Nonprofit FAQs

Cleveland GiveCamp is a gathering of volunteers with technical, creative and organizational skills who come together for one weekend each year to partner with area nonprofits and help bring their technical projects to life. Our work is completely free of charge.

What do we do? We work with organizations on tech projects that can be completed in a weekend. Most commonly, we develop websites that help our nonprofit partners operate more efficiently and reach and serve their constituents more effectively. We have also built mobile apps and games and helped organizations with other kinds of tech projects.

Who do we work with? The nonprofits we work with offer vital services and programs across Northeast Ohio. They are arts organizations of all kinds, nonprofit health care providers and groups that address poverty, hunger, racism and other issues of great concern throughout our region.

Historically we have helped between 5 and 20 nonprofits each year. The number of projects that can be done varies based on factors including total volunteers, the complexity of the projects selected, the skills available among the volunteer team, and total sponsorship donations.

Cleveland GiveCamp applications open each spring for about a month. The application is available online and can be accessed from our website. Nonprofits are selected and announced 6 to 8 weeks before the event. Sign up for our email list to be notified when the next application cycle is scheduled.

We expect that nonprofits will fill out their own applications, as they know their needs better than anyone else! However, GiveCamp organizers are always willing to answer questions or clarify requirements. Email us at info@clevelandgivecamp.org or use our Contact Us page.

If you need assistance filling out the application due to a disability please send us an email at info@clevelandgivecamp.org or use our Contact Us page to request an accommodation. We are committed to ensuring accessibility for all applicants.

Cleveland GiveCamp focuses on software technology solutions that will be built by software developers and technology experts throughout a weekend. Many of our projects are new or updated websites, but we can also build databases, newsletter capabilities, calendars, analytics and reporting, and automate internal processes. Your Project Manager will work with you to ensure that the project deliverables are small enough to be completed in a weekend.

Please note that we do not provide hardware (computers, servers, audio-visual equipment) or build hardware solutions as part of our offering.

Cleveland GiveCamp applications open each spring for about a month. We will be making selections on a rolling basis, so nonprofits should submit their applications as soon as possible to have the best chance for consideration. Sign up for our email list to be notified when the next application cycle is scheduled.

When selecting our nonprofit partners, we evaluate based on:

Locality: Is the nonprofit benefiting people and communities in northeast Ohio?
Need: Does the nonprofit struggle to fund technology solutions on its own?
Viability: Can we complete the project over the course of the weekend? Do we have the right volunteer technical expertise to build it?
Impact: Will the project greatly enhance the mission of the nonprofit?

There is no magic formula for ensuring nonprofit selection, and your organization’s likelihood of getting selected can vary from year to year. The mix of projects is based on the skills and experience of our volunteers each year, and a project that doesn’t fit one year may be favorable another year.

If you are one of the nonprofit recipients selected, a Project Manager will be assigned to you to help you prepare for the event. Your Project Manager will be your guide to ensuring a successful project that is the right size to be completed in a weekend.

While all the work done at GiveCamp is free of charge by volunteer software developers and technology experts, there can be small fees incurred for website hosting, domain registration, software licensing, web themes, etc. These charges are the responsibility of the nonprofit and are usually between $100 – $200. If you already have a website and are not changing domains or hosting platforms these fees will be minimal.

Yes! A representative of your organization will be working side by side with the team all weekend. You will get hands-on experience with the technology being implemented. Additionally, you will leave the weekend armed with documentation to take with you on how to maintain your project going forward.

The success of your project depends on someone with decision making authority to be onsite for the weekend. It does not have to be the same person all weekend. If you are unable to have representatives onsite we will not be able to offer you a spot at this year’s GiveCamp.

Cleveland GiveCamp only serves nonprofits in Northeast Ohio. You must be able to provide your Federal Tax ID Number, your IRS Determination Letter, and your IRS Form 990. Almost all of the organizations we serve have 501(c)(3) status. In rare cases other 501(c) status organizations may be considered if there is a charitable component to their mission. Organizations that do not have a 501(c) tax exempt status are not eligible for Cleveland GiveCamp.

Our event is graciously hosted by Hyland in Westlake. Their building has many accessibility features like designated accessible parking near the doors, access ramps, accessible restrooms, wide hallways, and elevators.

We do our best to get the word out and we often receive press coverage at the event.