Nonprofits are using technology more and more to extend their visibility, improve the effectiveness of their work, and engage their supporters and target groups. Smartphones have become a tool that has revolutionized the way organizations interact with the public, through mobile applications.
The global app market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.48% from 2022 to 2029, with an expected market volume of $781.70 billion by 2029. But creating a mobile app for a nonprofit is not an easy task and the organization needs to follow certain steps in order to come up with an app that will suit the needs of the organization and its stakeholders.
Non-profits can use a well designed mobile application to achieve several goals such as raising funds, coordinating volunteers, creating awareness and providing timely information on the programs. Some of the features which if incorporated into the apps may include; push notifications, secure donation gateways, and event management among others.
In 2023, approximately 257 billion mobile apps were downloaded worldwide, marking a slight increase from the previous year. However, the effectiveness of a mobile application can only be gauged by its relevance to the mission of the organization and the requirements of the consumers in the marketplace.
The first essential step for any mobile application is to determine what the app is going to be used for. Nonprofits should ask questions like: What need will be filled by the app?
Is it going to be basically to raise funds, to coordinate volunteers or to create awareness? Knowing the central goals that the app is to achieve will help in the layout and usability of the app, to meet its intended purpose.
For nonprofits, the user base often includes diverse groups such as donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries. A mobile application should provide a clear and uncomplicated interface that will suit these different types of users.
It is possible to enhance the usability and effectiveness of the app by incorporating features such as support for multiple languages, and ease of access. Further, integrating post-prototype feedback into the design process will also help to optimize the app’s usability, and, therefore, the likelihood that all the stakeholders will use it regularly.
Nonprofits often operate on limited budgets, making cost efficiency a crucial factor in mobile app development. To achieve this, nonprofits should consider working with a reliable mobile application development company in USA.
Further, such companies can provide the nonprofit organizations with the scalable solutions that take into consideration their financial capabilities. Moreover, there is a possibility of nonprofits to seek for grants, sponsorships or partnerships with tech giants in order to reduce the costs of development while at the same time ensuring that they get quality work done.
A mobile app should be fully integrated to the nonprofit’s digital ecosystem which include websites, donor databases and social media platforms. This is of immense advantage as it gives the users a similar interface while at the same time simplifying data collection and analysis for the organization. Also, integration avoids duplication and allows for increased operational effectiveness while offering a holistic view of the nonprofit’s digital engagement, allowing for easier user behavior monitoring.
Certain information like donor’s details and payment information has to be protected and such information needs strong security measures. Ensuring that the application has end to end encryption, has a secure payment gateway and follows data protection regulations to ensure that users’ data is protected is crucial. Nonprofits should also define data privacy policies and make sure that users are informed about the measures taken to protect their data.
In the future, as the nonprofit develops and the traffic to the app increases, it should be able to accommodate these changes. Working with a professional mobile app development company will help guarantee that the app is scalable.
Also, it is crucial to update the app and perform some maintenance work from time to time in order for the app to function properly. Further, it is advisable that nonprofits should also make provisions for at least annual feature updates to meet changing user needs and new technologies, for the app to be relevant and effective.
Developing a mobile application entails a series of stages that involve technological skills, imagination, and user’s engagement analysis. Non-profits organisations can benefit from professionals as the partnership is time and cost efficient and the app will also be developed to a professional standard. When you hire mobile app developer with experience in nonprofit projects, you gain access to valuable insights and best practices that can make a significant difference in the app’s success.
Once the app is launched, it’s essential to track its performance and impact. This includes the level of user engagement, amount of donation received, and the number of volunteers who signed up through the app. This data can also help to guide the future changes and improvements to the app so that it remains relevant to its users.
Non profit organizations should seize the chance to leverage on mobile app development to improve their services and outreach. By focusing on user-centric design, security and integration nonprofits can develop applications that would be meaningful to end-users. Whether it is managing donations, organizing volunteers or creating awareness, an appropriately built app can go a long way in supporting the goals of the nonprofit.
Any nonprofit organisation in search of a reliable partner in this process can rely on ManekTech. Being a professional mobile application development company, ManekTech is always happy to bring ideas to life. You should contact them today and make your nonprofit’s app development process a success!
