The secure messaging app transforming charity collaboration & communications
Say goodbye to WhatsApp chaos and hello to professional, secure collaboration with the messaging app designed specifically for charities.
The charity sector is facing a communication crisis. While 61% of charities struggle with volunteer recruitment and coordination, most are still relying on WhatsApp groups that expose personal phone numbers, create safeguarding risks, and offer no proper oversight or data protection. Enter the SoGood Community Platform — the first secure, invite-only messaging app built specifically for charities, volunteers, and community organisations.
Why traditional messaging apps fall short for charities
The WhatsApp problem in the charity sector
Recent research reveals that charities face significant communication challenges, with budget restrictions and staff availability being primary concerns. Most charities have defaulted to using WhatsApp for volunteer coordination, but this comes with serious drawbacks:
Privacy and safeguarding risks: WhatsApp requires users to share personal phone numbers, creating privacy concerns and potential safeguarding issues when working with vulnerable groups.
No professional oversight: Charity Commission guidance emphasises the importance of proper oversight and record-keeping, which is nearly impossible with informal WhatsApp groups.
Data protection compliance issues: GDPR compliance becomes challenging when personal and professional communications blur on a single platform.
Uncontrolled group management: Anyone can add or remove members, screenshot conversations, or access sensitive information without proper authorisation.
The real impact on charity operations
Multiple conversations with charity organisation stakeholders have highlighted how volunteers often say, “I don’t want to share my personal number” when asked to join WhatsApp groups. This directly impacts volunteer participation and community engagement.
As one charity leader noted: ” We can’t expect volunteers to hand out their personal mobile numbers, and email isn’t a fix either, as many don’t have private inboxes or aren’t comfortable using email on their phones. What we need is a simple, secure space that keeps everyone up to date with training, safeguarding notices, and last-minute updates without sacrificing their privacy.”
Introducing SoGood Community:
The Professional Solution
What is the SoGood Community Platform?
The SoGood Community Platform is a secure, invite-only collaboration platform designed specifically for charities and approved participants. Unlike consumer messaging apps, it provides professional-grade features tailored to the unique needs of the charity sector.
Key features:
- Invite-only access with no public join links
- Role-based permissions (Trustees, Staff, Volunteers, Partners, etc.)
- No phone number requirements – users join via URL invitation
- Channel-based organisation (e.g. Events, Volunteers, Notices)
- Mobile app works on all smartphones
- Secure file sharing with proper audit trails
- GDPR-compliant data handling and retention
Built for charity needs
Unlike generic messaging apps or expensive enterprise solutions, SoGood Community understands the charity sector’s unique requirements:
- Safeguarding-first design: Every feature considers the protection of vulnerable users, with built-in moderation tools.
- Mixed user types: Seamlessly accommodates paid staff, volunteers, trustees, and external partners in one secure environment.
- Cost-conscious: Developed with the charity sector’s budget constraints in mind, offering professional features without enterprise pricing. SoGood Community will be provided free of charge to most charities.
- Compliance-ready: Built-in features support charity governance requirements and regulatory compliance.
What makes us different?
1. Professional channel management
Organised communication spaces: Create dedicated channels for different purposes:
- General: Organisation-wide updates and discussions
- Staff: Charity staff communication and administration
- Trustees: Sensitive governance conversations
- Volunteers: Coordination, chat and training materials
- Events: Specific project or event coordination
- Media/Documents: Resource sharing and storage
Each channel can have customised permissions, ensuring the right people see the right information at the right time.
2. Smart permission system
Role-based access control: Unlike messaging apps where everyone has equal access, SoGood Community implements intelligent permission management:
- Organisation admin: Complete control over membership and settings
- Trustees/staff: Can create posts and access organisation channels
- Volunteers: View assigned channels with permission to post where appropriate
- Partners/donors: Limited access to designated channels only
Least-privilege defaults: Users only see what they need to see, reducing information overload and protecting sensitive data.
3. Privacy-by-design
No phone number required: Users are invited via a web link that can be sent by email or QR code. This is used to create accounts without revealing personal phone numbers.
Closed network security: Membership is strictly controlled with no public discovery or join links.
Data portability: Organisations maintain control over their data, with options for export and migration.
Encryption standards: Communications are protected with enterprise-grade encryption in transit and at rest.
4. Document sharing & knowledge management
Secure file sharing: Upload and share documents, images, and resources within the protected environment.
Version control: Track document changes and maintain organised resource libraries.
Search functionality: Find past conversations, documents, and information quickly and easily.
Real-world benefits
- Streamlined onboarding: Invite new volunteers and staff members with simple email invitations, assigning appropriate roles immediately.
- Oversight & governance: Maintain proper records of communications for compliance and reporting purposes.
- Reduced administrative burden: Spend less time managing multiple WhatsApp groups and more time on mission-critical activities.
- Professional image: Present a professional face to volunteers, funders, and partners.
- Privacy protection: Participate fully without sharing personal contact information.
- Clear information access: See only relevant information for your role and responsibilities.
- Easy coordination: Coordinate activities, access training materials, and stay updated on opportunities.
- Professional development: Gain experience with professional collaboration tools.
- Secure governance: Conduct sensitive board discussions in a properly secured environment.
- Audit trails: Maintain records of decisions and discussions for compliance and transparency.
- Document security: Share confidential reports and strategic documents safely.
- Risk management: Reduce safeguarding and data protection risks across the organisation.
A charity-friendly design & technical excellence.
Open-source foundation with professional polish
SoGood Community builds upon proven open-source collaboration frameworks, ensuring transparency and avoiding vendor lock-in while providing a polished, user-friendly experience.
Mobile-first design: Native iOS and Android apps with intuitive interfaces familiar to any smartphone user.
Offline capability: Read messages and prepare responses even without internet connectivity.
Implementation & support
Simple deployment process
Organisation onboarding: SoGood’s team works with your charity to:
- Set up your organisation profile
- Define channels and permission structures
- Create admin accounts and initial user setup
- Provide training and support materials
Beta programme access: As an early adopter, your organisation can join the beta programme to help shape the platform’s development while benefiting from preferential pricing.
Comprehensive support
Training resources: Video tutorials, written guides, and best practice documentation help your team get up and running quickly.
Community support: Connect with other charities using the platform to share experiences and solutions.
Direct support: Access to the SoGood team for technical issues and platform questions.
Security & compliance in detail
Data protection standards
GDPR compliance: Built-in features support data subject rights, including access requests, data portability, and deletion requirements.
Retention policies: Configurable data retention policies ensure information is kept only as long as necessary.
Audit logging: Comprehensive logs track user actions, administrative changes, and data access for compliance reporting.
Safeguarding features
Content moderation: Built-in tools help organisation admins monitor and moderate content across channels.
Reporting mechanisms: Clear pathways for reporting concerns or inappropriate behaviour.
Emergency contacts: Integration with organisation safeguarding policies and designated safeguarding leads.
User verification: Invitation-only system ensures all users are properly vetted before gaining access.
Pricing & accessibility
Community-focused pricing
Recognising the budget constraints faced by the charity sector, SoGood Community offers this product free of charge to most qualifying charities. Larger charities will be asked to make a financial contribution that will be used to support free access for smaller charities.
Accessibility commitments
Universal design: Platform designed to be accessible to users with different abilities and technical skill levels.
Low-bandwidth optimisation: Efficient data usage for areas with limited internet connectivity.
Supporting diverse organisations
From small local charities managing a handful of volunteers to large national organisations coordinating thousands of supporters, SoGood Community scales to meet different needs while maintaining the same core benefits:
Small local charities: Simple setup, affordable pricing, and easy volunteer onboarding
Medium regional organisations: Multi-location coordination, role-based permissions, and document management
Large national charities: Enterprise-grade security, comprehensive audit trails, and integration capabilities
The Future of charity communication
Beyond basic messaging
SoGood Community represents the evolution of charity communication from basic messaging to professional collaboration. Future developments include:
Integration with Charity Finder: Connect with SoGood’s charity database and AI-powered matching system to find collaboration opportunities and funding prospects.
Advanced analytics: Understand volunteer engagement patterns, communication effectiveness, and organisational impact.
Enhanced safeguarding tools: Continued development of sector-specific features for protecting vulnerable users and maintaining safe environments.
Building stronger communities
The platform’s design recognises that effective charity communication isn’t just about sending messages — it’s about building communities, coordinating complex activities, and maintaining professional standards while preserving the warmth and dedication that defines the charity sector.
Getting started with SoGood Community
Beta programme registration
Organisations interested in joining the SoGood Community beta programme can:
- Register interest: Contact the SoGood team to discuss your organisation’s needs
- Assessment: Brief consultation to ensure the platform meets your requirements
- Setup: Guided onboarding process with technical and training support
- Launch: Go live with your first channels and users
- Feedback: Contribute to platform development through beta feedback
Implementation timeline
- Week 1–2: Organisation profile setup and admin account creation
- Week 3: Channel structure design and permission configuration
- Week 4: User invitations and initial training
- Week 5: Full launch with ongoing support
We’re transforming charity communication
The SoGood Community Platform represents more than just another messaging app — it’s a purpose-built solution addressing the real communication challenges facing the charity sector. By combining professional-grade features with charity-specific design, it enables organisations to:
- Protect privacy: Volunteer coordination without compromising personal information
- Maintain professional standards: Communications that meet governance and compliance requirements
- Improve coordination: Efficient organisation of volunteers, events, and activities
- Build stronger communities: Foster engagement while maintaining appropriate boundaries
- Focus on mission: Spend more time on charitable purposes and less on communication chaos
As the charity sector continues to evolve in the digital age, tools like the SoGood Community Platform provide the foundation for more effective, secure, and professional operations. The platform’s commitment to the sector’s unique needs, combined with modern technology and user-friendly design, makes it an essential tool for forward-thinking organisations.
Ready to transform your charity’s communication?
Join the growing number of organisations discovering the benefits of purpose-built collaboration platforms. Contact SoGood today to learn about beta programme availability and start your journey towards more effective, secure, and professional charity communication.