mGive, founded in 2005, is a Denver based Wireless Application Service Provider.[1] mGive offers mobile giving services, and is an approved mGive Foundation Wireless Application Service Provider. mGive introduced text message donations February 1, 2008 with the launch of a mobile giving campaign for the United Way. The campaign was promoted in a 10 second commercial during Super Bowl XLII.[2]
mGive has been a leader in the mobile industry with milestones such as:
-First and most successful major college football mobile fundraising campaign
-First and most successful text donation campaign during national US concert tour
-First to market with text donation call to action on nationally broadcast telethon
-First to market with $5 mobile donation campaigns
-First to market with $10 mobile donation campaigns
-First to market with Volunteer by Text solution
-First to market with donor data collection mobile web page solution
-First to market with Facebook Mobile Giving solution and viral Mobile Giving web applications
mGive enables nonprofit organizations to accept donations via text messaging. mGive also offers mobile content delivery, SMS subscription services, and WAP website creation. mGive works with organizations such as The United Way, American Red Cross, Keep A Child Alive, The Salvation Army, Amberwatch Foundation, and over 200 more nonprofit organizations[3].
Along with a partnership with the US State Department ([www.state.gov]), mGive and the Red Cross launched a mobile campaign to support relief efforts of the devastating earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010. Wireless users can text the keyword HAITI to 90999 to donate $10.00 to the Red Cross. Donors reply with a YES confirmation and the transaction is added to their next wireless bill. The campaign has raised over $10 million dollars to date and has been the most successful mobile campaign ever.
mGive and parent company Mobile Accord (www.mobileaccord.com) were awarded the Mobile Marketing Associations 2009 Award for Social Impact on November 18, 2009 at their annual awards dinner. http://mmaglobal.com/news/2009-mma-global-mobile-marketing-award-winners-announced-during-fifth-annual-awards-ceremony-mo
Other awards received by Mobile Accord and mGive include:
-2009 Fearless Fundraising Award from Fundraising Success Magazine
-2009 Fundraising Professionals of the Year - Special Contribution to Fundraising Sector
-2009 NTEN Nonprofit Technology Network - Best of the Best - Presentation
-2008 MMA Global Finalist - Leadership in Innovation/Creativity
Making a text message donation involves sending a text message with a keyword chosen by a nonprofit organization to a shortcode approved by The mGive Foundation. For example, Keep a Child Alive’s text message donation campaign uses the keyword ALIVE and the mobile giving shortcode 90999[4].Text message donations (SMS) use premium-rated short messages (PSMS) to bill donations to the wireless subscriber’s phone bill. SMS donations use a double opt-in process to protect donor’s security and privacy. Currently, The mGive Foundation and wireless carriers have approved $5 and $10 one-time text message donations.
Wireless carriers collect payment from the users and send 100% of the donations to The mGive Foundation, which wires 100% of the funds directly to the appropriate charity within ninety days.