus smart ways to use AI tools to lighten your load. 

Whether you're starting fresh or trying to bring order to an already messy site, you'll leave with a maintenance approach that works for the long haul.