Personal Fundraising Blog

More Evidence That Facebook is Not a Great Fundraising Tool for Nonprofits

According to  post in Mediate,http://www.mediaite.com/online/facebook-takes-on-haiti-relief/, $400,000 has been raised through Global Disaster Relief fan page on Facebook.  This is a fraction of what has been raised through txt donations.

That's not to say that the page is a complete waste. "The fan page has gained over 146,500 fans and continues to add thousands a day."  It's difficult to say what the value of this is but it certainly hasn't translated into dollars for the relief effort.

Good News On 'Haiti' Campaign Fees

Looks like the big cell phone carriers will be waiving their fees for the Haiti texts.  It's unclear what those fees actually are.  Is it the fee for the text or a fee for processing the transaction or both? 

http://con.st/10001074

Regardless, this is the right thing to do and an easy move to make amidst all the furor (some of which started on this blog).

But this whole Haiti text thing points out that the more "middlemen" there are  in the giving process, the more likely that the amount that reaches the nonprofit will be significantly different than what the donor intended.

Future text donation/campaigns won't be so fortunate as everyone will get their cut.  The facilitator, the cell phone provider, and anyone else who can get their paws on your donation.

Text Message Donations Should Embarrass MGive and Red Cross

According to a NY times article,the Red Cross has raised $2M in donations for Haiti disaster relief through text messages.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/1-million-in-donations-for-haiti-via-text-message/?src=tptw

The article also states that the funds take 90 days.  90 days.  90 days to get to the Red Cross.  That's sometime in April.

On top of that - MGive takes 3.5%.  (CORRECTION from the article - “In the case of the Haiti disaster, however, Mr. Aiello said the company had elected to waive all software and transaction fees."  Admirable if the impetus was to truly help and not just capitalize on the publicity).  And although it is not clear, your cell phone company takes a cut as well.  So my guess is, of the $5 that you texted, probably $2.50  will make it to the Red Cross by April.  Whoopty - freaking - doo.

So,lets review what's happened so far.  Mgive has made $70,000, cell phone companies will make a few hundred thousand, and the Red Cross will get nothing till the Spring time.

If you actually want to your donation to  be useful immediately, just donate on the Red Cross website.  They should have your money in 2 days.  Or, better yet, get in a row boat and hand them the $5 yourself.  You should be able to get to Haiti in 90 days.

Give me a break.

It's not that mobile donations are not promising but now is not the time for beta-testing.  Seriously?.  What if International relief took 90 days to arrive?  Is that acceptable?

The RedCross should be embarrassed.  And Mgive and their CEO Aiello really look like vultures here.  It makes it look like they are in their offices rubbing their palms together and praying for the next disaster. 

Facebook, Twitter and YouTube Are Tools For Diplomacy

social media is a perfect fit for the social sector. nonprofits and other orgs working toward the greater good can leverage these "free" tools. of course its takes time and resources to come up with an effective strategy but atleast the technology is within reach. hey, if ashton kutcher can do it then others should be able to as well...

Charmin Raises $50,000 For Charity Via Celeb-Designed Toilet Seats

Yet another example of a new age in Corporate Social Responsibility. Companies are incorporating their giving into their marketing and simultaneously generating "Buzz" The handout days are over so nonprofits should take note when they approach companies. Propose something creative and mutually beneficial.

www.blueskycollaborative.com