"Someone should create an iPhone app that allows you to donate $1.99 to a nonprofit," my husband said the other day over lunch.
"Most people are willing to spend $1.99 on an iPhone application, even if they aren't sure they'll like it, or use it. What if a group of nonprofits got together and created an application where you could donate to one, or all of the groups, each month through your iTunes account?"
Seemed like a good idea to me so I started searching around for nonprofit-related iPhone apps. I was surprised by how few there were. Here's what I came up with:
- The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Guide to help you make, "sustainable seafood choices."
- GoPlanit.com's Pet Earth game where the earth is your virtual pet to take care of. They say they donate a portion of the retail price and ad revenue to plant trees.
- A DV (Domestic Violence) Awareness app provided by People Against a Violent Environment, that says that the organization receives all of the profits from the sale of the application.
- A ConsumerReports.org app to take shopping.
- One of the ideas up for voting on Ideablob right now is iGive - Micro-donating made easy and mobile with iPhone.
- An iPhone app created by a company called Melodeo that streamed Christmas music for $2.99. $1 of the sale went to the Salvation Army (via Philanthropy.com).
- Paul Lamb of Man on a Mission Consulting said that Ustream recently launched an iPhone app. He used it to watch the inauguration on his iPhone yesterday. Nonprofits could use it to livestream video from events.
- Eric Leland of FivePaths suggested the LogMeIn app explaining that it, "allows you to connect to remote computers, over 3G, nice simple remote networking alternative for accessing your desktop on the road."
- Abby Jaramillo of Urban Sprouts reports that SalesForce has an iPhone application. They have a CRM (customer relationship management) software donation program for nonprofits.
- meshugavi recommended the Google Mobile app for nonprofit staff to help them follow news and blogs using Google Reader.
- rickplus3 wrote that the Plus 3 Network, "turns every workout into a fitness fundraiser," and they have an iPhone app in development.
- @MJRovner recommended the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Guide I mentioned above.
- The Extraordinaries is building an iPhone application to help people find 20-minute volunteer opportunities, and needs volunteers.
- Social Actions will be launching the Change the Web contest next month where developers will create applications (of all kinds, not just for iPhones) using their database of 20,000 "social actions."
- Mike Dillon of Dillon Media suggested someone create a, "location-based event finder for donors, non-profits and entrepreneurs. Fundraising parties, trade shows, investment networks, etc."
- Robert Rosenthal of VolunteerMatch suggested VolunteerMatch for iPhone.
What other kinds do you think should be built?
Full disclosure: I know many of the people quoted in this post professional or personally.
Image: Screenshot of Seafood Watch iPhone app from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
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