FAQ

What is mobile giving?
In 2008, the US telecom carriers started processing charitable donations given via SMS text message. A user texts a keyword to a special number and $5 will be deducted from their phone bill and given to the non-profit.
Who is eligible for mobile giving?
Currently US non-profits with 501(c)3 status are eligible.
What is the end-user experience? How does someone give with their phone?
A user texts a keyword (e.g. GIVE) to a giving short code, a special 5 digit phone number that is setup to collect donations. The user then gets a confirmation message asking them to “Reply Y to confirm your donation.” The user then replies “Y” and will get a thank you response. $5 will show up on their phone bill at the end of the month and the non-profit gets the donation
What is the Mobile Giving Foundation?
The Mobile Giving Foundation was setup to sit between the mobile carriers, non-profits, and consumers to enable the entire process. They are responsible for approving 501(c)3 organizations, processing the donations, and providing the technical infrastructure for application providers and the carriers. All mobile giving campaigns are run through the MGF.
Who are the application service providers and why do I need one?
As a non-profit, you’ll need to find a company to actually run your giving program. This service provider will provide you with a shortcode, keywords, and statistics about the campaign. All approved service providers work with the MGF to connect to the carriers, but vary in terms of features. See our Resources page for a list of approved Mobile Giving Service Providers.
How do I get started?
To get started, contact an application service providers listed on our resources page, or email us at info@mobilegivinginsider.com for more information.
How does the non-profit get paid and when?
The non-profit will receive a monthly check from the Mobile Giving Foundation with a delay of approximately 90 days./dd>
How much can a user donate and how often?
As of January 2009, donations are set at exactly $5. A user can donate up to 5 times for each billing period. There has been discussion about allowing $10 programs in the future.
How does the donation show up on the phone bill?
The donation will show up as a line item on the donor’s phone bill at the end of the month. It will be itemized with a unique ID that the donor can look at on the Mobile Giving Foundation’s website.
Are recurring donations supported?
Recurring donations are not currently supported, but are being considered for the future.
Which carriers work with mobile giving?
AT&T, Sprint, Nextel, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, U.S. Cellular
Which handsets work with mobile giving?
Any handset that can send a text message can donate money, but only the carriers listed above are supported.
What is a “giving shortcode” and how is it different from a regular short code?
A short code is a 5 or 6 digit phone number often used by organizations for their text message programs. In order to use a short code for donations, it must be provisioned as a “giving short code.” Application providers either own or share these specially provisioned short codes that you can use for you campaigns.
What happens if someone texts in but doesn’t confirm the donation?
A donation is only made after the user sends a confirmation. Note that a donation can be in a variety of states: initial (keyword texted), confirmed (“Y” recieved), rejected (“NO” received), or pending (no response yet). Your application provider should be able to give you detailed reports about the state of all your individual donations.
How much does it cost?
Coming soon
How long does it take for my organization to receive funds collected from mobile donations?
60-90 days.

Posted at 6:51 PM (1 year ago) | Permalink