Fundraising through mobile technology has definitely been the hot spot in terms of attention recently due to disasters in Haiti and around the world. Organizations both big and small have woken up to the possibility and have realized that the technology does, in fact, exist.
What a great Win-Win all around, if you ask me! Increased use and awareness of technology for social good!
There are already a number of great resources out there (just do a basic Google Search) but here are 5 Things that we’ve collected that we believe you need to know (and do) to make a Mobile Fundraising Campaign successful:
1. Should We Do This?
The first thing that really any organization, both secular and not-for-profit, need to consider is whether or not fundraising through mobile technology is the right thing for them. Typically you can answer this with these considerations:
- Does this align with our strategy as a whole?
- What are our goals?
- Who is our audience? Are we leveraging an existing audience or attempting to increase donor base as well?
- Is this a one-time deal or do we have a long term campaign and initiative?
- Can we cover the costs? What are the costs?
- Who else in our field and scope is doing the same thing (competitive analysis and research)?
- Can we provide both technical and user-end support?
2. Find the Right Provider.
A few years ago it would have been hard to find an ASP (Application Service Provider); this is no longer the case. Look first within your network, do the research, and then ask around.
This is probably the easiest part to get started and the hardest part to commit to; finding the right provider for you is critical for your success.
3. Money.
At the end of the day it’s going to cost you something to make something, and sometimes it may take significant capital and investment to make the amount of money you expect to receive possible.
Typically ASPs have a number of costs:
- One-time setup fees.
- Monthly fees for usage, text messages, and more.
- Transaction costs for donations.
- On-going service fees, extra unknown costs.
Make sure to due your research; it’ll “pay off” in the end.
4. Your Strategy is Bigger than Mobile.
This might seem like a no-brainer but you have to remember that your strategy as an organization doesn’t live and die on mobile technology. Integrating well your mobile initiative within the much larger context of your organizational strategy is everything.
Use social media to get the word out, use all the back channels that you can, use traditional media outlets as well. A combination thereof will prove to be more successful than a silo’d attempt.
Network with people and then network some more. And, make sure to follow up.
5. Defining Success.
Since most organizations will find that mobile fundraising to be a new area of growth for them it’ll be hard to nail down exactly what “success” may look like. Sure, it could be as simple as raising more money than we spent but you and I both know there’s more to it than that.
Perhaps this was an opportunity to spread awareness. Are you monitoring the technological landscape? Was your goal also to get more regular donors on your list?
Make sure you know what your goal is and at least for your first campaign don’t worry about breaking even (or don’t worry as much).
Ok. Your Turn.
We all know that there is no perfect answer to fundraising; there’s just too many moving parts. Especially with mobile giving on the rise, there’s bound to be hiccups and “lessons learned” the first time you do it.
But, make sure you do, in fact, do it. Make an attempt to try because this space is only getting bigger and better.
Kenny Jahng says
FYI, ministries considering this avenue to raise money should be aware of the significant costs involved. Some of the services will rack-up between $3,500-$4,000 in fees annually at the entry level. Thus, unless this is something which fits into your ministry *strategy and planning* you may not event want to go this route.
It sounds hip, cool and ultra-techie up to date, but it will definitely cost you for that priviledge.
John Saddington says
Thx for that! Yes. Expensive.