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Purplecones

Pro bono · Social good

Doing good? We'll build it for free.

Our pro bono work is software we build at no cost for nonprofits, community groups, co-ops and other projects that exist to help people, not to make a profit. Same team, same standard, same 24-hour replies as our paying work.

Tell us about your projectCheck if you qualify

Why we do this

The groups doing the most good usually have the least to spend on software. A food bank shouldn't lose a volunteer's whole Saturday to a spreadsheet.

So we give some of our time away, on purpose. Not leftover hours, not a junior team. The people who build for our paying clients build for you.

What we'll build

The same three things. Free, or close to it.

Everything we sell, we'll also build for social good, free or heavily discounted depending on the project. We scope it small enough to ship fast and solid enough to run for years without us.

01Websites & CMSA fast, clear site your volunteers can update themselves. Donate, sign up and find-us pages that actually work on a phone.
02Practical AI toolsAn assistant that answers the same questions so your staff don't have to. Intake forms that sort themselves. Reports that write their first draft.
03Custom tools & appsVolunteer scheduling, client portals, inventory for a pantry or a shelter. The missing piece that the spreadsheet has been faking.

Who qualifies

Be honest. So will we.

We can't say yes to everyone. Here's how we decide, so you don't waste an afternoon applying.

Good fit

The work helps people first.

  • Nonprofits, charities and community groups
  • Mutual aid networks, co-ops and tenant associations
  • Schools, libraries and free clinics
  • Local projects for food, housing, health or safety
  • A clear problem and one person who can make decisions
Not a fit

Good causes, wrong program.

  • For-profit businesses, even with a mission statement
  • Political campaigns and party organizations
  • Projects that need a large team for months
  • Ideas without anyone yet to use the result
  • Fundraising for a cause we can't verify

How it works

Apply. Talk. Build. Hand over.

  1. 01 · Apply

    Tell us what's broken.

    Send us a few lines about your project. Plain words are fine, we don't need a brief.

  2. 02 · Talk

    A short call.

    We reply within 24 hours. If it looks like a fit, we talk it through and tell you yes or no, and why.

  3. 03 · Build

    Working software, weekly.

    A written scope, then demos as we go. You see it working long before launch day.

  4. 04 · Hand over

    It's yours.

    Code, accounts and simple docs your volunteers can follow. No lock-in, no surprise invoice.

What we ask in return

Free isn't the same as no strings. Here are ours.

01One decision-maker.Someone who can answer questions within a few days, so the project keeps moving.
02Running costs are yours.Domains, hosting and any AI usage are billed to you directly, at cost. We pick the cheapest setup that does the job, and tell you the number up front.
03Let us tell the story.We'd like to show the work on our site. You approve what we say before it goes up.

Questions

The fine print, in plain words.

Is it really free?

Our time is free: design, build and launch. Third-party running costs like hosting or a domain are billed to you at cost, and we'll tell you the amount before we start.

Do we need to be a registered charity?

No. Plenty of good work happens in groups without paperwork. We do need to understand who it helps and who is responsible for it.

What happens after launch?

You can run it yourself with the docs we leave, or we can talk about ongoing help.

What if you say no?

We'll tell you why, and point you to something cheaper or simpler if we know of one. A no from us is never a form letter.

How long does it take?

It depends on the scope, and we'll give you a date in writing after the call. We keep social good projects small on purpose so they actually ship.

Apply

Tell us what's broken.

Replies within 24 hours, from a person, not an autoresponder. If it's not a fit, you'll still hear back.

Tell us who the project helps and what's broken today. A few plain lines are enough.

Get in touch