Apple

There have been a few blog posts about Steve Jobs' and his limited role in charity work. I would like to challenge these claims, not because I knew him personally, or because we were involved in the same projects. Rather, I suggest, the very culture of Apple was one that was striving towards stronger communities, by virtue of how he approached innovation and social interaction with technology. Read more »

Apple has recently decided to prohibit the use of apps by non-profit organizations that would allow iPhone users the ability to make donations.  As a philanthropic advisor, and the CEO of Canada’s first (and only) donor-centered charitable search engine, I find this problematic for two reasons:

1. I feel that is not Apple’s place to be the Gate Keeper of whom and how people can donate to charities. 
    
2. The charitable marketplace is the second largest contributor to Canada’s economy, and as a service provider to both charities and donors, it is important to note that the charitable sector does not respond to market pressures in the same way as other sectors.  Large smart phone manufacturers and corporations, such as Apple, need to recognize the changes that are occurring in the charitable sector marketplace, most especially the way that people are directing their charitable dollars.
   Read more »

Apple has recently decided to prohibit the use of apps by non-profit organizations that would allow iPhone users the ability to make donations.  As a philanthropic advisor, and the CEO of Canada’s first (and only) donor-centered charitable search engine, I find this problematic for two reasons:

1. I feel that is not Apple’s place to be the Gate Keeper of whom and how people can donate to charities. 
    
2. The charitable marketplace is the second largest contributor to Canada’s economy, and as a service provider to both charities and donors, it is important to note that the charitable sector does not respond to market pressures in the same way as other sectors.  Large smart phone manufacturers and corporations, such as Apple, need to recognize the changes that are occurring in the charitable sector marketplace, most especially the way that people are directing their charitable dollars. 

If Apple wants to make significant social change, while attracting and retaining their current iPhone users, then they need to let donors choose how to donate rather than limit their donation methods.

What we advocate for is open access to information on the charitable sector.  This can be achieved by working with charities and other 3^rd party evaluators to ensure that iPhone users have up-to-date information   reflecting what the users/donors want, not only what the charities want to share.    Place2Give.com is that solution.  We are the conduit to smart philanthropy.   It is through systems like ours, that Apple and other smart phone operating systems can ensure their users have access to information about Canada’s charitable sector.