Mobile Commons

There has been a lot of excitement about mobile giving over the past few months. In the coming weeks, we will be launching mobile giving campaigns with existing customers of the Mobile Commons platform. Over the next year our customers and users of other platforms will be launching many more. Our focus is going to be on integrated data and reporting with existing fundraising tools tying giving into more participatory calls to action.Here are a few points that will shed some light on how mobile giving works:

• What changed? Before the advent of the Mobile Giving Foundation (the MGF) the carriers took a fee of approximately 50% of all money charged to a customers phone bill. The MGF was formed to provide approved 501(c)3 organizations the ability to raise money and have carriers waive the fee. The major carriers and the MGF have agreed to allow the MGF to administer the approval process for selecting qualified 501(c)3’s.
• How does it work? Every 501(c)3 organization that wants to do a mobile fundraising campaign must directly enter into an agreement with MGF that must be approved by both MGF and the major carriers.
• Why do I need Mobile Commons? You don’t. You do, however, need a mobile application service provider (MASP), of which we are one. There are currently five service providers approved by the MGF.
• Does it matter which service provider I use? From the perspective of carrier and MGF approval, no service provider has an advantage over another. And currently no service providers have their profile data or applications integrated with the Mobile Giving Foundation. All giving programs are run directly from the MGF application. Over time, tighter technical integration will be possible and Mobile Commons will provide a total mobile solution for advocacy and fundraising.
• How much does it cost? The MGF charges between 5% and 10% of the total amount raised. On top of that each application service provider charges a fee. Mobile Commons fees are available on request. The other MASP’s charge in other ways.
• How can I learn more? Click here for more information such as use cases or contact us at info {at} mcommons(.)com.