CLIENT APPLICATION FOR SERVE IT
WEB AND DESIGN SUPPORT
Serve IT accepts applications from 501(c)3 organizations on a rolling basis with client start periods generally coinciding with the beginning of the Spring and Fall semesters. There is currently no cost associated with participation in the program.
Information for Applicants:
Timeline:
Ideally, simple websites or databases can be finished within a semester, however, this is not always the case. Depending on the features you need, when you ask for them, how long it takes you to provide content, or how long it takes to work through the design process, it can take longer.
Though spots occasionally open up at any point, we tend to choose new clients during two particular times of year:
- Late November (for consideration for projects to start in January).
- Mid-late summer (for consideration for projects to start in August.)
We have fewer students in summer, and it can be a bit unpredictable, so we tend to use this time to finish off projects (often won't take a new project during the late spring early summer.)
Client Expectations:
- Agencies will need to write their own content. Your staff is the expert on content in your area. Our students can help you figure out what to highlight and how to condense it.
- Having an idea of the general features, content, and the types of pages you would like to include will speed up the process.
- Students may need occasional nudges or reminders. Some clients have found the students do a bit better once the client contact takes something of a co-educational guidance role. We recognize this isn't for everyone, and strive to provide enough guidance on our end that this is not too onerous, but it is worth mention. Students may not travel outside Monroe County to deliver service or for meetings.
- After the site is up and live, your agency may need to hire services later for providing emergency support for site crashes that occur during holiday breaks and weekends.
How Clients are Chosen
Clients are chosen by our Advisory Council, based on 6 factors:
- Whether the organization meets or is presumed to meet the IRS definition of a charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) or a governmental agency.
- Whether the proposed project matches offerings and student ability
- Willingness of agency to work with students (being available, having tolerance for student learning gaps and students, generally, etc)
- If we have multiple applications for a limited number of spots, we choose the agency serving the community's most vulnerable populations with the least resources.
- The relative stability of the organization
- The apparent need for the technology services provided
Please continue to the next page for our application.