Unlocking Greater Support for Our Veterans and Armed Forces

In today’s digital age, technology is revolutionizing how charitable organizations engage with their supporters, and forces charities, those supporting veterans, active military personnel, and their families, are no exception. With an estimated 6 billion smartphone users worldwide, a mobile app is the key to increasing donations, improving service delivery, and raising awareness for the urgent needs of the armed forces community.

We’ll dive into why a mobile app is critical for forces charities to drive greater impact, ensure long-term support, and serve those who have served us.

Capturing the Mobile Generation’s Focus

Charities today must contend with the fact that most of their potential donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries are increasingly reliant on mobile devices. Over 70% of all internet traffic is now mobile, and for the forces charity sector, which is dependent on a broad network of donors, veterans, military families, and volunteers, reaching people where they spend their time—on smartphones—is essential.

Forces charities often have time-sensitive campaigns, whether raising funds for emergency veteran support, advocating for mental health services, or mobilizing relief efforts for the families of deployed personnel. Mobile apps are a vital tool to capture attention quickly. Through push notifications, charities can instantly alert supporters to urgent needs, upcoming events like Remembrance Day, or emergency fundraising efforts in real-time.

A well-designed mobile app ensures forces charities stay top-of-mind, offering 24/7 engagement in ways that websites or social media alone cannot match. In a world flooded with distractions, a mobile app gives forces charities the means to continually remind their audience of the critical needs facing veterans and military families.

Creating Meaningful Connections with Supporters

Once you’ve captured your audience’s attention, it’s crucial to keep them interested. This is where a mobile app truly shines by offering an interactive and personalized experience that can turn passive supporters into active advocates. Forces charities can leverage mobile apps to:

• Tell Compelling Stories: Share detailed impact stories of veterans overcoming challenges, families reunited, or mental health success stories thanks to your charity’s support. Through regular updates, photos, and videos shared on the app, charities can keep users emotionally connected.

• Offer Tailored Content: Many donors have specific areas of interest, such as supporting wounded veterans, mental health services, or families of fallen soldiers. A mobile app can customize content feeds to reflect each user’s preferences, keeping them engaged with the causes that matter most to them.

Statistics back this up: According to a recent study, organizations that implement personalized experiences see up to 55% higher engagement rates. By showing potential donors exactly how their contributions are making a difference in real-time, charities can maintain a higher level of ongoing interest, keeping their supporters engaged over the long term.

Meeting the Growing Demand for Digital Access and Transparency

Forces charities are experiencing increased demand from veterans and military families who need critical services such as mental health support, homelessness prevention, and financial assistance. In 2023 alone, it was estimated that 1 in 5 veterans in the UK face mental health issues, with charities like Combat Stress reporting that calls for help have increased by nearly 30% over the last three years.

Having a mobile app allows forces charities to scale their reach to meet this growing demand in several key ways:

1. Instant Access to Services: Veterans and families can use the app to access resources instantly, whether it’s applying for financial support, locating mental health services, or finding job retraining programs. The immediacy of mobile apps can help those in crisis connect with help quickly and efficiently.

2. Transparency and Accountability: Donors today are demanding more transparency, particularly with how their contributions are used. A mobile app can provide real-time updates, such as showing donors exactly where their money is going—whether it’s funding therapy for PTSD, housing for homeless veterans, or emergency care for military families. According to reports, 74% of donors are more likely to give again if they know the impact of their contributions.

3. Convenience for Donations: A staggering 49% of all online donations come from mobile devices. For forces charities, having a mobile app can significantly increase donation frequency by providing one-click donation options, automatic monthly giving, and quick access to donation histories. This ease of giving is critical in fostering repeat donations, particularly when supporters want to give during urgent fundraising drives, memorial days, or public appeals.

By addressing the needs of both donors and beneficiaries through an app, forces charities position themselves as responsive, trustworthy, and transparent, key factors that build long-term support and loyalty.

Strengthening Loyalty and Emotional Connections with Supporters

Forces charities depend on long-term loyalty and emotional connection with their supporters. Donors are more likely to give repeatedly when they feel their contributions are valued and making a tangible difference. A mobile app can strengthen this relationship in powerful ways:

1. Building Emotional Bonds: Veterans’ stories are often deeply emotional, filled with resilience, sacrifice, and honor. By sharing real-time updates and impact stories through the app, donors can feel personally involved in the journey of those they’re helping. Whether it’s through progress updates on rehabilitation programs for wounded soldiers or seeing the success stories of veterans who have found employment after leaving the forces, an app can build an ongoing emotional connection.

2. Exclusive Access and Recognition: Mobile apps give charities the ability to offer supporters exclusive content, such as behind-the-scenes updates, early access to events like Veterans’ Day parades, or personalized recognition. For example, a forces charity could implement a system that recognizes high-value or long-term donors with digital badges, virtual honors, or even access to special memorial services and ceremonies.

3. Gamified Giving: For younger donors especially, gamification features—such as donation challenges, leaderboards, or milestones for completing donations—can increase engagement. Imagine an in-app challenge to “Donate £10 for 10 soldiers” during Armed Forces Day, with badges and recognition awarded for participation. This not only incentivizes giving but also builds a sense of community and purpose.

Statistics show that donor retention rates increase by up to 60% when donors feel recognized and appreciated, and a mobile app is the perfect platform for fostering this sense of value and community.

Empowering Immediate Support and Participation

The ultimate goal of a forces charity’s mobile app is to inspire immediate action. Whether it’s driving donations, recruiting volunteers, or raising awareness for causes like veterans’ mental health, a mobile app makes it easy for supporters to get involved at any time.

With instant notifications, supporters can be alerted to urgent campaigns—such as an emergency relief fund for injured soldiers or a push for donations during Remembrance Week. This can significantly increase responsiveness and engagement, as users can act on these notifications immediately from their phones. Moreover, the app can integrate with social media platforms, making it simple for supporters to share campaigns, stories, and events with their networks, spreading awareness further.

Additionally, volunteering opportunities can be easily managed through the app. Users can sign up for events, track their volunteer hours, and receive real-time updates about upcoming activities like wreath-laying ceremonies or poppy appeal drives, creating more opportunities for people to take action and support veterans.

A Mobile App is Essential for Forces Charities

Forces charities are tasked with supporting veterans and military families, many of whom are facing significant challenges. In today’s digital world, a mobile app offers a powerful tool to engage supporters, deliver services, and raise much-needed funds more effectively. By harnessing the power of mobile technology, your charity can capture the attention of a larger audience, foster interest through meaningful connections, build desire with emotional and exclusive engagement, and inspire action to support those who have given so much for their country.

In a rapidly changing world, where digital access is becoming a necessity, investing in a mobile app is not just a step forward, it’s an essential leap towards greater impact.

We’re here to support your charity and provide the tools you need to move forward, at a price that fits your budget. As a UK-based company and proud signatories of the UK Armed Forces Covenant, we are dedicated to helping military-focused charities. That’s why we offer a flexible payment plan that allows you to defer payments over 12 or 24 months, with a minimal upfront engagement fee of just 20%. Plus, our development services typically cost 30% less than other companies, making it more affordable to get the mobile app your charity needs. There’s no better time to take this step.

Is your forces charity ready to lead the charge in digital engagement?