Text messaging sends cash to charity: a new conduit for fundraising

• The epic, heart-wrenching tragedy of the tsunami that struck eleven Asian countries last December has brought forth an equally epic response, as unprecedented levels of support continue to surprise relief agencies throughout the world.
• At least three U.S. phone companies, Verizon Wireless, All Tel, and Cingular Wireless, have offered their customers the ability to send text message donations to relief agencies assisting with the tsunami disaster.
• According to Michael Pousti, CEO of SMS.ac, a mobile data communications company, approximately 14 billion text messages were sent domestically in 2003, and that number is expected to explode to 45 billion in 2005.
• This exponential growth (there were only 30,000 text messages sent domestically in June 2001), indicates that this is fast becoming one of the major communication tools in our culture.
• And as with other major communication tools - letters, television, phone calls, and emails - text messaging has the potential to become a major tool for fundraising, even beyond the tsunami relief efforts.
• In early January, Cingular Wireless sent a text to its subscribers, providing them the option of donating either $.99 or $1.99 to several different tsunami relief agencies by sending a simple message back.
• Verizon Wireless and ALL TEL have implemented a similar program; through February 10th, customers with text messaging capability can send a message to 4CARE (42273) with the word �oegift� in the message.
• They will receive a message asking them to confirm a donation of $5 to CARE, a leading organization assisting with tsunami relief efforts.
• These opportunities would be opt-in, so that potential donors would not be turned off by unsolicited messages on their cell phones.
• There is enormous potential for nonprofit organizations to partner with wireless phone companies as a means to provide another avenue for their constituents to give.