Increasing donations through online fundraising – are you missing out?
Charities continue to face a decline in funding from the Government and private donors and are looking at ways to attract new sources of funds. A service launched by Vodafone and JustGiving last year unveiled a new system that allows anyone with access to a mobile phone to donate money to a charity just by sending a simple text message.
What is the benefit?
It is hoped that giving will now be more spontaneous and more effective and 100% of all money donated will go to charity with no charges or commissions having to be paid from the sums collected.
The scheme works with any mobile network and with 50 million people owning a mobile phone there is huge potential for charities to raise additional money.
How can you become a charity member?
To register with the scheme charities have to contact Vodafone, free of charge, and pick a unique text code for their organisation. Once they have publicised their unique code to the public, donors will then simply text the code and the amount of their donation to 70070. They will then be sent a gift aid text allowing the charities to reclaim tax on the donation, boosting its value.
Spreading the word
With national TV advertising highlighting the service to consumers and charities alike, it acknowledges the importance of mobile phones in everyday life and is a reflection of how the sector can respond to society for its own benefit.
JustTextGiving also offers the service to individual fundraisers, for example, running the London Marathon, who can obtain their own short code to give to friends, family and colleagues to make it easy for them to raise funds for their chosen charity.
>> For more information on this scheme please contact our charity team or go directly to the website www.JustTextGiving.co.uk
