Software development for nonprofits: Everything you need to know

Nonprofits are a rapidly growing industry — today, there are approximately 1.8 million nonprofit organizations in the U.S. alone. Technology plays an integral role in their operations. Currently, the not-for-profit sector in the United States represents an industry of $2.9 trillion and spends more than $38 billion annually on information technology.

Fundraising, providing social services, and even hosting events are all tasks that modern nonprofit organizations must undertake. As a result, more organizations are looking for software to streamline their operations.

If you are a nonprofit organization looking for a development partner who can help your cause by designing a custom-made website or mobile application, this article will provide you with everything that you need to know about finding that perfect developer who will meet all your needs while working within your budget.

Importance of software development for a nonprofit organization

Today’s technology-savvy organizations are using a variety of software solutions for multiple needs. Nonprofit organizations are no exception and the global nonprofit software market is at a high growth stage owing to such an increasing requirement by the nonprofit community:

It is important to remember that software plays an essential role in any organization’s success. Whether it is an app that helps people manage their personal finances or an online tool for recruiting volunteers, there are countless examples of software helping nonprofits achieve their goals and improve the lives of those they serve.

Donorbox, which facilitates online fundraising and organizes donations, is one example of a widely used software product created specifically for the nonprofit sector. SignUpGenius is another popular service, as it provides a free online sign-up and RSVP system for gatherings. CrowdRise is an additional case in point; it is an online fundraising platform designed to facilitate the acquisition of funds for charitable and nonprofit purposes.

Overall, one of the most important factors in the success of a nonprofit is how well its message resonates with its target audience. This can be achieved by having a platform that is both appealing and easy to use. The benefits of having such an effective and sophisticated system are numerous for both you and your organization:

• You can better engage with those who support you, helping them feel more connected to your cause.
• You can raise awareness about the work you do in creative ways that are relevant to modern audiences.
• Your platform will make it easy for people from all over the world to access important information about your organization.

In the following section, we will discuss further grounds for your nonprofit organization to consider creating software.

Five reasons to invest in custom software development for nonprofits

A custom software application is an investment — it is an investment in technology, in your organization’s future, and in the people who will use it. Here are five key reasons why you should opt for software for your nonprofit organization:

1. Custom software is a powerful tool for fundraising

When it comes to fundraising, nonprofit organizations need more than simply a website. They require a fundraising tool that will assist them in connecting with contributors, organizing information regarding supporters, and keeping tabs on donations. A custom nonprofit software development team can build you a powerful fundraising tool designed for your organization’s needs.

2. Software for nonprofits helps your organization run more efficiently

Custom software development has helped many nonprofits run more efficiently by automating manual processes and streamlining data entry tasks that used to take hours or even days to complete. A custom software application can also help you save money by eliminating paper forms and saving time spent filling out reports manually each month or quarter. When you combine these two benefits, you will find yourself with more time for other important tasks like answering emails from donors or connecting with new prospective supporters through social media channels.

3. Custom software makes it easier for volunteers to help you out

Nonprofits rely on volunteers to help them out in many different ways. The problem is that these volunteers typically have little to no experience working with computers — so they can make mistakes that cause problems when they’re entering information into databases or updating spreadsheets. With custom software built specifically for your needs, however, volunteers will be able to work more effectively because they won’t have to worry about navigating through confusing menus or trying to figure out how the software works. This saves both time and resources since fewer people will need training or supervision.

4. Nonprofit organization software helps you stay compliant with regulations

Nonprofits must comply with a number of regulations and licenses, from health and safety requirements to financial reporting rules. As a result, nonprofits are required to collect large amounts of data on their operations and activities. Custom software can help nonprofits organize and manage this data so that they can meet these compliance obligations efficiently and effectively.

5. Custom software provides better customer service

Customers expect companies to offer excellent customer service, particularly when they are making a financial contribution to a nonprofit organization. They want their donations to be handled efficiently so that their money goes toward helping others rather than being wasted on administrative costs or staff salaries. When donors have confidence that their contributions are going toward helping others in need, they are more likely to donate again in the future and refer others who might also want to contribute money or volunteer time with your organization.

How to choose software development services for nonprofits

There are a number of factors to take into account when choosing a software development company. The first of these is their background working with nonprofits. This might refer to anything from their portfolio to their length of service with the nonprofit sector. For instance, although some companies cater exclusively to the nonprofit industry, others include philanthropic organizations among their clients.

Understanding what makes these agencies suitable to work on your specific project or campaign is just as important as learning how long they have been working with nonprofits and what kinds of projects they have completed. This will often be tied to their previous work experience, but other qualities, such as familiarity with the inner workings of nonprofits and the difficulties they encounter on a daily basis, may be just as important.

Therefore, when choosing your development partner for building nonprofit organization software, consider the following:

• Look for a company with experience dealing with organizations in your area.
• Look for a company that has expertise working with nonprofits in your field, if applicable to your organization’s goals and mission.
• Keeping in mind the cost is essential.

Nonprofit software development solutions: Case of Jellyfish.tech 

It is always good to know what your potential clients are looking for so you can create something useful for them, but it is even more important when working for nonprofits because these organizations often have tighter budgets than others and can’t afford to spend money just on development without seeing any results at first sight (which is usually not the case).

At Jellyfish.tech, we managed to create a solution for the nonprofit Vital Voices Global Partnership, an organization that has been investing in changemakers for 25 years. The delivered platform is a place for women leaders to connect online. When we set out to create the minimum viable platform, we zeroed in on providing powerful social networking capabilities already in use by women in positions of authority all over the world.

Jellyfish.tech team completed the MVP by refactoring/stabilizing the code and adding the essential functionality as the project progressed.

The following are all sections where our team has made a contribution: 

– Homepage

– Groups and topics

– A curated gallery of resources

– Connections

– Announcements tab

– Messenger & notifications

– Personal profile settings

Along with a new layout and improved features, we have also implemented support for several languages. A fully working MVP was released after we modified and stabilized the codebase to boost performance and provide a clean codebase that is conducive to future development and support.

Software development products for nonprofits: key features

The development of software for nonprofit organizations is an essential component in ensuring the organization’s continued success and efficacy in all aspects of its operations. It is critical that you search for a development partner who is capable of assisting your organization in reaching its full potential and who is aware of and able to meet all of your requirements.

Here are some of the key features of the software for nonprofits:

Highly customized

Nonprofit organizations often have complex needs and requirements. They want software that works for their specific industry and purpose. For this reason, it is crucial to get a development company that can create custom solutions for your needs.

Flexible pricing model

Many nonprofit organizations usually don’t have enough funds to hire a large team and can only afford small teams or individuals who volunteer their time without compensation. This means that they need affordable pricing models that allow them to pay only for what they need without having to worry about paying for overages or add-ons down the line.

Fast turnaround time

Nonprofits tend to have tight deadlines, which means that it is essential for them to be able to receive the product in a timely manner so they can start using it right away and make sure everything goes according to plan.

Support for multiple platforms

Nonprofit organizations do not have dedicated developers who can work on developing software for each platform. They need an enterprise-level solution that can be used across various platforms such as Android, iOS, Windows, etc., without any additional cost or effort involved by them in terms of maintenance and support.

Flexibility and easy to use

Easy-to-use software is an important feature for organizations that may not have much experience with technology. Nonprofit software should be easy to learn so that it can be used by staff members who are not familiar with the technology. The software should also be flexible enough to meet the needs of your organization, without being overly complicated.

Scalability

Nonprofit software should scale well as your organization grows and changes. This means that you should be able to add new features as your needs change, without having to switch to a new system or upgrade every time something new is required.

Cost-effective

The cost of nonprofit software must be affordable for your organization so that you can get the most value out of it no matter how small your budget is. Many nonprofit software providers offer discounts for nonprofits on their products in order to help them save money on necessary services like accounting and payroll management.

Challenges of nonprofit software development

A nonprofit sector is a diverse group of organizations, each with its own unique needs. There are several challenges in developing software for nonprofits. These include:

Limited budget

Non-profit software development often struggles due to a lack of financial resources. The nonprofit sector is not as profitable as the for-profit sector, and therefore it doesn’t have the same kind of funds to invest in software development.

Lack of technical expertise

It is not always possible for nonprofit organizations to develop their own software due to a lack of available resources, including experts and volunteers. There are a lot of nonprofit organizations out there, and a lot of them just don’t have the kind of technical competence that is required to build software or manage the process on their own. 

Wrapping up

In conclusion, we would like to once again reiterate the fact that software development is a crucial part of any nonprofit organization. The right choice of a software development company can make all the difference in how your nonprofit will be perceived by your target audience and donors, as well as manage its financial resources. 

Contact us right away if you have any questions or need assistance in leveraging Jellyfish.tech’s custom software development services.