Thursday Buzz: Apple Drops App Developer Fees for Nonprofits

Yesterday, Apple announced a little good news  (opens in a new tab) 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).

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 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) #assnchat  (opens in a new tab) #association  (opens in a new tab)

— MemberClicks (@MemberClicks) January 3, 2018  (opens in a new tab)

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)—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) 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).

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).

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