HelpingHand iOS App

As the founder, I led end-to-end software development of an iOS Mobile App. This effort included ideation, research, design, and implementation of software standards.

Founder, Designer

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3 Person Team

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8 Months

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overview

Overview

HelpingHand started as a passion project and a way to use technology for good. As the founder, I led everything from research and UX design to full-stack development, making sure we built a platform that actually solved real problems for both volunteers and organizations.

I’ve always been involved in community work, and one pattern kept coming up—people wanted to help, but finding the right opportunities and managing schedules was a hassle. On the other side, local organizations had plenty of needs but struggled with outreach and coordination.I pulled together a small but dedicated team to tackle this, overseeing the entire design and development process to create something intuitive, scalable, and impactful. We focused on bridging the gap between volunteers and non-profits while ensuring the platform could sustain itself long-term.

40+ Talks 🗣️

to understand the volunteer experience with volunteers and organizations

1,000+ Hours 🕒

refining workflows, developing features, and bringing the vision to life

We focused on bridging the gap between volunteers and non-profits while ensuring the platform could sustain itself long-term.

research

Humans first

Building a seamless volunteer platform wasn’t as straightforward as we first thought. Before designing anything, we needed to talk to real people.

We interviewed over 40 participants across the country, from big cities to small towns, and found that the biggest barrier wasn’t motivation. It was time. People wanted to help but struggled to fit it into their schedules.

For organizations, the challenge was different. Many local non-profits had the resources but lacked the visibility, personnel, and digital tools to reach volunteers effectively. Larger organizations like the YMCA and Boys & Girls Club had an easier time getting the word out, while smaller groups struggled to compete.

76%

report facing issues when volunteering at non-profits, mostly around efficiency.

58%

are more inclined to volunteer with non-profits that offer better technology solutions.

solution

Bringing local organizations into focus

Most online tools for finding volunteer events were outdated, full of ads, or designed for larger, well-funded organizations. HelpingHand created a dedicated space where local non-profits could easily connect with volunteers.

Making participation easier

One of the biggest challenges for both volunteers and coordinators was staying updated. To fix this, we built a system where:

Volunteers could confirm attendance and track participation
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Events could sync with users' calendars for easier scheduling

Building a sustainable business

Time was at the core of HelpingHand. We wanted to make it something people could track and celebrate.

Volunteers could log their hours and see their impact on a leaderboard
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Organizations could showcase collective efforts through employee and community engagement programs

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insight

Building it was one thing. Getting people to use it was another.

Organizations loved the mission and design, but adoption was still a challenge. The biggest hurdle was trust. Even with the right tools in place, getting users to stick around and integrate it into their routines took ongoing effort.

This experience reinforced my ability to lead end-to-end software development, balancing technical execution, user experience, and product strategy. More than anything, it showed me how technology can create real-world change when paired with the right approach.