Donating to Haitian relief via SMS is soaring
Sending a donation via a few keystrokes on a mobile phone is proving to be very popular this week, as evidenced by the more than $7 million that was sent to agencies offering relief in Haiti in the first 36 hours following the Jan. 12 earthquake.
Data from the Mobile Giving Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping other not-for-profit groups raise funds through short mobile messaging, shows record donations across several short code numbers. By texting a keyword to a designated short code via an enabled mobile phone, micro donations of $5 or $10 can be made to the relief efforts in Haiti. A press release from the organization says 100 percent of a donation goes to the recipent charity, and the donation appears as a charge on your carrier bill. Standard text rates apply, depending on your text messaging plan.
Several organizations are participating with mobile*giving efforts, including the following:
- Text the word “Yele” to 501501 to donate $5
On behalf of the Yéle Foundation, the leading contributor to rebuilding Haiti founded by musician Wyclef Jean
- Text the word “Haiti” to 20222 to donate $10
On behalf of the Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund
- Text the word “Haiti” to 85944 to donate $10
On behalf of the International Medical Corp
- Text the word “Haiti” to 25383 to donate $5
On behalf of the International Rescue Committee
- Text the word “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10
On behalf of the Red Cross in the U.S.
- Text the word “Haiti” to 52000 to donate $10
On behalf of the Salvation Army Upper Wisconsin
- Text the word “Haiti” to 45678 (In Canada Only)
On behalf of the Salvation Army in Canada
- Text the word “Haiti” to 30333 (In Canada Only)
On behalf of the Plan Canada
For more information, visit the Mobile Giving Foundation Web site (http://www.mobilegiving.org/)
- People can also contribute to the Red Cross from the Apple iTunes Store.
A story on the AppleInsider.com Web site says:
With tens of thousands feared dead following a devastating series of earthquakes in Haiti, Apple and the American Red Cross have begun accepting donations for aid and relief through the iTunes Music Store.
Through a link featured on the front page of the store, customers can contribute (iTunes link) as little as $5, or as much as $200. The donations are charged through users' credit cards through iTunes, in the same manner a music or movie purchase would be charged.
The contributions are essentially anonymous, as Apple will not reveal
"Your gift to the American Red Cross will support emergency relief efforts to help those affected by this earthquake," the iTunes donation page states. "Assistance provided by the American Red Cross may include sending relief supplies, mobilizing relief workers and providing financial resources."
