In 2023, the number of smartphone users across the globe is estimated at 6.8 billion<\/a>, which amounts to a 4.2% annual increase. Also, Double the Donation points out that there has been a 50% increase in the number of transactions on online donation pages completed through mobile devices. What does all this mean for your nonprofit?<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Having the right tools to collect mobile donations \u2013 from smartphone giving to QR code donations and mobile-friendly forms \u2013 is vital to run a mobile-first fundraising strategy.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In this ultimate guide, we\u2019ll give you the nitty-gritty about why and how to start a mobile giving fundraising initiative in your nonprofit. We\u2019ll look at the following:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Whether your organization has been collecting mobile donations for years or you\u2019re just getting started, read on for more information about this ever-changing aspect of fundraising.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Mobile giving refers to the ability of your donors to give to your campaign on a variety of mobile devices. Mobile donation pages, text fundraising, giving with mobile digital wallets, and mobile kiosks are all examples of mobile giving.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Both mobile giving and online giving take place online, so the distinction can be confusing. The important distinction is that mobile giving is done on some kind of mobile device, be it a smartphone or tablet.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Although online giving has been and will continue to be important for years, mobile giving is on a very sharp rise.\u00a0Now that our lives are more virtual than ever, we will continue to see growth in mobile fundraising. For example<\/a>, this simple mobile-friendly donation form below can not only help you raise funds easily and effectively on mobile devices but also make it convenient for your donors to give. Look at the suggested amounts, the freedom to add a comment for you, and a simple 3-step giving process. All this facilitates a smooth mobile giving process.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Sign up with Donorbox<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n If your organization doesn\u2019t have mobile giving as part of your\u00a0fundraising strategy, you\u2019re missing out on a huge opportunity to collect donations from new and existing donors and to share your mission in a way that matches our 2021 lifestyle. As per Define Financial’s stats<\/a>, 84% of millennials love to give to nonprofits but they prefer giving via mobile devices. So, if you are not opting for mobile giving technologies, you’re missing out on a potential set of donors.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Here are some interesting\u00a0facts and statistics to keep in mind when deciding how important mobile fundraising is to your organization –\u00a0<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Knowing how important mobile fundraising is for your organization is the first step. Understanding how mobile giving might continue to grow and implementing best practices in your organization\u2019s strategy is the next step.<\/a><\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Some factors contributing to this explosion in mobile giving might seem obvious. More smartphones in hands…more opportunities for mobile fundraising. But knowing the ins and outs of these trends will help you plan ways to dive into the mobile giving world now and\u00a0plan your mobile fundraising strategies for the future.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Just looking around on the train, in the office, or even at the grocery store, you can see how many people rely on their mobile devices for everyday things. 85% <\/a>of American adults use smartphones. What is more interesting is Google is able to produce 96% of mobile organic search visits in the US. Now, imagine having a mobile-friendly SEO-optimized donation page for your website \u2013 how many donors it would naturally attract!<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n It\u2019s important to note that smartphone use doesn\u2019t seem limited by generation, either. In a recent analysis by zippia.com, 61% of people at and over the age of 65 use smartphones in the US.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n These startling facts indicate that mobile fundraising isn\u2019t going anywhere anytime soon. With time, what will happen is older generations will also adapt to the mobile giving methods and realize the reliability and convenience of it. That’s why many nonprofits are turning to mobile-first design to better accommodate donors.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n The rise in smartphone use has called for a rise in mobile payment technology across industries. Apple Pay and Google Pay remain 2 of the most popular mobile payment methods across the globe, excluding China. Then come apps like PayPal and Venmo (highly popular in the US). It is being said that mobile payment adoption will hit 4.8 billion by 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Mobile payment technology streamlines the process of entering sensitive information like credit card numbers into online forms. Services like Google Pay<\/a>, PayPal, and Apple Pay<\/a>\u00a0allow donors to safely and quickly add their information to your donation form.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n PayPal<\/a>\u00a0does require that donors sign into their accounts first as an added security step, but it\u2019s still a great option for your donors. Digital wallets like Venmo<\/a> are another great choice for people in the US. People easily make a donation from their wallet-money without having to input any information.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n Donorbox UltraSwift™ Pay<\/a> is the best option for your nonprofit if you want to simply and quickly adapt to the mobile giving trends. Your donors will be able to give via digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, and PayPal. There won’t be a need for inputting personal details and the giving process will be super-quick. This way, you get to reduce donor drop-offs while giving them the best giving experience that there can be. Here’s an example.<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n Mobile kiosk and mobile point-of-sale technology allow your organization the option of quickly collecting donations at events like galas, open houses, fairs, and more. This is a secure way to collect donor information that you can later use to thank your donor and keep them up-to-date with your mission. It\u2019s also an easy option for collecting donations in an increasingly cashless world.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Social media platforms<\/a>\u00a0understand how important their services are for nonprofits who wish to both share their mission and collect donations. That\u2019s why Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> allow nonprofits\u00a0to collect donations directly from their followers or fans. These platforms will collect the money from your donors using their own security features and cut your organization a check.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n As more platforms introduce this option for nonprofits, donors will come to rely on the ease of clicking a donation link<\/a> on a social media story or contributing to a friend\u2019s birthday fundraiser as part of their annual giving practices.<\/a><\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n What exactly counts as mobile giving? These five types are important to keep in mind whenever you approach your nonprofit’s fundraising strategy.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Text-to-give campaigns<\/a> involve your organization sharing a unique text number with donors. This number is usually short and made up of only a few numbers so your donors can find it easy to remember. When they send a text to that number\u2014often with a specific keyword you share that will prompt the automatic text response on your end\u2014they receive a reply with a link to your online, mobile-friendly donation form. That’s simple, SMS fundraising for you!\u00a0<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n With Donorbox, text-to-give is very easy to carry out. Once you’ve created a campaign, simply enable text-to-give for your campaign. Now locate your unique campaign ID and share it with your supporters. They\u2019ll text your ID to the texting number and receive a link to your mobile donation form. When they want to give again in the future, all they have to do is text the keyword YES to the same number and they\u2019ll be prompted to confirm that they\u2019d like to give the same donation as last time. Our repeat donation feature ensures that your donors won’t need to fill out any forms or input any details.<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n Try Donorbox Text-to-Give<\/span><\/a><\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n This is easy for you and your donors, meaning more donations with less effort!<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n The main difference between a mobile donation page and an online donation page is the formatting.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n A mobile donation page is formatted in a way that looks pleasing and functions properly on a mobile device. We\u2019ve all experienced what it\u2019s like to try to navigate a non-mobile-friendly website on our phones. It can be frustrating, and if you\u2019re a potential donor, it can be enough to convince you that it isn\u2019t the right time to give.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Since so many of your donors are likely to look at your organization on their phones, it pays to have a mobile-responsive donation page like a\u00a0Donorbox-hosted one\u00a0that automatically adjusts to fit mobile screens so your donors get the best mobile experience possible. See the example<\/a> below –\u00a0<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Mobile giving kiosks<\/a> are tablets or other mobile devices donors can use to contribute to your organization on the go. Kiosks are handy at events to collect donations or even event registration information.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Having giving kiosks available is a secure and easy way to collect donations without asking your donors to pull up your donation form on their own mobile devices. With contactless giving becoming increasingly popular, kiosks give your organization more opportunities for in-person fundraising.<\/p>\r\n Donorbox Live™ Kiosk<\/a> is an app that you can easily add to your iPad or Android tablet and pair with a card reader device to create a mobile kiosk at your nonprofit. This app is available on iOS and Android and lets your donors give on the go with quick swipes, dips, or taps of credit\/debit cards or smart devices. Alternatively, download the app to your Android smartphone and use our Tap to Pay<\/a> feature to fundraise on the go \u2013 no card reader required!<\/p>\r\n Learn More!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Email is an impressive force to generate donations. Thanks to increased smartphone use, people are always connected to their email\u2014at home, at the office, at the gym, and even in bed. By 2025, 4.6 billion<\/a> users will be using Email. And marketers who use segmented email campaigns witness nearly a 760% increase in their revenues. These are all facts to show you how important personalized email campaigns can be for your nonprofit, irrespective of size or type.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Emailing donors<\/a> with clear, mission-driven content\u00a0and a call-to-action can help generate mobile donations by connecting donors with an easy way to give to your campaign.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Mobile giving apps<\/a> are unique options for donors who don\u2019t want to use the internet browser on their phones. Your organization can create a custom app with information about your mission and donation forms. This gives you the option to send notifications to anyone who downloads your app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n All kinds of organizations take advantage of the opportunities mobile giving offers.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Every organization that fundraises can benefit from mobile giving. No matter what your organization focuses on, mobile giving is an important aspect of fundraising in the present and will continue to be vital in the future.<\/a><\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Along with simply suiting the way we operate in the modern world, mobile giving has many benefits both for nonprofits and for their donors. It\u2019s important to understand all the benefits of implementing a solid mobile giving strategy.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Do you have a campaign that needs to reach donors quickly? Mobile giving means you can fundraise right away. Collecting mobile donations means you don\u2019t have to wait for checks in the mail or the end of the billing period to collect the funds your mission needs.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n While some phone companies still allow users to include donations on their monthly phone bills, using quicker text-to-give technology<\/a> means you don\u2019t have to wait for your contributions to be compiled. Instead, they come straight to your organization where they can do the most work.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Mobile content like an app or an email can be dynamic, engaging your donors with interesting images and easy-to-spot highlights. You can engage donors in new ways with text messaging<\/a> and unique notifications that get them excited about your mission. Engage with both younger and older generations with mobile opportunities they\u2019ll find compelling because it\u2019s already in their hands!<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n With the right tools, mobile giving can offer important insights into the habits of your donors. You can note the individual preferences of donors by analyzing their favorite way to connect with your organization, how often they give, where they\u2019re located, and more. This information can help you sharpen your outreach attempts, build strong relationships<\/a>, and gain a better understanding of your supporters\u2019 demographics.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Mobile giving is cost-effective because it is quick and easy to implement, saving you important staff time. Platforms like Donorbox take a small percentage of donations<\/a>\u00a0to cover the cost of their services, which means you only pay when your mobile giving platform is being utilized.<\/p>\r\n Mobile donation forms and text-to-give<\/a> integration\u00a0allow you to easily collect donations and target new donors in a cost-effective, time-effective way\u2014and we know what they say about time and money.<\/p>\r\n Mobile giving techniques and mobile-optimized giving pages ensure that most of your donors find it easy and quick. When you have options like digital wallets, text-to-give, mobile-friendly donation pages, QR codes<\/a> at your event venues to link to the donation page, etc., donors will appreciate the convenience of making a donation quickly. It will save them time and for you, ensure that fewer donors are moving away without making a donation. Plus, it is a highly advisable option if you are willing to target the younger generations.<\/p>\r\n Nonprofits should also ensure that donors get a donor portal where they can log in, manage their donation plans, upgrade, pause, cancel, and download donation receipts, as well as repeat a previous donation on the go from their mobile devices. Donorbox lets all this happen with their donor portal feature that comes with QuickDonate<\/a>. The more the transparency, the better your chances of retaining donors.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n We know that donors are already on their phones. That it\u2019s much more common for a potential donor to leave their house with their phones than with cash or a checkbook. \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n If someone uses a smartphone daily, chances are they\u2019re comfortable operating it. Mobile giving offers a user-friendly option for those who are already comfortable navigating the mobile world to easily donate. They don\u2019t have to learn anything new\u2014they can just keep doing what they\u2019re comfortable with.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Because mobile giving often requires fewer steps than other kinds of giving, it\u2019s a much quicker option. The information is right there on their phones or on the tablet in front of them. They don\u2019t need to go anywhere else to quickly complete their donation.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n With a streamlined, easy-to-read donation form that only asks for the necessary information, your donor can quickly give from wherever they are. And with features like Donorbox’s text-to-give, easier repeat donation with QuickDonate, super-fast giving with Donorbox UltraSwift™ Pay, free QR codes, mobile-friendly recurring donation<\/a> forms, and mobile-optimized donation pages, you’re sure to offer your donors a quick way to donate.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Mobile giving, when managed correctly, is PCI Compliant. This means it adheres to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard for the safe use of personal information. Donors also no longer have to worry about cash or checks coming in through the mail \u2013 their donations and their information are automatically secured.<\/a><\/p>\r\n Mobile security measures like tokenization and encryption help further protect donor data from fraud or theft.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Once you decide that you want to implement mobile giving in your nonprofit, there are some important best practices to be aware of so your mobile giving campaigns are as effective as possible.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n How can you be sure your campaign is the most effective? What goals should you keep in mind? Read on for tips on what to keep in mind as you plan your campaign.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Mobile giving succeeds when it looks the best it can. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to have a donation form that automatically optimizes for mobile use. Easy scrolling, clear formatting, and an attractive layout are all keys to making a donation form mobile-friendly. By responding to whatever device your donor accesses your donation form.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Here\u2019s an example<\/a> of a Donorbox mobile donation page. The page automatically adjusts to fill a mobile screen, which means your donors don\u2019t have to hunt for the information they need to complete the form. A good mobile-responsive design, such as the example above, ensures donors have a smooth experience. Prioritizing mobile optimization can also significantly reduce drop-offs!\u00a0<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n Because your donors are on a mobile device\u2014a phone or a kiosk\u2014you need to keep the actual process of filling out a donation form as simple as possible. This means fewer form fields, especially those that require your donor to manually type in more information than necessary. If you\u2019re interested in collecting more information from your donors, consider doing it in follow-up communications.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n The donation form is just that\u2014for collecting donations. By keeping your donation form as simple as possible, your donor can have an even easier time giving to your organization. Donorbox UltraSwift™ Pay<\/a> enables you to achieve a simple-looking, super-fast donation process by letting your donors give via digital wallets. They won’t have to input personal details, saving them a lot of time. All your new campaigns on Donorbox come enabled with UltraSwift™ Pay. Get started here<\/a> for free.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\nWhat is Mobile Giving?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"mobile](\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Screenshot_5-e1680676094128.png\")
<\/p>\r\n
\r\nThe Importance of Mobile Fundraising for Nonprofits<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n
\r\nWhat Trends are Driving the Growth of Mobile Giving?<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n1. Mobile device usage<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n2. Mobile payment technologies<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n![\"donorbox](\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Screenshot_6-e1680676128226.png\")
<\/p>\r\n
\r\n3. Social media integrations<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n5 Types of Mobile Giving<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n1. Text-to-Give campaigns<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n
![\"mobile](\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/text-to-give-together-1.png\")
<\/p>\r\n
\r\n2. Mobile donation pages<\/h3>\r\n
![\"mobile](\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screenshot-2-3.png\")
<\/p>\r\n
\r\n3. Mobile kiosks<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n
\r\n4. Mobile email campaigns<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n5. Mobile giving apps<\/h3>\r\n
\r\nWhich Organizations Use Mobile Giving?<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBenefits of Mobile Giving for Nonprofits and Donors<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n1. For nonprofits<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n1.1 Immediate<\/h4>\r\n
\r\n1.2 Engaging<\/h4>\r\n
\r\n1.3 Insights<\/h4>\r\n
\r\n1.4 Cost-effective<\/h4>\r\n
\r\n1.5 Reduced donor drop-off rates<\/h4>\r\n
\r\n2. For donors<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n2.1 Convenient<\/h4>\r\n
For people who are interested in supporting your organization, mobile giving means they can easily and quickly provide their support, connect with you to learn more, or simply share a mission they care about with other potential donors. Accessing donation forms as smoothly as possible means donors don\u2019t have to go to too much hassle to complete their mobile donations.<\/p>\r\n
\r\n2.2 User-friendly<\/h4>\r\n
\r\n2.3 Quick<\/h4>\r\n
\r\n2.4 Secure<\/h4>\r\n
\r\n12 Mobile\u00a0Giving Best Practices to Ensure Your Fundraising Success<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n1. Make it responsive<\/h3>\r\n
![\"mobile](\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/image.png\")
<\/p>\r\n
\r\n2. Keep it simple<\/h3>\r\n