There is little doubt that smartphones and tablets have changed the way people go about their everyday lives, and it’s time faith-based organizations treat this as an opportunity. Online tithe platforms give churches and ministries a way to stay in contact with members and their donor base. Many ministries are seeking ways to engage participants, and mobile fundraising may be the key.
Mobile use has skyrocketed in the past decade. ASC Technologies gave the example of the differences between Pope Benedict’s 2005 announcement and Pope Francis’s 2013 announcement. While thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square to hear Benedict speak, photos from the day provide a stark contrast. In 2013, nearly everyone in the crowd was video-recording or photographing the event. This example clearly demonstrates the explosive growth of cell phones and their significant potential.
Citing several studies, ASC Technologies offered the following cell phone statistics:
- 22 percent of adults have made a mobile donation to charity (Pew Research).
- It takes the average person 90 minutes to respond to an email, but only 90 seconds to reply to a text message (Ping Mobile).
- 91 percent of all U.S. citizens have their smartphone or tablet within reach at all times (SMS Marketing).
How to Utilize Mobile Fundraising for a Faith-Based Cause
In recent years, much has been said about Generation Y’s relationship to religion. Many religious leaders worry that young people are not staying involved in faith-based organizations, but this may be more directly due to a changing relationship with the church, meaning that religious foundations need to employ new ways of reaching this age group, according to Barna Group. Mobile fundraising activities can help your organization connect with this key demographic.
With GiveSmart, it’s easy for ministries and other groups to supercharge their fundraising efforts, including online tithing. Groups and individuals can send and respond to prayer requests, and missionaries can utilize social media for peer-to-peer fundraising. Mobile donations make it easier for congregation members to conveniently give to the organization.
Ministry Fundraising and Communication
In addition to fundraising, you can build deeper connections with your donor base through the channels they use most frequently. Communicating through mobile decreases the chances that someone will miss the message. GiveSmart even makes it easier for participants to register for events or volunteer opportunities.
Our goal is to strengthen ministry fundraising and communication for faith-based organizations, including churches, temples, ministries, and missions.
Our experience with GiveSmart has been one to rave about! For starters, their staff is some of the kindest & most attentive people that I have ever worked with. Any time we have had issues or technical difficulties, they are always on top of helping us and doing whatever is necessary to make sure our campaigns turn out perfectly. Not to mention the overall support they provide to help your organization succeed in the mobile world. Their platform has enabled us to take on lots of really fun & innovative projects through texting, and we would recommend their services to any organization looking to improve its mobile communication capabilities. Jessica Arrendell
Dynamic Event Fundraising
Live event thermometers increase donations by 25%.
- Donors are recognized in real time
- Attendees work together to reach a goal
- Donor count inspires more people to give
- $167 average event donation
Comprehensive Online Giving
Donors give 38% larger gifts on branded donation pages.
- Increased donation size & decreased abandons
- Recurring gift options
- Suggested gift amounts
- Custom fields for data collection
- Measure direct mail, email & social media ROI
Crowdfunding for Ministry
The average individual raises $568 with crowdfunding.
- Mobile-friendly design
- Easy volunteer setup
- 4 out of 7 donors are new
Text-to-Donate Keywords
Text donations for ministry fundraising allow people to give with a credit/debit card in 60 seconds.
- Instant keyword setup
- Donations are remitted twice per month
- Full donor information collected
- $107 average donation
Mobile Communication for Real-Time Engagement
People subscribe to receive ongoing messages by texting a keyword. You can also send messages to any person who has completed a donation.
- Connect with supporters conveniently
- Engage donors with videos and photos
- 99% text message open rate
- 90% of texts are read within 3 minutes
- Upload donor lists for mobile validation
Crowdfunding Helps Supporters Pay Their Way
Many nonprofits provide supporters with invaluable opportunities and experiences to help their cause with destination trips or camps. However, it’s up to them to pay for their experience themselves. Crowdfunding allows your supporters to collect donations from their friends and family to help them afford the trip, without money ever changing hands.
Mobile-friendly forms make collecting trip payments and donations easy and save nonprofits a significant amount of time.
- Quick and Simple Page Setup: Trip attendees can set up their own page with a fundraising goal, a personalized photo and message to donors, and a clear call-to-action on how and why supporters should give.
- Attribute Donations to Your Fundraising Goal: The donations each individual receives go directly to your cause, acting as payment for their camp or trip, so money never has to change hands between fundraisers and your organization.
- Send a Receipt and Say “Thanks”: After a donation is made, each donor receives a tax receipt sent by email. In addition, your organization receives a record of their contribution, along with associated information, to help build your donor base for future fundraising.
