6 Facts Everyone Should Know About Mobile Giving
Have you ever made a charity donation using your smartphone? If not, it’s time to familiarize yourself with this new, easy-to-use technology.
1. Mobile Giving Is Growing In Popularity
The idea may seem relatively new right now, but you can expect it to take off quickly. As more mobile giving options have become available, more people have started making use of the technology. According to Forbes:
Mobile donations using PayPal grew by 242% from December 2011 to December 2012
On Giving Tuesday, mobile donations through PayPal increased by 228 percent from 2011 to 2012
With Apple Pay and Google Wallet on the scene, mobile payments will become even more common. In the same way that carrying cash and writing checks have become passé, pledge cards and debit cards will soon hand over their territory to mobile.
2. Mobile Giving Apps Are Secure
Think security might be a problem with mobile giving? Think again! If you are comfortable shopping online using a credit or debit card, you should be just as comfortable with making donations using a mobile giving app.
Tyler Shields, a senior analyst for Forrester, put it this way: “When you buy something online using a credit card, a website is literally doing the exact same thing. If designed properly, that’s all a mobile app is…a component to access data stored on a server.”
3. Giving Anywhere, Anytime
When people feel moved to give, they should be able to give — right? Otherwise, they may forget to make a donation or end up spending the money on something else.
The only method that truly gives people the ability to give on the spot is mobile giving. And when donors are able to give anytime, anywhere, they are more likely to contribute.
Consider the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. According to Pew Research Center:
An estimated $43 million was donated to the recovery efforts via text-to-give
74% of Haiti text donors were first time mobile givers
50% donated immediately when they heard about the campaign
23% donated on the same day they learned about it
As you can see, mobile allows for immediate giving that would otherwise not be possible. And when given the opportunity to make fast, easy mobile donations, people were quick to get on board.
4. Mobile Apps vs. Mobile Optimized Websites
How much time do you spend surfing the web on your smartphone? Do you spend the bulk of that time using apps? As it turns out, most people do. Take a look at these numbers from Flurry:
86% of time spent on iPhone and Android devices is spent in apps
Of the average 2 hours and 42 minutes people spend on their smartphones per day, only 22 minutes are spent in the browser
If you spend most of your time using apps, why should you have to visit the mobile web in order to make a donation? With mobile giving apps, you never have to leave your comfort zone.
5. Mobile Giving Is For Everyone
While one might assume that mobile giving technology can only be understood by the young, that is actually far from the truth. Older adults have proved that they are fully capable of using mobile devices and modern technology. According to Pew Research Center:
77% of older adults have a cell phone, up from 69% in April 2012
71% go online every day or almost every day
47% say they have high-speed Internet at home
The key difference between young people and older adults when it comes to this technology is the learning curve. The younger a person is, the more likely they grew up using mobile phones and the Internet. It is easy for them figure out new ways to use these devices. Seniors, on the other hand, generally need to adapt.
6. Mobile Giving Is Cost Effective
Does using a mobile giving option mean you will have to spend extra money just to make a donation? Thankfully, no. Mobile giving apps, for example, are often free to download and use. People can donate as much as they like without having to worry about any hidden fees.
Now that you know the facts, there is no reason to avoid mobile giving. Why wait? Give it a try today.
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