Vodafone UK and fund-raising website JustGiving have launched a free text donation service called JustTextGiving by Vodafone.
There are no set-up or running costs for participating charities and no network charges for people making donations. Any of Britain’s 184,000 charities can apply for a unique 6-character code that’ll enable them to receive SMS donations of up to £10.
For example, Cancer Research UK will be using the code CRUK11. Anyone who wanted to donate £10 to the charity would send a message reading CRUK11 £10 to the special JustTextGiving number 70070. The customer would be charged £10 and the charity would receive £10. In addition, the customer would also be given the opportunity to Gift Aid their donation, enabling the charity to receive an additional text benefit.
Guy Laurence, Vodafone UK’s Chief Executive, said “JustTextGiving by Vodafone is speedy, simple, and spontaneous. Around 50 million people carry a mobile so the potential for charities and individuals to raise additional money is very real and exciting. Whether you’re watching a friend run a 5k or at you’re at your kid’s school concert, you will now be able to give on the spot. Fundraising will never be the same again.”
The service is available to English, Scottish and Welsh charities from today. In addition, it’ll be available to individual fund-raisers from next month.