Discover the top 7 questions from Mobile Giving Foundation Canada’s Ask-Me-Anything webinar, including expert insights on setup costs, customization, security, and innovative strategies for running successful Text-to-Donate campaigns.
Top 7 Questions from Mobile Giving Foundation Canada’s Ask-Me-Anything Webinar
Recently, the Mobile Giving Foundation Canada (MGFC) hosted its first Ask-Me-Anything webinar, during which we addressed the most pressing questions from our audience. Below are the top 7 questions we received, along with our expert responses.
We are so thankful to everyone who joined our session and asked incredible questions. It was a great opportunity to learn more about how MGFC is helping charities with creative fundraising solutions.
You can watch the live recording below:
1. What are the setup costs, and are there transaction fees?
There is a one-time $350 certification fee, as well as monthly fees associated with running a text-to-donate campaign. Monthly fees can start as low as $100, making it accessible for various charity sizes. And importantly, we do not charge any transaction fees, ensuring that 100% of funds raised go directly to your charitable organization. If you want to run multiple campaigns using different keywords, emojis, or QR codes, additional fees start at $35/per month.
2. How customizable are Text-to-Donate campaigns?
Our platform offers standardization for a consistent donation process but also allows for customization in several areas. While donation amounts are presently $5, $10, $20, or $25, you can customize follow-up messages, convert to monthly giving, direct donors to your website or provide campaign updates. This flexibility helps tailor campaigns to meet specific fundraising goals.
3. How does Text-to-Donate work and what differentiates it from other fundraising methods?
Text-to-Donate is straightforward and efficient. Donors simply text a keyword to a designated 5-digit number (short code) and reply yes to confirm their donation. Unlike traditional methods, there’s no need for credit card information, because donations are added directly to the donor’s monthly cell phone bill. This ease of use leads to higher engagement and quicker donations.
4. Can you share success stories or examples of effective Text-to-Donate campaigns?
One remarkable example is our collaboration with the Snowsuit Fund Ottawa. They used our platform during their annual winter fundraising campaign, experiencing substantial engagement and donations by using a customized follow-up message. About 30 seconds post-donation, donors were sent a personalized follow-up text message, which encouraged donors to make a second $25 donation, to cover the cost of a $50 snowsuit. 40% donors opted to make a second donation. The Snowsuit Fund’s success demonstrates the effectiveness of Text-to-Donate and the value of working with MGFC to customize post-donation engagement.
5. What are effective ways charities use Text-to-Donate with their donors?
Effective text-to-donate campaigns hinge on capturing donor attention with engaging calls-to-action. Take the Vancouver Food Bank, for instance. They launched a creative campaign using the eggplant and peach emojis, to spread their message through radio, bus ads, and traditional media in a fun a creative way. This cheeky approach not only caught the public’s eye but also added a playful twist that resonated with donors. By leveraging humour and recognizable symbols, they successfully drove awareness and donations, showcasing the power of innovative strategies in fundraising. This campaign is a testament to the impact of combining creativity with technology to support charitable causes.
6. How can we engage donors beyond the initial donation through Text-to-Donate?
Beyond the initial donation, you can engage with donors by sending personalized follow-up messages. For instance, you can share updates about the impact of their donation, upcoming events, or other ways to support your cause. Our platform allows MGFC to tailor these messages to keep donors informed and engaged, fostering long-term relationships. Additionally, we offer built-in stewardship options like converting one-time donors to monthly givers, which has a 9% opt-in rate. You can also partner with one of our Application Service Providers to perform outbound calling on your behalf, further enhancing donor engagement and retention. You can find a list of our application service providers linked here.
7. What innovative strategies have charities used to maximize their Text-to-Donate campaigns?
Many charities have used creative approaches to maximize their Text to Donate campaigns. For example:
- Integrating Text-to-Donate with live events, displaying the keyword and number on screens during presentations or performances.
- Adding QR codes to high visibility areas like donation bins makes it easy for people to donate on the spot.
- Conducting radiothons where listeners can text-to-donate during the broadcast.
- Utilizing social media campaigns to promote Text-to-Donate options, leveraging influencers and ambassadors to reach a wider audience.
Learn More
Discover how easy fundraising can be with our Mobile Giving one-sheet. Learn about affordable pricing, customizable features, and how our platform helps engage donors. With no transaction fees, 100% of donations go to your charity. Download it now to get started!
If you want to learn more about partnering with MGFC, please visit our website at https://www.mobilegiving.ca/en/contact-us/.
Conclusion:
MGFC offers a robust, secure, and user-friendly Text-to-Donate platform that empowers charities to maximize their fundraising efforts. MGFC provides an ideal solution for charities looking to innovate their donation processes and provide donors with an additional option for donating.
For more information on how MGFC can support your charity, please visit our website, or email us at [email protected]
You can also book a 15-minute meeting with our Board Member, Andrew Edwards here. Together, we can create impactful fundraising campaigns that drive positive change.
Please follow us on our socials to stay in touch!
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A Special Thank You to MGFC’s Amazing Partners
MGFC can provide Canada’s only carrier-billed Text-to-donate platform due to its incredible partner network—a special thanks to all our delivery, technology, and strategic partners that make what we do possible.
Carrier Partners: BCE Inc. (Bell Mobility, Bell MTS, PC Mobile, Virgin Plus, Lucky Mobile), Eastlink, Shaw Communications (Freedom Mobile, Shaw Mobile), Rogers (Chatr, Fido), Tbaytel, TELUS (Koodo), Videotron (Fizz).
Technology Partners: IC Mobile, Bandsintown, AWS, and Dirox.
Executive Partner: The Canadian Telecommunications Association.
U.S. Partner: The Mobile Giving Foundation is the sister organization to MGFC and shares technology resources.
Strategy Partners: designACE. This blog was written in partnership with Andrew Edwards and Christine Reynolds, designACE.