Has mobile giving reached a tipping point in the nonprofit world?

This post was originally published on WhatGives?!

Mobile giving is spreading like wildfire across the nonprofit sector. Since January, text messaging campaigns for relief efforts for Haiti have raked in $43 million, according to the Mobile Giving Foundation. Organizations across the board are taking advantage of the mobile charity movement and developing their own text-to-give campaigns.

Prior to the Haiti disaster, Los Angeles-based Mobilecause, the largest provider of mobile services for nonprofits, added 10-12 new customers a month. Today, approximately 100 new clients a month are using the Mobilecause platform.

“Mobile giving is enhancing the democratization of giving.” - Douglas Plank

After speaking on the Check-ins for Charity panel I moderated at Blogworld last month, Mobilecause founder Douglas Plank visited the Whatgives!? booth to discuss the current state and future of mobile giving. With more than 30 years of experience working with nonprofits, Plank had plenty of insight to offer about the effectiveness and stickiness of mobile social action campaigns. He highlighted the fact that mobile giving allows people who don’t have bank accounts to contribute to causes they support. He also spoke about what he views as a “tipping point” in the nonprofit arena, which has occurred as a result of nonprofits realizing that small gifts delivered via mobile devices can serve as starting blocks to build ongoing relationships with donors.

Take it away, Doug!

Guest blogger Melissa Jun Rowley is a television and online journalist and contributes to WhatGives?!