Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Relief

Mobile Donations

Client Objective In the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, the Canadian Red Cross engaged us to help its fundraising effort by providing Canadians with the ability to donate from their mobile phone. The program needed to launch quickly in order to benefit from inclusion in the telethon which aired ten days after the tragedy.

Solution We were the first in Canada to offer the ability to collect donations via SMS. In partnership with the Mobile Giving Foundation, we enabled charities to secure a keyword on the donations short code 30333. When users text that keyword they are asked to confirm their $5 or $10 donation. If they confirm, the charge appears on their next wireless bill and the full amount is forwarded to the charity by the MGF.

Results Working with the Red Cross, the MGF, the wireless carriers and various media partners, we were able to launch the program in time for the telethon. In the first three weeks, mobile giving raised more than $65,000 for the Red Cross relief effort. We have since launched mobile giving programs for charities including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Children’s Wish, Plan Canada and Toronto General Hospital.

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