---
title: "Custom Software Guides for Nonprofits & Startups | Heartwood"
description: "Practical guides to custom software for nonprofits, churches and startups, plus how to evaluate an agency. Written by senior engineers, not marketers."
url: "https://heartwood.agency/guides"
---
# Guides for nonprofits, churches, and startups.

Practical advice on building custom software, from choosing the right partner to shipping your first product. Written by senior engineers who’ve been doing this for decades.

* [Nonprofit Software DevelopmentHow custom software helps mission-driven organizations stretch budgets, measure impact, and build donor trust.](https://heartwood.agency/guides/nonprofit-software-development)
* [Church Tech & Faith-Based SoftwareWhat church tech looks like today, giving platforms, community apps, content tools, and how to build it well.](https://heartwood.agency/guides/church-tech)
* [How to Choose a Software AgencyA practical guide to evaluating agencies: communication, pricing transparency, technical depth, and cultural fit.](https://heartwood.agency/guides/how-to-choose-a-software-agency)
* [Startup MVP DevelopmentWhat MVP development looks like, how much it costs, and how to work with an agency as a non-technical founder.](https://heartwood.agency/guides/startup-mvp-development)

## Where this could start

Every Heartwood relationship begins with a **Starter**: one fixed price, one to four weeks, worth having on its own. When you’re ready to go deeper, it grows into a **Partnership**.

[Find your starting point →](https://heartwood.agency/services?from=guides)

Start here

## Tell us what’s going on.

We’ll point you to the Starter that fits.

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  "logo": "https://heartwood.agency/images/logo.png",
  "description": "Custom software agency for mission-driven teams. Mobile apps, web platforms, embedded engineering partnerships, and engineering leadership.",
  "slogan": "We care more than it makes sense on paper",
  "foundingDate": "2024",
  "founder": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "@id": "https://heartwood.agency/about#michael-martin",
    "name": "Michael Martin"
  },
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "addressLocality": "Oklahoma City",
    "addressRegion": "OK",
    "addressCountry": "US"
  },
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    "React",
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    "TypeScript",
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    "API Development",
    "Software Architecture",
    "Engineering Leadership"
  ],
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.linkedin.com/company/heartwood-agency",
    "https://www.youtube.com/@heartwoodagency"
  ],
  "contactPoint": {
    "@type": "ContactPoint",
    "email": "hello@heartwood.agency",
    "contactType": "sales",
    "availableLanguage": "English"
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  "priceRange": "$2,500 - $50,000+"
}
```

```json
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```