Comments on: Library Fund Raising Using Text Messages

By: Bobbi Newman

Bobbi Newman — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:15:28 +0000

I am curious, which companies? is there a list somewhere?

By: Lyn V.

Lyn V. — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:49:54 +0000

There are still a few cellphone service providers that haven’t set up to allow 5-digit dialing codes. This prevents many of us from participating in these “text-to” events… text to vote, text to donate, text to ask questions.

By: Jean Costello

Jean Costello — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:29:53 +0000

Thanks for the insights, Dave.

By: Dave Asheim

Dave Asheim — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 20:36:28 +0000

Hi Jean- the paypal service is a really great one. They make it convenient to donate. The reason it has not caught on in a bigger way is because one has to first register to enable that feature for you. Once paypal launched their service all these competing organizations launched their own similar services, thereby fragmenting the market. If only paypal offered it, and all of us downloaded the app then it could theoretically replace what the carriers and the mobile giving foundation have set up. But like other great ideas, competition has sprung up and consequently none have caught on in a big way quite yet. But everyone has a cell phone, and most have text messaging, so at the moment the ability to send a text regardless of what carrier you use is pretty powerful.

By: The Shifted Librarian » April 1st Stream

The Shifted Librarian » April 1st Stream — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 04:58:19 +0000

[...] Library Fund Raising Using Text Messages | Librarian by Day. RT @librarianbyday: Library Fund Raising Using Text Messages http://bit.ly/aduekk [...]

[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The comment’s actual post text did not contain your blog url (http://librarianbyday.net/2010/04/library-fund-raising-using-text-messages) and so is spam.

By: Jean Costello

Jean Costello — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 20:54:44 +0000

Hi David - As a donor, of I have a PayPal account, is there a benefit to using your service over PayPal's Text-To-Give? Are there benefits you offer the recipients of donations (Libraries and Friends) that PayPal does not? Thanks, Jean

By: Dave Asheim

Dave Asheim — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:29:52 +0000

I run one of the provider companies mentioned in the article – Give by Cell. There certainly is a lot of interest recently. In the last month over 40 libraries have contacted us about mobile giving, and we have reviewed with them the pros and cons. Marketing is the key ingredient. If the library can really get across the message that a $5 donation makes a big difference, than this new vehicle may accomplish two things: raise new funds and maybe as importantly engage with a new set of donors.