For Registered Charities

All organizations interested in running a mobile giving program must first apply through MGFC. New applicants are required to provide payment for a one-time application fee of $350 at the time that the application is completed.

To request a copy of the application package, please email [email protected]

It typically takes MGFC no longer than 5 business days to review and approve a new application. Once an application has been approved, the charitable program agreement is countersigned, and a copy of which is provided with notice of approval.

In parallel to completing the application package, applicants should also give consideration to how and with whom they wish to run their mobile giving program.

There are a number of program-extensive options available to registered charity applicants that are offered outside of what MGFC enables (i.e. carrier billed donations). With this in mind, MGFC has approved a number of Application Service Providers (ASPs). ASPs are account managers, mobile marketers, consultants, and application developers with expertise in these respective fields. ASPs are connected to the MGFC platform and are approved to provide account management services directly for charities running mobile giving programs. ASPs may be selected based on their alignment with your charity’s vision, goals and budget. Each approved ASP has gone through a detailed application process and will comply with MGFC standards.

When a qualified registered charity (RC) has selected an approved ASP, two contractual agreements will be made; one between the RC and the ASP, and the other between the RC and MGFC.

Pricing for mobile giving campaigns is then determined by you and your Application Service Provider (ASP) based on the package of services needed. Pricing may include a mobile giving campaign charge invoiced from MGFC to the ASP. However, working with an ASP is optional. Charities are not obligated to obtain services from an ASP. In all cases: your costs at a minimum will be based on the number of campaigns (i.e. keywords and donation amounts) you have in market per calendar month.

Regardless of service cost, wireless carriers pass 100% of the charitable funds they collect to MGFC. MGFC also remits 100% of these funds to the respective recipient charities within 30 days of receiving funds from the wireless carriers.

1. MGFC prepares Wireless Service Provider (WSP) specific invoices at the end of each month to account for pledges made within that month by each of the WSP’s customers.
2. MGFC uses its platform records to account for all successfully pledged donations within a given month as the invoice back-up.
3. MGFC sends each participating WSP an invoice within the first 5 business days following a month end.
4. MGFC consolidates payments received from each WSP after reconciling the amounts to ensure that all funds have been received as invoiced. It can take anywhere between 30-60 days after a month end for MGFC to receive all funds from each participating WSP.
5. MGFC holds all funds in its Trust account until the time of remittance once the reconciliation is complete.
6. MGFC remits all funds donated to the respective beneficiary charities in cheque form, and by post mail.
7. Prior to mailing remittance cheques, MGFC issues each charity a remittance report via email with a summary of the total funds received by WSP and by campaign (keyword/short code). This email also serves as notice that the cheque is being sent.
8. MGFC guarantees the issuance of remittance cheques no later than 30 days after MGFC has received funds from all participating WSPs for a given month.

1. All donations through text message are made to the Mobile Giving Foundation Canada for the benefit of the charity running and promoting the program.
2. All receipts for text message donations are provided by MGFC to text donors that visit our web site to collect their tax receipt here: http://www.mobilegiving.ca/tax-receipt/
3. Text donors are anonymous until they are able to validate that they are the user of the phone, which is validated through a handset verification process upon visiting the receipt page and inputting the mobile number from which donations were pledged. Donors must input their full name and all address information to receive an official receipt.
4. Note that MGFC records all funds donated and remitted to beneficiary organizations as ‘gifts made to other qualified donees’ on MGFC’s annual charity tax return.
5. Beneficiary organizations should record all funds received from MGFC on their annual charity tax return as gifts received from other qualified donees (MGFC Charity Registration # – 849455662RR0001).
6. Beneficiary organizations should not provide MGFC with a tax receipt.

1. My organization is a not-for-profit, but is not a registered charity. Is my organization eligible to run a mobile giving program?
2. How long does it take to apply, get approved, and launch a program?
3. What information does my organization receive on mobile users that donate through text message?
4. How can my organization use the information received on mobile users that donate through text message?
5. What rules or guidelines apply to the use of mobile giving programs?
6. What types of mobile giving campaigns are prohibited?
7. What information do I need to include when marketing a mobile giving call-to-action?

1. My organization is a not-for-profit, but is not a registered charity. Is my organization eligible to run a mobile giving program?

No. Only registered charities, and some other qualified donees as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency, are eligible to run mobile giving programs. As a registered charity, MGFC may only gift funds received through text message donations to other registered charities.

2. How long does it take to apply, get approved, and launch a program?

It can take a minimum of two weeks from the date you submit your application online to the date that your program goes live.

3. What information does my organization receive on mobile users that donate through text message?

All transactions reported through the MGFC platform include the mobile number from which the donation was initiated and completed. Also included with each transaction is the relative status of each, the time stamp for each, and the campaign keyword and Short Code for each.

4. How can my organization use the information received on mobile users that donate through text message?

This information can be used for internal reporting purposes only. This information is confidential and must not be used for any reason other than its intended purpose, which is to report on the transaction-based interaction between mobile users and a mobile giving program.

5. What rules or guidelines apply to the use of mobile giving programs?

Mobile giving programs are supported through the use of Common Short Code numbers. Common Short Codes are administered by the Canadian Telecommunications Association, and all Short Code programs must comply with the Canadian Common Short Code Compliance Policies.

6. What types of mobile giving campaigns are prohibited?

Contests, sweepstakes, draws, or any other type of campaign where the donation through text message is used as a form of entry. Campaigns that offer a prize, or anything with fixed monetary value, to the donor, negate the tax deductibility of donations. Furthermore, MGFC is not approved by participating wireless providers to support contest-like campaigns where the donation through text message is used as a means of entry.

7. What information do I need to include when marketing a mobile giving call-to-action?

MGFC encourages organizations to include the following full terms and conditions whenever promoting a mobile giving call-to-action:

A one-time donation of [enter relevant price point] will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. All donations must be authorized by the account holder. All charges are billed by and payable to your wireless service provider. Service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of [enter relevant RC] by the Mobile Giving Foundation Canada and subject to the terms found at: http://www.mobilegiving.ca/terms-and-conditions

However, it may not always be feasible for the above terms to be noted with every call-to-action. At a minimum each call-to-action must include the following information:

1. Keyword / sub-keyword
2. Short Code number
3. Donation amount(s)
4. Beneficiary organization

For example: “Text <KEYWORD> to <SHORT CODE> to donate <DONATION AMOUNT> to <CHARITY>”.