Here's my column in this month's FundRaising Success magazine, Text Giving: A Tool, Not a Miracle.
Teaser: If you pushed just one person to give via mobile who otherwise would have given by any other medium, you lost a rather large bunch of money.... How many people scratched their philanthropic itch with a quick, anonymous 10 bucks -- when they might have happily gone online and joined the ranks of connected and considerably more valuable donors?


Jeff,
I believe that if nonprofits only see mobile as another tool for getting donations, then they're only seeing the tip of the iceberg. It is a very viable means of donor cultivation through news updates, success stories, reminders for special events, call for volunteers, and on it goes.
Surveys of mobile donors indicate 71% like the idea of receiving relevant updates via mobile. And most appear to see mobile as a means of donating for emergencies. All this will evolve over time. Meanwhile it is definitely worth integrating into the marketing mix.
Again, text-to-give is only the tip of the iceberg regarding what mobile can do for a nonprofit.
Posted by: Karen Zapp, fundraising copywriter | 23 April 2010 at 08:18
Dear Jeff,
Loved the way you equated texting with your new power tool! Your POOR CAT!
Great column!
Mazarine
http://twitter.com/wildwomanfund
http://wildwomanfundraising.com
Posted by: Mazarine | 25 April 2010 at 12:40
Jeff--with different tools--we would say you hit the nail on the head! Keep us thinking about how to use technology to advance the ministry vs technology driving the ministry. RVB@BL
Posted by: Randy | 20 May 2010 at 06:30