SMS donations 'allow people to act on impulse', expert states

27/07/2009

Mobile phones are a good way of using the popularity of technology to boost charity communications, an industry expert has stated.

Jim Manis, chief executive of the Mobile Giving Foundation, told the Seattle Times that technology helps to make giving easy, fun and rewarding for young and mature donors alike.

According to the chief executive, some $300 million (£182 million) is given to charity by Americans each year, while 70 per cent of 18-to-24-year-olds use mobile phones to send text messages.

Mr Manis told the newspaper that SMS donations give donors to ability to act on impulse and give money on the spot.

This could bring a revolution in giving, he added, since charities could expect a boost in the number of small donations they receive.

Meanwhile in the UK, charity communications were given a boost today (July 27th) after SMS donations were made exempt from VAT charges.

All gifts made to five-digit SMS numbers beginning with 70 will now automatically be considered charity donations, a scheme approved by Orange, 3, O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone.

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