JustGiving and Vodafone launch free text donation service

Howard Lake | 9 May 2011 | News

• Tagged with:
• Digital
• Justgiving
• mobile
• sms
• Vodafone

Online giving service JustGiving has launched "the UK's first free text donation service" in partnership with Vodafone. Twenty one charities, including Cancer Research UK, Aspire and the Anthony Nolan Trust, have signed up to offer JustTextGiving, but all of the Britain's 184,000 charities can register to use their personalised six-digit text codes or VICs (Vodafone Individual Code).

The service charges no set-up or running costs for charities, there are no network charges for people making donations, and charities receive 100% of the amount donated plus Gift Aid if applicable.

Vodafone is already supporting over 1,000 UK charities through its World of Difference programme. It is investing £5 million to provide support for charities in publicising their new codes with an online pack offering free marketing materials and advice.

Chief Executive Guy Laurence 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 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."

Anne-Marie Huby, Managing Director of JustGiving, added: "The future success of the charitable sector depends on making giving relevant for the next generation of donors and fundraisers – with mobiles a pocket essential, the ability to harness the power of a simple text is game-changing for the country’s charities".

Registered charities can set up their codes from today, and individual fundraisers from 20 June.

www.justtextgiving.co.uk

• Vodafone offers another chance for 500 people to work for a charity (15 October 2012)
  
• Vodafone staff raise £280k in JustTextGiving £100 Challenge (5 December 2012)
  
• Vodafone invites employees to fundraise for charities in Big Bold Challenge (23 July 2014)
  

About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale. He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.