A Saskatoon software developer is hoping to raise money for charity by building iPhone applications. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

A Saskatoon software developer is using his knowledge of the digital world to explore new ways of giving to charities.

Dale Zak is one of the founders of Apps4Good, a collective of software developers and social media gurus who build iPhone applications to raise money for charity.

The group comes together in so-called Hackathon weekends, where members write as many applications as possible over a single weekend. The proceeds from the sale of the applications go to local charities.

Zak said it's their way of giving back.

"At the end of the day, we hope to build some apps that we can sell which will benefit these non-profits," he said.

"There's always that hope that one of our apps will just strike gold and that we can bring in a lot of money which then can all be donated to this charity which can change the way that they offer support in the community."

Apps4Good formed after a Hackathon in Halifax in July 2009, where developers helped raise money for the local charity Phoenix Youth.

'Just our next step'

Phoenix Youth spokeswoman Lori Barker said the idea helped open their eyes to the potential of digital fund-raising and introduced the group to new donors.

"The developers and the programmers aren't typically the people we are seeing out at networking events and the chamber functions downtown," she said.

Apps4Good is holding its first Hackathon in Saskatoon on May 29 and 30, the same days the event is being held in Halifax.

Zak hopes the program will be successful in Saskatchewan, but he's also thinking globally.

"So, this is just our next step in our evolution but we foresee it going farther, [to] multiple cities outside of Canada, having more people involved and volunteering in a different way."

Zak is encouraging like-minded programmers to join him at Saskatoon's Hackathon, and is also looking for charities that might benefit from their work.

Both developers and charities can register at the Apps4Good website.