While reading my recent issue of DMNews, I read an interesting article about how non-profits are using text donations to raise money.
I guess this caught my eye because last Friday I attended a great Leadership conference in Brooklyn Park at Living Word Christian Center. (Leadercast is an annual event sponsored by GiantImpact and is simulcast in many locations around the U.S.) During the simulcast there were a couple of opportunities to text a $10 donation to Compassion International, a child advocacy ministry which aims to release children from poverty via sponsorships. I digress.....
But it got me thinking about how to use this locally. Can our churches use it? Our local chapter of Habitat for Humanity? Our area non-profits? It would be worth testing. Many of us carry a mobile device of one sort or another and all you do is text a message to a given number and your donation is taken on behalf of the non-profit. You can give with immediacy knowing that it is going to a cause you are passionate about. No writing a note to do it later - it's done!
Mobile Loaves and Fishes uses text donations to fight homelessness. They have an office in Minneapolis, although their text donation campaign runs out of their Austin, TX office. They use a service called T3 to manage this campaign for them.
The American Red Cross ran a very successful text donation campaign to raise money for Haiti. In January of 2010, they raised $5 million in pledges all in $10 increments. Pretty cool.
Broadtexter is a great text messaging service for use in sending alerts, announcing promotions/offers, and personalizing your service, etc. They DO NOT have an option for accepting donations, but a FREE, useful tool for small businesses.
There are other services that will manage text donations. Google "text donation services" for more info. Or there is a good blog article on the Consumer Reports Web site - What to Know About Text Donations.
I'm inspired to see how many different ways this can be used! How about you?
Ciao for now, Paula
I guess this caught my eye because last Friday I attended a great Leadership conference in Brooklyn Park at Living Word Christian Center. (Leadercast is an annual event sponsored by GiantImpact and is simulcast in many locations around the U.S.) During the simulcast there were a couple of opportunities to text a $10 donation to Compassion International, a child advocacy ministry which aims to release children from poverty via sponsorships. I digress.....
But it got me thinking about how to use this locally. Can our churches use it? Our local chapter of Habitat for Humanity? Our area non-profits? It would be worth testing. Many of us carry a mobile device of one sort or another and all you do is text a message to a given number and your donation is taken on behalf of the non-profit. You can give with immediacy knowing that it is going to a cause you are passionate about. No writing a note to do it later - it's done!
Mobile Loaves and Fishes uses text donations to fight homelessness. They have an office in Minneapolis, although their text donation campaign runs out of their Austin, TX office. They use a service called T3 to manage this campaign for them.
The American Red Cross ran a very successful text donation campaign to raise money for Haiti. In January of 2010, they raised $5 million in pledges all in $10 increments. Pretty cool.
Broadtexter is a great text messaging service for use in sending alerts, announcing promotions/offers, and personalizing your service, etc. They DO NOT have an option for accepting donations, but a FREE, useful tool for small businesses.
There are other services that will manage text donations. Google "text donation services" for more info. Or there is a good blog article on the Consumer Reports Web site - What to Know About Text Donations.
I'm inspired to see how many different ways this can be used! How about you?
Ciao for now, Paula
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