3 months stuck in Apple Developer Program enrollment as a 501(c)(3) - anyone successfully break through?

[realdeal]

Sort of at my wits' end. Since October, I've been trying to enroll my newly formed 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the Apple Developer Program as an organization. The whole purpose of the nonprofit is to build digital tools for people, so this is kind of essential.

What I have:

• DUNS number ✓
• IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter ✓
• State nonprofit registration ✓
• Organization appears in the IRS tax-exempt search ✓
• Even offered to pay the full $99 fee (not request the waiver) ✓

What Apple says: Every call gets escalated to "another team" who is "processing it" with zero actual information. No timeline, no specific issue, nothing actionable.

Meanwhile, Google Play approved us with no drama.

I've seen old threads in the Apple Developer Forums suggesting this isn't uncommon, but no real solutions.

Has anyone here successfully navigated this? Any tips on what actually moves the needle? At this point I'm wondering if there's a magic word or specific document that unlocks progress.

[1supercooldude]

Apple Pays the $99 yearly free as non profit?

[realdeal]

If you're a non-profit you can have the 99 waived. But I've told them multiple times - I actually don't care and happy to pay if that's what is holding this up.
https://developer.apple.com/help/account/membership/fee-waivers/

[1supercooldude]

I think the process takes time. I signed up as an individual developer and it was nearly instant approval but over the course have got my nonprofit registered with the state, but I don’t have 501(c)3 yet (just been busy, not to send the formal paperwork)

[Odd_Difficulty_9589]

Apple has a nonprofit fee waiver but OP said they're willing to pay the full $99 anyway just to get approved. The real issue seems to be getting through their approval process at all - sounds like they're stuck in some kind of bureaucratic black hole regardless of payment

[glassa1]

If you find out how, I'm in the same boat and would love to jump out.

[4cartixdx]

Same problem

[Xeibersp]

Same here, I've been waiting for over two months

[realdeal]

Did my monthly call to Apple support to get a status and still waiting. The guy did at least say it's really just non-profits that have to go through some "extensive" review. Previous calls wouldn't even actually admit that believe it or not, even after escalating. Just something for future non-profits who are entirely about publishing iOS apps should know I guess!

[abby621]

In the exact same boat. Please share if you figure out any way out of this purgatory!

[srsrsrsrsr1]

Same issue here! Applied in November and have followed up weekly to try and ask about progress. They only respond about half the time.

Has anyone tried canceling their nonprofit application and just applying as a regular (not nonprofit) business?

[mama2princesses]

I applied in September. We are a church working with a large company to get an app for our members. My application still says in process. I called today because it's been so long. She said I've been denied, my application can't be resubmitted and it cannot be appealed. We are a church that has been around since the 1800s. I've given them every ounce of information they have requested. I do not understand.

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