How Apple could change its charity application policy

First some facts:

• The approval procedure in general is under extreme pressure from the developer community. It is time for change…
• Apple is not making itself very popular in banning charity apps from its store.
• It is actually very discriminatory to exclude charity organizations from benefitting from the AppStore. [I even wonder if there is a the legal basis for this ban…]

Just a thought:

What if Unicef asked Apple to publish an App?

This is what Apple could do to solve the problem:

• Allow bona fide charities to make full use of the AppStore's payment facilities (paid apps, in app payments, subscriptions)
• Come up with clear and public rules for charity organizations
• Partner with a charity watchdog. They can/must do the pre-approval and clear a charity organization based on facts, figures and the public set of Apple rules. The charity watchdog becomes the guardian for the integrity of Apple's charity apps.
• Lower the 30% rule for approved charity Apps (this way every charity App also is partly an act of Apple charity)
• Start a "Charity" category in the App Store. Instant success gratified!

That's it, that's my iDonAid plea. It really would be a brave move for Apple if they would reconsider their charity app policy and - at least - make it public. I just hope that our efforts raised the awareness that mobile donations are the way to go.

Basically:

Think different for charity.

Kristof Van Brussel

Founder
iDonAid