Nonprofits are increasingly turning to mobile app development to drive fundraising and strengthen their brand. However, not every organization is equipped with the skills or resources necessary to create an effective mobile app. Fortunately, there are a number of free tools that nonprofits can use to get started. These apps make it easier than ever for your organization to bring in donations and increase awareness of your cause. Read on to learn more about how mobile apps can boost your nonprofit’s success.
Create a Mobile App From Scratch
Mobile app development requires specialized knowledge in both software development and marketing. To create a successful app, you’ll need to understand how to create an app that gains traction with users. You’ll also need to spend time researching your target audience and understanding their needs. Most nonprofits don’t have the budget to hire a software development team to build their app from scratch.
In addition, hiring an app development company that is familiar with your organization and the cause you’re trying to promote can be difficult. Fortunately, it’s possible to create a mobile app from scratch. If you don’t have the skills to build your app from scratch yet, you can outsource the process. You can also hire an app development company that specializes in designing and building apps for nonprofits.
Free Tools to Try First
Software development is a complicated process, and it can be difficult to navigate the many nuances of the industry without experience. If you’re just starting out, you can try out a number of free resources designed to guide non-tech-savvy organizations through app development.
- Udemy - Udemy is a marketplace where users can find online courses on a variety of topics. Many of these courses are free, and some are even free for nonprofit organizations. You can browse through Udemy courses to find courses that explain app development in a way that’s easy to understand.
- Medium - Medium is a blogging platform that’s great for publishing content. Like Udemy, Medium is free, and you can use it to publish guides and guides on app development.
- Fundable - Fundable is a fundraising platform designed to help nonprofits raise money through online donations. You can sign up for a free trial to see if Fundable is a good fit for your organization.
- Coursehero - Coursehero is a marketplace for online educational materials, and it’s free for nonprofits. You can browse through Coursehero materials to see if there’s anything you can use for training your staff or volunteers on app development and marketing.
- Zapier - Zapier is a tool that allows you to create automated connections between different apps. For example, you can use it to create a “push connection” between your app and a fundraising platform.
- Karma - Karma is a feedback tool that’s helpful for organizations looking to get user feedback on their app. Users can rate your app on a scale of one to five stars and leave comments that you can use to improve your app.
- Slack - With so many apps and services, it can be difficult to stay on top of your organization’s needs. Slack is a communication tool that’s great for organizing your team and managing your requests.
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Get Familiar with Fundraising Apps
Once you’ve created your app, it’s important to start using the app for fundraising. Once you’ve gotten comfortable with your app and have made a few fundraising connections, you’ll naturally start to understand how to best use it for fundraising. One great place to start fundraising is with an online fundraising platform. When you sign up with a fundraising platform, you create a “cause account” that you can use for all your fundraising needs.
You can use this account to collect online donations, set up email fundraising campaigns, and sell sponsorships for branded content or products. In addition to these tools, many fundraising apps have a “donate” button that allows you to collect donations straight from your app. Donating through a fundraising app can be a good option if your app uses a non-native payment method.
Add more functionality with an API platform
API stands for “application program interface.” An API is a set of rules and data formats that allow you to connect your app with an API platform, like a donor management platform. A donor management platform is like a “front door” to your app. It’s the place where you store, manages, and communicate with your donors. A donor management platform can be especially helpful if you want to grow your donor database and offer premium services. Organizations can often use API platforms for free, but it’s important to understand the terms and conditions of your API use. You should also keep track of your usage to avoid overage fees.
Read More: How to create an app for a Non-Profit Organization?
Keep your data secure with a blockchain platform
In addition to API platforms, some blockchain platforms offer free tools for nonprofits. When you sign up for a blockchain platform, you get free access to a wallet where you can store tokens for donations. If your app uses a non-native payment method, you can store tokens in a blockchain wallet to collect donations. To keep your data secure, it’s important to choose a blockchain platform with high-security standards. It’s also important to keep an eye out for discounted rates during a public sale. During a sale, you can usually buy tokens at a discounted rate—even below their market price—to get access to a blockchain platform and wallet for free.
Final Words
Mobile app development is a growing field, and there are a number of benefits to nonprofits adopting this technology. Mobile apps can help your organization connect with new audiences, increase brand recognition, and drive more donations. In order to take advantage of these opportunities, your organization must have a clear vision for the type of app you want to create. You also need to understand the market for your app, the best tools for developing your app, and the proper way to launch and promote your mobile app.
