2010 has been a big year for mobile fundraising. From the Haiti disaster and BP Oil Spill right up to the holiday giving campaigns happening now, it’s time to reflect on text giving in 2010.
The first half of 2010 saw a string of large scale disasters including the Haiti and Chile earthquakes and the BP oil spill disaster, many charities responded with text giving campaigns and the supporter response was huge.
The BP Oil Spill saw the National Wildlife Federation launch a mobile giving campaign to help save animals ravaged by the spill, encouraging donations of $10 via text.
The Haiti earthquake disaster also saw many charities raise funds via text giving. The Salvation Army and the Rescue Union Mission were among many who helped raise $35 million in mobile donations in just three weeks.
The Chile earthquake disaster was another event that generated a huge response via text giving. Fundraising charities AmeriCares and Habitat for Humanity were among several charities encouraging supporters to donate via text. Like the Haiti disaster, charities encouraged supporters to text the keyword CHILE to an SMS short code to make an automatic $10 donation.
Other charities like PETA and Pathways to Housing found other inventive ways to use mobile to connect with supporters during 2010, using the channel to inform and challenge people, rather than take donations directly.
As 2010 draws to a close, many charities are now calling for donations to assist the needy during the holiday season. The American Red Cross is asking supporters for donations of $25 via text. Supporters can make a $25 donation to the Red Cross by texting the keyword GIFT to SMS short code 90999.
The Salvation Army are also raising funds this holiday season by taking their traditional Bell Ringer campaign mobile this year. The 2010 Mobile Bell Ringers campaign encourages supporters use their own networks to collect $10 mobile donations to reach their fundraising goal.
2010 has been a big year for mobile giving, and with high levels of consumer support it’s set to grow even bigger in 2011.