For nearly a decade, VolunteerLocal’s mobile app has served as a tool for volunteers to check their shifts with nonprofit organizations on the platform. But after years of limited updates, the app needed a revamp to meet modern demands. With a focus on improving usability and incorporating the latest technologies, VolunteerLocal partnered with Far Reach to breathe new life into the app.
The Starting Point: A Legacy Mobile App
The original VolunteerLocal mobile app, built about ten years ago, was functional but lacked the adaptability and user experience necessary for today’s audiences. Plus, it was built on an old platform and could no longer be updated in the App Store and Google Play. Brian Hemesath, President of VolunteerLocal, recognized the need for change. “The app needed to work better for our volunteers and nonprofits,” he explained. “We wanted it to be simple, easy to use, and focused on what needs to be done on the go.”
Thanks to a long-standing relationship built on crossing paths at industry events, a shared commitment to local collaboration, and the fact that Far Reach built the original app, Brian trusted Far Reach when we reached out to recommend a rewrite.
Brian recalled meeting us, the Far Reach partners, at an event called Big Omaha more than 10 years ago. Let’s put ourselves back in that time period for a moment and enjoy these photos from Big Omaha 2011.
The Far Reach Partners: Chad, Kate, Lana, Chris, and me
The Far Reach Partners Again: Me, Kate, Lana, Chad, and Chris
Who wouldn’t want to work with this group?
Rewriting a Legacy Mobile App
The app’s redevelopment began with a rewrite in Microsoft .NET MAUI, a framework ideal for cross-platform apps. While some elements of the old app, like interactions with VolunteerLocal’s API and certain logic for dates and times, were retained, many were rewritten to meet updated technical requirements.
The new version was designed with a focus on simplicity, speed, and security, ensuring it would work flawlessly on the latest devices, be straightforward for non-technical users, and keep users’ and organizations’ data safe.
Key Features and Enhancements
The revamped app brings significant improvements for both volunteers and nonprofits:
- Enhanced Usability: Volunteers can now view their shifts, check in, and even sign up for new shifts directly in the app. No more navigating to a separate website.
- Streamlined Volunteer Management: For volunteers involved with multiple organizations, the app provides a clear and organized interface to manage their commitments.
- Improved Tracking for Nonprofits: Organizations can track volunteer hours with greater accuracy, including the ability to see when volunteers check in and out.
- Modern UI: The app’s redesigned interface is intuitive and accessible, catering to users of all tech skill levels.
“We put a lot of effort into reworking the UI,” Brian shared. “Our volunteer users are often non-tech-savvy, so we had to design it to be as simple as possible.”
The Collaboration
As mentioned, the partnership between Far Reach and VolunteerLocal goes back a long way. Brian trusted us enough to come back for another project. He said, “Being able to talk directly to a developer, like Chris [Rouw], was a huge asset. He’s really good at bridging the gap between customer needs and technical solutions.” Brian prefers to work with developers in Iowa to keep the code close to home and be able to instill confidence in users about the security of their data.
Chris echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the value of this collaboration. He said having Brian’s development expertise and being able to work alongside him helped make the project a success.
Looking Ahead
The new app has already made a difference for volunteers, and the work doesn’t stop here. Plans for enhancements are underway, with features like self-reporting—allowing volunteers to log hours for activities outside of scheduled shifts—on the horizon. “We’re not going to wait another 10 years to update the app,” Brian joked.
VolunteerLocal’s mobile app is now a user-friendly tool that supports its mission to connect volunteers with nonprofit organizations that need to manage those volunteers.
Do you have a mobile app that needs to be created, updated, or rewritten? Let’s talk, reach out.