# IoF Welcomes Latest SMS Success

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/07/29/iof-welcomes-latest-sms-success/
- Published: 2009-07-29T14:39:39+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The IoF welcomes the Mobile Data Association’s announcement of a framework agreement
for charity text donations.

 

The new agreement means that the donation element of an SMS is passed through to
the charitable organisation VAT-free.

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This important change means that, for registered charities, charitable donations
sent to a dedicated short code will have the VAT waived.

 

The IoF’s outgoing Chair, Joe Saxton, was asked to lead a campaign to make text 
giving more effective for fundraising. The first part of his strategy was to remove
the VAT element from text giving, which is now underway thanks to his hard work.

 

Joe Saxton is congratulated on his success, and it’s heartening to see the sort 
of arrangement that until now has only been available to Comic Relief, on offer 
to all charities.

 

There is still progress to be made on SMS texting, however. The Institute now hopes
to see a greater percentage of the donation going to the cause and not being swallowed
up in mobile phone charges. If more dedicated charity short codes were established,
then it will be easier for operators to set up different tariff level for donations.

 

###-ENDS-###

 

For further information please contact:

Diana Mackie Tel. 020 7840 1027 / 07793 802 852

Institute of Fundraising email: pr***@**************************rg.uk

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Institute of Fundraising

 

The Institute of Fundraising’s (www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk) mission is 
to support fundraisers, through leadership, representation, standards setting and
education, to deliver excellent fundraising. Members are supported through training,
networking, the dissemination of best practice and representation on issues that
affect the fundraising environment. The Institute of Fundraising is the largest 
individual representative body in the voluntary sector with 5000 Individual members
and 300 Organisational members