How to Build a Nonprofit Mobile App To Engage Supporters

How to Build a Nonprofit Mobile
App To Engage Supporters
Kyle Barkings, Tapp Network
Joseph DiGiovanni, Tapp Network
Witt Godden, Tapp Network
www.TappNetwork.com 09.17.2020

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Today’s Presenters
Nicole Jones
Content Producer,
TechSoup
Witt Godden
Director of Strategic Marketing
Tapp Network
Kyle Barkins
Co-Founder
Tapp Network
Joe DiGiovanni
Co-Founder
Tapp Network

8
In partnership with:
A Mission-Driven
Marketing and Technology
Agency Empowering
Organizations for Good

. © TechSoup Global | All rights reserved9
Apps in a Modern World
81%
500
Million
105
Billion
of Americans own a
smartphone
Pew Research
people visit the Apple
App Store every day
Apple Insider
app downloads made
through Google Play Store
and iOS App Store
Business of Apps

Does my nonprofit need an app?
If you answer yes to one or more of the questions, you may want to consider
launching an app for your nonprofit.
● Do you want to engage with your community, funders, and constituents on a
regular basis?
● Do you want to make special resources available to your members and/or
supporters?
● Do you want to engage them more rapidly and more interactively?
● Do you want to alert them through text and a moment's notice?
● Do you want them to support you with just the click of an icon on their mobile
device?
● Do you want them to interact amongst themselves in a secure environment?
?

Does my nonprofit need an app?
1. Will your App solve a problem
2. Is your website optimized for mobile
3. Do You need an app that uses the
functionality of mobile devices?
4. Do your competitors have an App?
5. Does retaining customer data simplify
conversions?
6. Do you utilize user-generated content for
marketing and fundraising purposes?

12
Exploring Different
Types of App

Choosing The Right Type

• Native apps are installed through an app store such as the
Apple App Store and Google Play.
• Native apps are installed right onto the user’s smartphone and
can operate, in most situations, with zero internet connectivity.
• They are built specifically for one platform and work much
faster by harnessing the power of the smartphone’s processor
and can tap into platforms like GPS and can use the device’s
notification system.
NATIVE APPS

• Hybrid apps combine the many benefits of web apps and native apps. Similar
to web apps, hybrid apps rely on an HTML driven browser, with the added
distinction that the browser is built within the actual app.
• Similar to native apps, hybrid apps reside in the Apple App Store and Google
Play, and can leverage some app store device features available.
• Many nonprofit organizations build a web app and then simply convert
them (wrap them) into hybrid apps to get listed in the app stores,
without spending significant effort or money for developing a native
app.
• This also helps with elevating your nonprofit’s branding, reach and
distribution. Hybrid apps are also popular with nonprofits because they allow
multi-platform development and which can significantly reduce development
costs.
HYBRID APPS

• Mobile web apps are websites that act, look and feel like native
apps, with less implementation.
• They are powered by a basic web browser and are accessed
like any web page. The user navigates to a unique web address
and is offered the option of “installing” the mobile web app on
their smartphone home screen, ultimately making a bookmark to
that page.
• Now, as more and more nonprofit sites use HTML5, the
difference between Mobile Web Apps and regular web pages is
nearly indistinguishable. Unlike native apps, web apps require
access to the internet.
WEB APPS

Case Studies

Red Cross
Engaging Users

American Heart Association
Fundraising/Unique Event Experiences

Terre Haute BGC, Indiana
Engaging Users

Build Your Own App!

• Just want my users to have quick access to my website. All
functionality of the existing website but just running as an app.
- "Web App"
• Want to add enhanced functionality on top of my website OR
just pull specific features from my website functionality. “Hybrid
App”
• Want a separate app and feature set - "Build Your Own App"
What do you want in an app?

Convert Website to App
WordPress
https://www.mobiloud.com/
https://appmaker.xyz/wordpress/
https://apppresser.com/
There may be some limitations on functionality or what systems the "app maker" works with. So you might be
stuck to their push notification software, or their release schedules.

Convert Website to App
Non-WordPress
There may be some limitations on functionality or what systems the "app maker" works with. So you might be
stuck to their push notification software, or their release schedules.
https://gonative.io/
https://convertify.app/

Build Your Own App

https://developer.apple.com/app-clips/

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