--- title: "Thursday Buzz: Apple Drops App Developer Fees for Nonprofits" id: "41007" type: "post" slug: "thursday-buzz-apple-drops-app-developer-fees-for-nonprofits" published_at: "2018-01-04T23:26:29+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T21:05:13+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/01/04/thursday-buzz-apple-drops-app-developer-fees-for-nonprofits/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/01/04/thursday-buzz-apple-drops-app-developer-fees-for-nonprofits.md" excerpt: "The Apple Developer Program, required for app-makers that want to appear in the App Store, will now be free for nonprofits as long as they meet certain requirements. Also: Find out why your members may not trust you." taxonomy_category: - "Membership" taxonomy_post_tag: - "app development" - "AssociationsNow" - "Membership" - "nonprofit" - "Technology" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Thursday Buzz: Apple Drops App Developer Fees for Nonprofits Yesterday, Apple [announced a little good news (opens in a new tab)](https://developer.apple.com/support/membership-fee-waiver/) for nonprofits that develop apps. The tech giant is allowing nonprofit groups, accredited educational institutions, and U.S. government entities that distribute free apps via the App Store the ability to apply for an Apple Developer Program membership fee waiver. Currently, membership in the Apple Developer Program is $99 per year and provides App Store distribution along with “access to beta software, advanced app capabilities, extensive beta testing tools, and app analytics,” [says the Apple site (opens in a new tab)](https://developer.apple.com/programs/) . The move to encourage nonprofits to sign on as app developers comes at a time when they might specifically need to. Last year, Apple introduced a controversial policy stating that apps produced from a commercialized template or app developer service will be rejected from the App Store. This rule affected organizations that use event apps created by third-party vendors. After considerable backlash, Apple [loosened up the rule](https://associationsnow.com/2017/12/apple-offers-reprieve-on-rules-that-targeted-event-apps/) at the end of 2017. Apps created by vendors will now be accepted, but they have to be submitted to the App Store “directly by the provider of the app’s content.” Now, nonprofits might be able to submit those event apps for free. ### Are You Trustworthy? > 4 reasons your members may not trust your organization: [https://t.co/295TpUM7Du (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/295TpUM7Du) > [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#association (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/association?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — MemberClicks (@MemberClicks) [January 3, 2018 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/MemberClicks/status/948639725845348352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **To maintain healthy membership levels,** your members must feel that your organization is trustworthy and working for them. The MemberClicks blog shares a few [reasons why your association (opens in a new tab)](http://blog.memberclicks.com/4-reasons-your-members-dont-trust-you) —even if it’s doing great work—isn’t inspiring trust. One reason your members may lose faith is that they feel like you don’t know them well enough. “Your members (especially millennials) anticipate that you know certain information about them, and will use it to communicate with them effectively,” writes Colleen Bottorff. “Create segmented lists in your association management software so you are always communicating the right message with the right group of members.” ### Other Links of Note **Infographic of the Day:** #GivingTuesday 2017 was a big hit for many groups. Network for Good [compiled key insights and learnings (opens in a new tab)](https://www.networkforgood.com/nonprofitblog/givingtuesday-2017-means-nonprofits-2018/) from the day. **We perform A/B tests to optimize our digital strategies,** but what if the test doesn’t reveal obvious results? *The Agitator* shares ways to find [insights hidden just beneath the surface (opens in a new tab)](http://www.theagitator.net/uncategorized/testing-when-a-b-tests-attack-your-results/) . **Flaws in processors from major chipmakers** have left many computers vulnerable to cyberattack. *CNET* provides helpful [advice for protecting yourself and your organization (opens in a new tab)](https://www.cnet.com/news/spectre-meltdown-intel-arm-amd-processor-cpu-chip-flaw-vulnerability-faq/) . (humonia/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#app development](https://associationsnow.com/tag/app-development/) [#Membership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/membership/) [#nonprofit](https://associationsnow.com/tag/nonprofit/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [TemplateMembers onlyMember Onboarding ToolkitNovember 5, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/11/05/member-onboarding-toolkit/) - [Video2025 Summit Award Recipient: National Adoption AssociationOctober 3, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/10/03/2025-summit-award-recipient-national-adoption-association/) - [VideoTomSmith Training CCSeptember 15, 2021](https://associationsnow.com/2021/09/15/tomsmith-training-cc/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2018%2F01%2F04%2Fthursday-buzz-apple-drops-app-developer-fees-for-nonprofits%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !