Thanks to technology, never before have humans been more accessible, yet harder to get a hold of...
Growing up in a family of six, the telephone, next to the television, caused the most blow-outs amongst my siblings and I. While we would always fight to use it, we would never bother to answer it when it rang; not knowing who was on the other end, often meant long conversations with tele-marketers and representatives of organizations seeking donations. Since the invention of caller ID, the concept of 'cold calling' has begun to die off. But many non-profit organizations are once again turning to the dail paid to help support their cause, but this time, in an innovative, safe, and convenient way.
Text-To-Donate is a concept many organizations, including the Canadian Red Cross, are adopting to increase revenue. With a simple text, cell phone users are able to donate $5 or $10 in just seconds, with the donation charged right to their phone bill!
Text Donation
Text-To-Donate was a critical part of the response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake with the Red Cross and Yele Haiti leading the charge. More than $30 million was donated via text message (14% of all efforts) in just the first 10 days following the quake. Text message donations jumped more than 200% right after the quake than the same period in 2009, according to a study by BlackBaud (Mashables, 2012)
Although Text-To-Donate provides a convenient donation method, the Canadian Red Cross rellies heavily on their own websites, and online social media platforms to spread word of the cause and information requaring the texting process.
Red Cross uses their website and social media to raise awareness of Text-To-Donate
Those looking to donate via text-message simply log onto the Canadian Red Cross website, find a cause they wish to support, text the corresponding code, and their donations is done! The site also offers one-time and monthly online donation.
Pls Txt 2 Donate $ Now. <3 Josh :)
-Joshua Smith
I think the text-to-donate idea is a fantastics invention. It allows for donnors to choose if they want to interact with the charity instead of being forced to talk to telemarketers for charities they have no interest in. I could see how this could maybe not be as effective for the charity though because the person on the other line can't be persuaded by the fundraiser. I've also always been tempted to participate but sometimes find myself afraid to commit since it is such a new idea. Sort of like how I'm afraid to be a Groupon because I have this idea in my head that it might not work or something. Also I would be curious to see if the telephone providers receive part of the funds or if it all goes to the charity. If it all goes to the charity it is an effective partnership strategy for the providers.
ReplyDeleteTierney (Group 1)