• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Beth Kanter

Beth Kanter is a consultant, author, influencer. virtual trainer & nonprofit innovator in digital transformation & workplace wellbeing.

  • About Beth
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • Press
    • Books & Projects
  • How Can I Help You?
    • Keynotes & Workshops
    • Training & Facilitation
    • Resources
  • Books & Projects
  • Beth’s Blog
  • TwitterTwitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • CONTACT ME

Why Apple (and their Users) Need A Charity Vetting System for iPhone Apps

December 21, 2010 Filed Under: Philanthropy


Update: Apple made an official statement about why the pulled the app and appears to put the donation policy out of the picture.   So far, no official word from Apple on the iPhone app donation issue.
Today, the Guardian Technology blog speculated that the reason why the Wikileaks iPhone app was pulled from the iTunes store was because the $1.95 fee for the app was a donation to the organization.
Let’s unpack this ….
This is a nuanced issue.  No doubt about it.  The online petition with over 8000 signatures asks Mr. Jobs to make it easier for legitimate nonprofits to accept donations in one-click via their credit card on file with the iTunes store.  So far, no official response from Apple despite all these articles and blog posts about the issue, including this one from the New York Times.
Apple doesn’t want to do this.   Their excuse is a cop out.   Apple has a reasonable concern about liability and being sued.  What if there are scams and the donations aren’t really getting to a verified nonprofit.   That’s why they’re taking a hard line on their App Store Review Guidelines (see section 21 – by only allowing SMS or HTML donations) and preventing any in-app donations, altogether — whether it is donating through the app itself or paying the app fee as a donation to the nonprofit.    It has been suggested that the hard line is really to protect its bottom line of a 30% cut on financial transactions and this has prompted criticism of Apple not being a good corporate citizen.
Let’s look at the vetting process Apple is using for nonprofits using the  pulling of the Wikileaks App as an example.  Apple identifies a problem with the organization, kicks them (or their app) out of the store.   So in the case of a high profile story like Wikileaks and donations, Apple doesn’t need to do a lot of due diligence.      But working with a subject-matter expert in nonprofit vetting, Apple improves the odds of catching any less well-known scofflaw charities or potential fundraising scams.  Net result: a more trustworthy experience for donors and Apple reduces its liability.
Are there subject-matter experts in nonprofit vetting out there?  Last week, Guidestar’s CEO posted this invitation to Apple on his blog.

People want a way to help the causes they care about, and they want to be able to do it easily via their mobile devices. Apple is a leading platform of mobile apps. GuideStar is the premier source of vetting nonprofit information. I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

In addition, there are others who have vetting systems for technology companies such as TechSoup Global.
Yes, there are nonprofits using the HTML app and SMS donation workarounds as there are other nonprofits using the app fee for donation approach.  As nonprofits explore the best practices for an integrated mobile fundraising strategy over the coming years and as my nonprofit technology colleagues Peter Campbell,  Steve MacLaughlin, and Michelle Murrain point out it isn’t all about iPhone apps, it is about an overall mobile strategy as well as not shutting nonprofits out of a closed system.
Meanwhile, with my Nexus S and Windows 7 phones in hand, I’m exploring what the opportunities are for nonprofit apps and charitable giving apps — Apps for Caring …on these platforms.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. K says

    December 22, 2010 at 8:23 am

    Are we really surprised that Apple is once again copping out on helping those less fortunate? Not really. I know all too well of so many requests that have gone into their company to help outfit a non-profit org for a reduced cost on their equipment, only to be ignored. I am an Apple customer but over the past few years during the iPod/iPhone craze, I just see everything they do as a cash grab. Makes me want to go back to the PC and exchange my iPhone for an Android.

    Reply
  2. Laurie Pringle says

    December 22, 2010 at 8:45 am

    Guidestar does a horrible job with charities outside the USA. Canada has 86,000 Charities and Guidestar covers a handfull of them.
    Apple people are on google. Every registered charity in Canada can be viewed by anyone at http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/lstngs/menu-eng.html
    Guidestar is US-centric and Apple and the reach of apps is international. Keep Guidestar out of it. If charities have a registered charitable number in their country, no further vetting should be necessary.

    Reply
  3. Beth says

    December 22, 2010 at 9:51 am

    Laura: Good point about thinking globally vis a vis Apple’s vetting system. I think Guidestar would be one of several partners. There’s also TechSoup Global.

    Reply
  4. kashifhassan@Texttocharity says

    January 12, 2011 at 12:59 am

    For charity Campaigns in Canada you can visit our website and have very reasonable SMS campaign across the Canada just visit at Text to Charity

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. WikiLeaks iPhone App Made ,840 Before Pulled By Apple, From Each Sale Will Be Donated To WikiLeaks | Nebulos Tech News & Support says:
    December 22, 2010 at 8:00 pm

    […] any case it seems strangely ironic that iPhone apps which allow you to donate to charity must be free. 14.1 Any app that is defamatory, offensive, mean-spirited, or likely to place the targeted […]

    Reply
  2. 2010 Recap: New Opportunities Arise Out Of A Challenging Year For Raising Funds | Fundraiser Ideas and Events says:
    December 31, 2010 at 9:57 am

    […] groups are anxiously hoping for Apple to clear the way for mobile apps that let them raise funds. The main issue holding Apple back from allowing these […]

    Reply
  3. 2010 Recap: New Opportunities Arise Out Of A Challenging Year For Raising Funds | Philanthropy says:
    December 31, 2010 at 11:55 am

    […] groups are anxiously hoping for Apple to clear the way for mobile apps that let them raise funds. The main issue holding Apple back from allowing these […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Categories

Never miss a post!
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide
Powered by FeedBlitz

Related Posts

Try Exercise Snacking for Improving #WFH Mental Health

#Fakecommute: A Ritual for Work-Life Balance When You #WFH

New Year’s Rituals for Nonprofits To Improve Resilience in 2021

#AI4Good: Artificial Intelligence & Wellbeing, Ethical Dilemmas, and More

Philgorithms: Two Examples of Data Mapping to Guide Donor Decisions

Future of Giving: Coordination, Donor Retention & Artificial Intelligence

Simple Ways To Reduce Virtual Fatigue for Nonprofit Leaders

Footer

Trainer, Speaker, Author

About Me
Books & Projects
Beth’s Blog
Keynotes & Workshops
Training & Facilitation
Resources

TwitterLinkedInInstagram

Beth Kanter

Copyright © 2021 · by Beth Kanter. All right reserved. Graphic design by Eve Simon Creative. Website development by Cindy Leonard Consulting.