# Christian Aid Week features interactive TV ad for mobile donations

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/05/06/christian-aid-week-features-interactive-tv-ad-for-mobile-donations/
- Published: 2015-05-06T10:52:03+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Christian Aid Week will this year be promoted with “the world’s first interactive
TV advert”, enabling people across the UK to donate immediately using their smartphone.**

The ad has been developed by mobile commerce agency PowaTag.

## What is PowaTag?

[PowaTag](http://www.powatag.com) is a free mobile app available from the [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/powatag-shop-anytime-anywhere./id584357800?mt=8)
and [Google Play Stores](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mpayme.znap&hl=en_GB)
that enables users to immediately complete transactions with their phone or tablet
in moments using pre-entered information, interacting with anything from products
to advertising in print, online and in broadcast.

## Advertisement

The app works by sending out an inaudible signal to the viewer’s smartphone which
allows them to make a secure donation in a matter of seconds by simply activating
the app, choosing the amount to give, and tap again to confirm. They can choose 
to give a one-off or regular donation.

Viewers will see that the Christian Aid ad offers the donation function because 
the animated PowaTag logo will appear on the screen.

Viewers will of course have first to download the app to their smartphone.

**Editor’s note:** _the video previously embedded here (https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=2VrxDR0b5Qc) is no longer available._

## Christian Aid Week

The [TV advert](http://www.christianaid.org.uk/listen-to-give) will appear during
the charity’s annual fundraising drive, Christian Aid Week (10-16 May). It features
animations of the charity’s more traditional fundraising tool, the red donation 
envelope, which will be delivered to households across the country.

Last year Christian Aid Week raised more than £11 million.

The adverts will appear on ITV Granada, Border, Wales & West, Scotland, West Country,
Yorkshire, Tyne Tees, Ulster and Anglia between 8 and 16 May 2015.

Eleanor Ledesma, Head of Christian Aid Week, said:

> “Christian Aid is very proud of its amazing volunteers who go door-to-door collecting
> money for some of the world poorest communities. But as the way we live our life
> changes, more people living in flats and working longer hours, it makes it more
> difficult to reach everyone in just one week.
> “We may be marking our 70th anniversary this year but like all charities we need
> to move with the times and embrace new technologies in order to make it easier
> for people with busy lives to donate at a time convenient to them. PowaTag has
> great potential for the charity sector and we are delighted to be able to broadcast
> a world first with this innovative new advert.”

##  Matched giving

Powa Technologies will match fund the first £10,000 donated to Christian Aid using
the app. In addition it will cover all the operational costs of using the system
incurred by Christian Aid.

Dan Wagner, founder and CEO of Powa Technologies, said:

> “Individuals feel a strong urge to get involved and donate when they see a TV 
> appeal, but every second that goes by reduces the chance that a donation will 
> be completed, especially if they need to fill in long forms. PowaTag gives them
> the ability to donate instantly with the emotional impact of the appeal still 
> fresh in their mind. – I know I’d give more if it was this easy, and I’m sure 
> this is true for millions of others. Christian Aid is the first to adopt what 
> we hope to establish as a new standard in charity support.”

Eleanor Ledesma added:

> “We are now looking at ways that we can incorporate the use of PowaTag not only
> into our fundraising but also our vitally important campaigns.”

 * **[The Entertainer partners with Christian Aid to support Bangladesh families](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/05/11/entertainer-partners-christian-aid-support-bangladesh-families/)**(
   11 May 2016)
 * **[Christian Aid Week 2017 focuses on refugee crisis](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/07/11/christian-aid-week-2017-focuses-refugee-crisis/)**(
   11 July 2017)
 * **[Christian Aid launches credit card with Co-operative Bank](https://fundraising.co.uk/2003/10/15/christian-aid-launches-credit-card-cooperative-bank/)**(
   15 October 2003)
