Embrace the Mobile Channel and Help Cure Childhood Cancer
Minnesota Wild helps Children’s Cancer Research Fund to Embrace the Mobile Channel, Utilizing SMS Text Messaging for Fundraising and Cutting Edge Constituent Interaction.
Taking a leadership role in the move to incorporate mobile technology into the world of philanthropy, Children’s Cancer Research Fund, announced it will launch a new program designed to capture donations via text message. Children’s Cancer Research Fund will launch the mobile giving program on October 30th during the Minnesota Wild’s game against the Montreal Canadiens in conjunction with the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer campaign and continue to integrate mobile into its marketing, advertising and community outreach efforts.
To power its mobile platform, Children’s Cancer Research Fund has partnered with Denver based Mobile Accord, Inc., the premier provider of mobile technology to the non-profit sector. The mobile giving channel is supported by AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint/Nextel, T-Mobile and US Cellular representing the vast majority of US mobile users.
Children’s Cancer Research Fund is the one of the first non-profits in the United States to embrace the mobile giving channel allowing donors to connect with the organization and contribute funds through text messaging. Cell phone users will have the chance to instantly react to fundraising appeals and confirm their donation by simply sending a text message. The donation is charged to the donor’s regular monthly cell phone bill and is separated from other transactions and identified as a non-taxable donation.
“Virtually anyone with a mobile phone can make a donation to Children’s Cancer Research Fund by sending the text message F-U-N-D to 90999 to make a $5 donation. This new technology will allow Children’s Cancer Research Fund to connect with constituents, acquire new donors, and dramatically extend our overall reach through this vital new channel,” said John Hallberg, Children’s Cancer Research Fund’s Chief Executive Officer.
Mobile Accord spokesperson Tony Aiello, SVP Business Development states, “We have worked hard over the last 2 ½ years to accomplish this goal and continue to lead the way by developing innovative technology, educating nonprofits about the power of the mobile channel and working with US wireless carriers to embrace a framework for mobile giving that works for donors and charities alike.
- 240 Million US Mobile Subscribers
- 30 Billion Text Messages sent per month in US
- 95% of mobile phones support text messaging
US Wireless Market Stats:
“Mobile technology sets the stage for true impulse giving by removing traditional barriers such as communicating credit card information or writing a check. Cell phone users are empowered to act anytime, anywhere at the moment an appeal has top of mind awareness,” said James Eberhard, Chairman of Mobile Accord, Inc.