Mobile Ministry Magazine

This is so beyond just a website that its cool. mGive is a very cool serivce that allows non-profits and charities to receive donations via contributors mobile devices. And this is mostly an SMS-based service. From their website:

mGive allows your organization to raise money through text message donations. Supporters of your cause send a text message to your keyword & short code and their $5 or $10 donation is applied to their cell phone bill. Once you create a campaign, you can drive awareness via print, radio, television, online and social network adverts.

mGive provides a campaign-specific keyword, a shared shortcode (for use across several mobile carriers), online reporting and marketing tools, widgets for many blogs and social networks, a volunteer management tool, SMS scheduler, and donor collection reports.

The serivce is limited to US mobile carriers at this time (seems as if carrier billing is enabled). But for the most part can allow many organizations to get started with mobile giving pretty quickly. Check out the mGive website, Facebook, or Twitter for more information.

Labels: giving, SMS, stewardship

Saw this some time ago at AnthonyCoppedge.com - a new service called MinistryGive that enables people to give to ministries/orgs via a website or mobile device.

This seems like an ideal solution for a lot of giving campaigns, or even as an additional "offering line" service for those who might not carry checkbooks or have PayPal accounts.

For more information, visit the MinistryGive website.

Labels: donation, giving, MinistryGive, software, web application, website

Its Thanksgiving, and many in the US are celebrating togetherness and other things to be thankful for that the current economy cannot measure to depress.

But have we considered being on the other side of the giving coin. Sure, many people start around this time of the year to donate more to charities, volunteer for the season and what have you. But what about that mobile tech that you might have in a closet or drawer. That device or software that is usable, just not being used. In this season, would it be too far to say that we should, as technologists, look to emphasize the giving aspect of things and give to others.

So for you all, please do fill up on the generosity of others. Already, I've heard of many who have lost relationships and jobs who are finding it hard to navigate this season. Give them something that might give them a reason to thank God for hope this season. And in doing so, you might also give them a piece of Christ that they most need to see.

Labels: giving, holiday

Last year, we talked a good deal about the One Laptop Per Child project and the Give 1 Get 1 Program. In my opinion, this was something that should have seen the Body jump on quickly as a means to not only address issues of technology enablement, but also create roads for shared learning, education, and ministry where the Body just hasn't done so much (loudly).

Well, the Give 1 Get 1 Program is back again and this time Amazon has joined in to help with aspects of marketing and distribution.

There's no need to say it again, but I really will - despite what current economic conditions might be saying to wallets - technology, specifically mobile technology applications, is one huge area where the Body can make a signifiant inroad towards being Christ to the nations. The thing is, the Give 1 Get 1 Program while being about enabling developing countries, is even more about the idea of leaving the ability for the next generation of technologists to see the value of leaving a legacy. Digital might not have that same effect as paper, but being involved in the lives of others does. In order to create and preserve the standard of Godliness that Jesus and others set out before us, this is an opportunity that should not be overlooked.

Labels: giving, Hardware, mission, OLPC, urban