Social Innovation
The Android apps that could make a massive difference to your social enterprise, whether helping you to raise money or simply to providing inspiration for your very own mobile app.
We’ve already introduced you to some of the best apps available for social entrepreneurs on iOS, and now it’s time to take a look at what Google’s Android has to offer.
These are the apps that provide advice and inspiration for your own social enterprise, demonstrating that it’s possible to change society for the better using nothing but a mobile phone. Take a look and get inspired.
1. GiveBack360
GiveBack360 has been designed to make it easier for non-profits, schools and charities to raise money, using a platform that automatically ties fundraising to purchases. People can use the app to get some fantastic deals on dining, events and other services provided by partners of GiveBack360, while at the same time making donations to good causes.
2. PocketCause
PocketCause is an app that lets users follow the social causes they care most about, seeing what social enterprises are up to and catching up on any details of upcoming events. You can use the app as a news feed for social good, and it’s also easy to use PocketCause to make donations. You can also see how much difference your own activities have on the social sphere, with a feature called CauseIt letting you track donations other people make off the back of any shared content.
3. Learn Management Principles
Learn Management Principles is an ideal tool for those starting out as social entrepreneurs. Sure, you may have mastered running your own business, burning the candle into the early hours to deliver a service you’re hugely passionate about, but what happens when your social enterprise grows and you need to take on employees? Not everybody will have the same drive and determination, and it’s important that you take an individual approach to management if you want to get the best out of your employees. This app offers everything from planning information to an overview on different types of management, and it could be a handy app when you’re looking to grow your business.
4. Business Plan
Business Plan is another useful app for budding entrepreneurs, offering tutorials to get you started, a step-by-step timeline to help you progress from a planning stage with your social enterprise, and a community who can help when you encounter issues. It’s an app that makes it easier than ever to stay on top of things, and you can also use it to access videos and podcasts about start-ups and creating a small business.
5. 4 Paws and a Tale
If you’ve already started a social enterprise and you’re looking for inspiration, 4 Paws and a Tale is well worth a look. The nonprofit was created to help canines in need, and the team behind it have now released an app to let people know more about the dogs they’re helping, sharing photographs, stories and offering a platform that makes it easier to donate. It’s a simple, fast and easy to use app, and it could provide some useful ideas when you’re creating your own Android app.
6. SimpleFund
Much like GiveBack360, SimpleFund is another platform created to help social enterprises to raise money, and it’s an app that’s so far been downloaded more than 10,000 times. Rather than gathering donations via purchases, however, SimpleFund raises money for your chosen organisations each time you carry out regular tasks, including reading articles, installing applications, watching videos and even going shopping. Each time you carry out a task you’ll be awarded points, and in this case points means prizes, with the ability to turn specific amounts of points into donations towards your non-profit.