Washington Nonprofit Conference Roundup: Lively Q&A at Session on Mobile Fundraising

Among the questions and answers:

What information does the nonprofit receive about a donor who gives via text message?
According to Bill Bailey, manager of nonprofit partnerships at Washington, D.C.-based mobile technology company Distributive Networks, mobile carriers are very protective of their customers' personal information. In most cases, the nonprofit only receives the donor's cell phone number, the date and time at which the text was sent, and the word that was texted to make the donation. Nonprofits can follow up with a text message asking the donor to reply “yes” if she wishes to receive further communication from the organization; however, Bailey said, “way less than 5 percent” of donors opt in to receive further communication, likening this type of donation to placing cash in a Salvation Army kettle outside of a supermarket.