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Review: JotForm

jotformSending out forms can be a way for nonprofit organizations to gage interest in certain activities, get to know their volunteers better, or invite benefactors to upcoming events. With JotForm there are endless amounts of form templates a charity can chose from. From Lead Generation forms, event registration forms, surveys, donation forms, and polls- chances are there’s a form for every type of nonprofit.  

Nonprofits turn to JotFormif they don’t have a dedicated programmer or whose programmer doesn’t have the time to create forms and surveys at the drop of a hat. With JotForm a nonprofit is able to create specific form templates in a matter of minutes with no coding experience.


In Use:
JotForm, founded by current CEO Aytekin Tank serves millions of customers in over 190 countries. While it might have started as a template builder it has since expanded into a platform that not only allows customers to create forms but track responses, analyze results, and even send order forms, allowing them to get paid through the application. Templates are responsive, and easy to use, integrating with many apps whether the nonprofit is sending out an order form or is collecting data to analyze.

How people consume information has changed dramatically over time. With smartphones and tablets, the need for computers has decreased. That’s why JotForm recently introduced their “Card” template Unlike their original forms which lists all the questions on one page, a Card template has one question per page. This is especially ideal if the user is filling out the form on a tablet or mobile device.

Nonprofits can also use JotForm to send invoices out, or donation forms. Credit cards are processed right on JotForm’s website. Unlike companies like Eventbrite which charges users for each credit card transaction, JotForm only charges users the 3% credit card processing fee for each transaction- potentially saving the nonprofit hundreds of dollars per month.  

When it comes to pricing, nonprofits have four different options. They can opt for the free plan which includes five forms per month, 1,000 monthly form views, and the ability to receive 10 payments. The Gold plan is the most expensive plan which includes unlimited forms, over a million monthly views, and unlimited payments. While a Gold subscription plan will cost a business $99 per month, nonprofit organizations and educational based services can get any subscription plan for 50% off by proving that they are a 501c organization. When speaking with CMO Steve Hartert, he stated that some nonprofits upgrade their plans a few times a year when business is busy, and downgrade at other times when business is not as chaotic. Others charities tend to use the same subscription plan all year round. With four different plans- a charity whether small or large can find exactly what they are looking for. And if they don’t, they can reach a customer service representative 24/7 to answer any questions about payments, templates, or application integrations.

Ease of Use:
JotForm may prove to be difficult for first time users but once he or she creates a few forms it becomes easier.  When compared with the alternative of taking coding classes or hiring a freelance programmer- JotForm appears like the easiest and less time-consuming choice.

Technology Used:  
JotForm itself requires little to no extra technology if one is only using it to send out surveys or generic forms. Additional technology is needed when a nonprofit wants to be paid through the JotForm website or when they want to integrate a widget or app like Facebook, Dropbox, or PayPal into their form.

Recap:  
JotForm is a platform that includes a form template builder, data analytics, and a secure processing payment solution. Types of forms that a charity can choose from are; registration forms, contact forms or sign up forms. Templates are responsive, and can even include a QR code, that users can scan to get more information about the nonprofit organization or the form they are receiving. Charities can pick from one of four subscriptions that range from $0 to $99 per month. By showing that they are 501c certified, nonprofits can receive 50% off any of the subscription plans.

Advantages:

  • Nonprofits receive 50% off of all subscription plans

  • Subscribers can accept payments through JotForm’s SSL secured website

  • JotForm integrates with numerous applications such as DropBox, PayPal, Google and Square

  • Responsive templates

  • Over 25 different types of forms to choose from

  • Disadvantages:

  • Not as many color combinations to make forms unique

  • Unless different templates are constantly added, a nonprofit may find themselves using the same forms over and over

  • While JotForm does offer analytics- they’re not as in depth as some nonprofits may need/want


  • My Opinion:
    I think it’s important for a company to have a name that encompasses everything that’s included within their business. I was very surprised when I spoke to  Steve Hartert and found out all of JotForm’s capabilities. Other than that, I found JotForm to be really easy to use, and was impressed by the amount of templates that nonprofits can choose from and the numerous applications that integrates with it. I hope that as JotForm continues to expand they can include more in depth analytics – as accurate data is crucial in helping a nonprofit succeed.


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    Danielle Loughnane

    Danielle Loughnane earned her B.F.A. in Creative Writing from Emerson College and has currently been working in the data science field since 2015. She is the author of a comic book entitled, “The Superhighs” and wrote a blog from 2011-2015 about working in the restaurant industry called, "Sir I Think You've Had Too Much.” In her spare time she likes reading graphic novels and snuggling with her dogs.

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