Everyday Giving Blog

Will You Text Message Your Next Charitable Donation?

During this year’s SuperBowl, Mobile Accord worked with the United Way to launch a commercial proving out the concept of mobile donations. Additional experimental campaigns based on mobile donations have also happened recently.

What are mobile donations?

They are donations made to nonprofits through the use of a mobile device, such as a cell phone.

Mobile Accord has launched a new service at mGive.com that enables nonprofit organizations to create and launch text message donation campaigns. The donor just sends a short text message to a specific location and the donation is added to the donor's mobile phone bill. They have already worked with ASPCA, Amnesty International, Alicia Key’s organization- Keep a Child Alive, and many others.

Have mobile donation campaigns shown promise?

Mobile Accord clients like United Way deemed their campaign “phenomenally successful” and the Alicia Keys’ Keep a Child Alive campaign routinely raises thousands each night that she has a concert.

Why are Mobile Donations Important?

Making a donation by sending a simple text message is convenient. This convenience is available to the 250 million mobile phone users in the United States alone.

I believe there is another important reason this technology is critical for nonprofits and it will become increasingly important over time.

I attended a session on Generations and Social Media at PodCamp DC last month. Jessie Newburn was an energetic and knowledgeable speaker on the topic.

Jessie taught that Millennials (born between 1982 and 2000) are all about being mobile and staying socially connected through their mobile devices. This is also a very large group.

Reaching Millennials with opportunities to support nonprofits is important. Donating using a mobile phone will be natural for them. Encouraging their network of friends to also participate will also be a natural act.

Check Out mGive.com

If your nonprofit organization is interested in finding new ways to raise funds, go to http://www.mGive.com and determine if mobile donations are for you.

The Secret of Successful Charity Auctions

Photo Courtesy of Jan Sundstedt

A few years ago I attended an auction to raise money to support the teachers at my son's school. The auctioneers were mesmerizing. The participants were generous.

What was the outcome?

I remember a flag going for more than $1,000! The flag was small. It was to be displayed by parents on their car at the school. It allowed the parent to go to the head of the line when picking up his or her child. That was the only benefit the flag provided.

Was the flag worth more than $1,000?

Of course not. Most of the items at the auction were sold for many times their market value. The participants understood the auction was a fundraising event. They understood the purpose of the auction was to raise funds for a good cause. The purpose was not to find bargain prices.

Auctions can be a great way to raise money for a nonprofit organization. But only when the participants are in the proper mindset.

People need to compete with each other to overpay for items. Seth Godin recently wrote about this on his blog. He suggests that you need to set the proper tone right from the start.

Seth describes a scenario where a few "stooges" are enlisted from the audience to ensure the first item sells for much more than the actual value. When the winner(s) receive applause, the tone is set and the rest of the participants are ready to outdo each other.

I like this approach. It fosters an environment that encourages overpaying for auction items. 

If you're considering a charity auction in the future, focus as much on creating the needed environment as you put into finding items for the auction. Be creative when finding items to sell. Items that are fun and whimsical may draw more excitement and larger bids than items worth much more. Items that hold sentimental value can do the same.

What is important is how much money was raised for your cause, not the value of the items sold.

Let's Learn How to Help Ourselves & Others

Jen Lemen is my favorite artist for fun and inspiring artwork. One of her posters I own reminds me every day of the possibilities each day can bring.

Jen has now teamed up with author Odette Umurerwa and created a book with a message of self-confidence, determination and hope to encourage Rwandan and American girls (along with adults of all ages) to make the world a better place. It is based on an inspirational true story.

350 preview copies of Let's Learn How to Help Ourselves & Others have been made available at $10 this weekend only. There are only 43 left in stock at the time I am writing this. You need to click here and order your copy now.

Note: Proceeds from the sale of this book this weekend will go directly to Odette Umurerwa, the care of her daughter Grace and the Girl Power Rwanda Trip scheduled May 18-27.

Your Nonprofit Collaboration Could Be Worth $250,000

In Forces for Good, Leslie R. Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant discuss the top six practices of high-impact nonprofit organizations. Their findings were the result of a two-year study.

One of the six practices of high-impact nonprofit organizations is collaboration with other nonprofits. Viewing other nonprofit organizations as the competition to work against can be harmful to being the most effective. The study found that high-impact nonprofits build nonprofit networks and help the competition to succeed.

Collaboration is a key ingredient to maximizing the impact of your nonprofit organization. That should be a huge incentive to start building your network.

Do you want an additional incentive?

The Lodestar Foundation has just launched a competition called The Collaboration Prize. A $250,000 award will be presented to the collaboration that best puts cooperation above competition.

If you have a collaboration that should be considered for the award, go to http://www.thecollaborationprize.org for all of the competition details.

What nonprofit organizations do you currently consider your competition that you should start working with?

Volunteering Will Make You Happier & Healthier

John Tesh discusses in this video the benefits of volunteering. He says volunteering is the "one intelligent thing you can do today to make your life better."

There are many great reasons to volunteer your time. Find a nonprofit organization that shares your passion and start volunteering today.

Dave Webb Interviews Dr.Mani on Pupose, Vision, Mission and Impact

Dr.Mani is passionate and enthusiastic. He maintains several roles in life. Some of these include being an internet marketer, nonprofit leader and heart surgeon. I have the utmost respect for Dr.Mani.

Dave Webb had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Mani. You need to click here and read the question and answers.

What will you get from the interview?

• Knowledge of the difference between purpose, vision and mission
• Instruction about the power of giving
• Understanding of the impact an individual can make when you follow your heart
• Example of making a profit while making a difference
• Inspiration to change the world

You can follow Dave Webb, Dr.Mani and myself on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DaveWebb, http://twitter.com/drmani and http://twitter.com/rogercarr, respectively.

Thanks Mom Awareness and Donor Recruitment Campaign

Join me in saving lives by joining the National Marrow Donor Registry during the Thanks Mom campaign. It is happening across the country during the two weeks surrounding Mother's Day (May 5-19). The goal is 46,000 new members to the Registry (10,000 online) during the Thanks Mom awareness and donor recruitment campaign.

I am doing it and so should you. Participating is easy. Find a donor drive near you by logging onto Marrow.org or typing your zip code into the search box below.

Give hope to someone in need. Join the National Marrow Donor Registry today.

2008 Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk

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