FAQ
Our mobile web app would include branding to match your website, incorporation of RSS feeds (which could include blogs, posts, news, articles, stories), a map/contact page, the ability to make donations and incorporation of Twitter and Facebook. This web app is beneficial because it would create an additional revenue stream of donations as it barely even touches your budget. In addition, it would tie all of your current media outlets (blogs with RSS feeds, Twitter, Facebook) into one place for your constituents to get the information.
How is it maintenance free?
The beauty of this mobile app solution is it does not create more work as it doesn't need to be managed. It would use your current technology outlets that are fed into the app. No additional login, no maintenance, none of the hassle.
Is there a contract?
At CiviGive we believe we should be held accountable for our product and not rely upon contracts to hold our customers hostage. We feel that our product, service, and price should be good enough to make you want to stick around.
What fees are involved?
The licensing of this app is free. To get started, there is a minimal one-time $59 design fee for us to setup your logo and customize the look of the app for your organization. Typically, this setup cost is $250 but we reduce this rate to $59 for 501c3 registered nonprofits. There are NO monthly maintenance fees. If you receive donations through the app, there is a 10% fee for those donations and only applies to donations processed through the app. If no donations are collected, nothing is charged. If any additional upgrades to the app are selected then those would apply as well. If you are interested in a set monthly fee rather than a percentage of donations please contact us through the signup form and inquire for additional details.
Which cell phone users can use this App?
Our cross-platform app can be used by Apple iOS and Google Android users which together account for 93% of US mobile traffic. This is not limited to but includes iPhone, iPad, iPod, Droid, Droid X, Incredible and the list is growing.
What’s the difference between a native app and a web app?
By using our solution you would be able to reach both iPhone and Android users and not get trapped into getting approval to offer the app in their stores. Both of these stores would also submit the nonprofit to additional service fees. Android and Apple both currently take 30% of any purchases made through apps on their platform. We don't think its fair to ask you to pay these fees on top of our fees.
Conventional apps by nature are very difficult to develop because there are many different cell phones that use different operating softwares (iPhone - iOS, Droid - Android, BlackBerry - BlackBerry O.S. to name a few). So an app would need to be developed for each operating software to reach all users. In addition, to have the app distributed in each market (iTunes, Android market, etc.) you need to have the app approved which can take some time and can even be denied. Each of these distribution stores would have different arrangements for handling donations and have differing fee structures. Some companies are friendlier to nonprofits than others. When its time to add additional features or fix bugs in the software there is a lag time when the upgrade is released and when or if the user actually downloads the upgrade.
We have decided to take the approach of creating a website for mobile phones to connect without having to go through the hassles above. How are we able to get away with this? By creating an app that is accessible through the web. A button is saved by the user to their home screen. This works across operating systems which eliminates the need to develop an app for each operating software. Because users can access the app through the web it eliminates the need to have the app distributed through each market and also eliminates the approval wait time. The best part is when an upgrade is added to the app you just flip a switch and all users instantly are given access to the upgrade.
How long will it take to complete my app?
It should take approximately one week after all necessary information has been gathered.
Will my app be distributed through iTunes?
The app would not be available in the iTunes store because they take a 30% commission on all in app sales. And unfortunately, Apple doesn't differentiate between donations or purchase of products. This is a mobile web app so it's not restricted to only being installed through Apple's iTunes app store. It is an app that runs on the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Android devices and can be downloaded and installed anywhere. The best place to distribute the app would be on your website where you can use it to create some buzz and excitement for your organization. We could provide creatives for the website if needed to help promote the app. In addition another good way to spread the word about the app is through Twitter, Facebook and eblasts.
How do you recommend I distribute the app?
We can provide you with creative assets to be used on the website to promote the web app. In addition, regular mention through Facebook and Twitter will also gather more traffic.