Mobile Data Traffic Advancements Will Help to Increase National Philanthropy

Increased Mobile Data Speeds Can Advance Charities

Cisco recently released it’s latest research white paper—Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast Update 2011-2016. Download Full White Paper PDF

DO MOBILE TRAFFIC ADVANCEMENTS EFFECT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS?

As nonprofit leaders we must realize that more and more or our donors, supporters, volunteers and staff are using smartphones and tablets in place of personal computers. How do advancements in mobile data speed effect fundraising, communication and engagement for nonprofits? As a philanthropic leaders let’s allow this question to percolate as we consider the mobile trends.

Smartphones will continue to lead mobile data traffic and growth.

WHERE ARE WE NOW—2011 A YEAR OF MOBILE ADVANCES

2011 was the year of 4G—Smartphones are faster than ever before.

Mobile data traffic grew 2.3x— doubling for the fourth year in a row.
2011 mobile data traffic was 8x the size of the entire Internet in 2000.
Mobile video exceeded 50% of mobile web traffic for the first time.
Mobile network connection speeds grew 66 percent.
Fourth-generation (4G) connection generated 28x more traffic than non-4G.
Average smartphone usage nearly tripled in 2011.
Smartphones represent 12% of global mobile devices (28% in US), but represent over 82% of total data traffic.
Android levels of data use is now higher than iPhone.
The number of mobile-connected tablets tripled to 34 million.

Cloud media advancements lead the mobile revolution.

WHERE ARE WE GOING—THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OF MOBILE

Mobile forecasts through 2016—More devices, more data and less computers.

Global mobile data traffic will increase 18-fold between 2011 and 2016.
By the end of 2012, mobile devices will exceed people on earth.
By 2016 there will be 1.4 mobile devices per capita.
In 2016, 4G will be 6 percent of connections, but 36 percent of total traffic.
By 2016, 39 percent of all mobile devices will potentially connect to IPv6.
2/3 of the world’s mobile data traffic will be video by 2016.
Tablets will generate almost as much traffic in 2016 as all mobile in 2012.
The average smartphone will generate 2.6 GB of traffic per month in 2016, a 17-fold increase over the 2011 average of 150 MB per month.

25% of mobile users will have two or more mobile connected devices by 2016.

Mobile video will lead mobile data traffic and growth.

HOW DO THESE MOBILE TRENDS EFFECT NONPROFITS?

Nonprofit giving, education, communication and involvement will follow mobile traffic trends. Nonprofit constituents want to: 1—give conveniently, 2—be educated constantly with rich media and video, 4—be connected and receive instant instant feedback and 5—use new technologies to grow overall philanthropy. Traditional “business as usual” charitable communication and fundraising strategies will face decline if not augmented by mobile technologies.

HOW DO WE RESPOND TO INCREASED MOBILE RATES?

Forward thinking NPOs need to actively pursue mobile technologies—across mobile, social, live events and whatever other mediums our target constituents are already using—to augment existing strategies. Creative use and effective measurable implementations of mobile technologies are essential components for charitable growth in our country.

Learn more about MobileCause fundraising and engagement tools for NPOs.

Text to Give for the Poor – LifeWater International

One-billion people don’t have clean water and lack of clean water around the world is a big problem. You can help—Text to give WASH for the poor.

Featured Client: LifeWater International

BACKGROUND  LifeWater International is a Christian organization that strives to treat all people with dignity and respect. Believing that the gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to bring wholeness to all aspects of life–spiritual, physical, emotional, and social–LifeWater works alongside the poor to understand and respond to the complex, systemic causes of poverty. LifeWater believes that we have been given resources to benefit the poor and bring about lasting improvements to health and well-being. Visit www.lifewater.org to learn more.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE  MobileCause is proud to provide text to give services for the poor to Life Water International. Please text WASH to 85944 to make a $5 donation for clean water around the world.

“One-billion people don’t have clean water and their is no quick fix. Life Water is creating solutions for the long haul.”

Learn more about MobileCause fundraising and engagement solutions for NPOs.
 

 

Text “BACKPACK” for Blessings in a Backpack and Help Put and End to Childhood Hunger

Blessings in a Backpack “Big Hearted People” 1000 Backpacks Click-a-Thon Empowers Supporters to Make Text to Give Donations for Hungry Kids.

Feature Client: Blessings in a Backpack
Endorsements: Sammy Hagar, Hillary Duff, Miley Cirus, David Kirsh and more

MobileCause is proud to provide text to donate services to Blessings in a Backpack—one of the greatest causes in America. Founded by Stan Curtis (below) Blessings in a Backpack provides elementary children who are on the federal Free and Reduced Price Meal Program with a backpack of food to take home for 38 weekends during the school year. Backpack food includes easy-to-prepare, ready-to-eat foods, like granola bars, juice boxes, mac & cheese, and oatmeal.

There are 20+ million children in this country who are at risk of hunger. The consequences of hunger are much more than a growling stomach. Poor nutrition can result in a weaker immune system, increased hospitalization, lower IQ, shorter attention spans, and lower academic achievement. Children are fed during the school week by federal government programs, but we want to make sure they’re getting nutritional meals over the weekend, too. Visit www.blessingsinabackpack.org to learn more.

Text BACKPACK to 85944 to make a $10 donation

Blessings in a Backpack currently feeds over 55,000 children in 318 schools in 37 U.S. states and Canada, Columbia and Haiti. They are feeding the future of America, one school at a time.

Blessings in a Backpack has many celebrity supporters including Sammy Hagar, Hillary Duff (right), Miley Cirus, David Kirsh and Dwight Howard. Sammy Hagar individually feeds 3000 children every year! Please watch these moving PSAs and remember to text to give “BACKPACK” to 85944 to make a donation. One more thing… if your not moved by these videos… check your pulse!

Learn more about MobileCause fundraising and engagement tools for nonprofits.
 
Blessings in a Backpack Founder – Stan Curtis

 
 
Blessings in a Backpack Testimony – Liz Murry
 

 

Get Involved in Blessings in a Backpack — Hillary Duff
 

 

Watch more mobile giving videos on our YouTube Channel.

Mobile Tools Impact Church Culture: Youth Ministry Implements Text Messaging Strategy

RPM: Revolutionary Passionate Ministry youth pastors effectively implement text messaging to help disciple and reach kids.

Featured Products: Mobile Messaging
Nonprofit Sector: Faith
Client: First Baptist Church Eustis, RPM—Revolutionary Passionate Ministry
Download Case Study PDF

GETTING THE WORD OUT Church leaders work tirelessly preparing messages, planning services and coordinating programs. Pastors are constantly using creative talents to empower members, engage visitors, disciple youth and reach the lost. What many Christians fail to realize is that the bible clearly teaches that the method of communication is often as important as the content of the message. In other words—if a message doesn’t reach the hearts and minds of people in a way they can hear and understand—it’s ineffective.

WOULD JESUS SEND TEXT MESSAGES? God loves kids and Jesus was in the habit of going where people needed him the most and speaking to them in a way that related to their lives. It is undeniable that texting is the language of teens.  Pastors that desire to reach kids where they are must be texting. Did you know?— 95% of text messages are read and 80% of those are read in 15 minutes.

FLORIDA CHURCH REACHES YOUTH
RPM: Revolutionary Passionate Ministry—a youth movement of First Baptist Church Eustis—has creatively and strategically implemented mobile tools into their ministry this past year. Here’s what happened when pastors Daniel and JP decided to go mobile:

Weekly attendance before SMS=40-60 kids
After implementing SMS=70-90 kids

Event attendance before SMS=20 kids
After implementing SMS=60 kids

HOW DID THEY DO IT? RPM pastors, volunteers and kids promoted their Text2Broadcast keyword “RPM” and shortcode “27138” at youth and adult gatherings to build their mobile list. Pastor’s Daniel and JP began sending text messages of words of encouragement, bible verses, conversation starters, relevant links, special event alerts, and community service opportunities. They also built their list by having live mobile polls at events in which participants could opt in for future messages. RPM currently messages 150+ kids with SMS. RPM also has plans to use mobile donation tools to teach kids how to give.

UNEXPECTED BENEFITS FROM A PASTOR

Kids love responding to live mobile polls—They are great icebreakers too.

Receiving SMS responses from kids helps keep ministry fresh and relevant.

Parents love being connected to youth ministries via SMS.

It is comforting to have a 100% safe way to text message with kids.

Text messaging opens up healthy pastoral conversations with kids.

WHAT KIDS ARE SAYING

“We love it… we know exactly what is going on.”

Learn more about MobileCause fundraising and engagement tools for nonprofits.

Teleton 24-Hour Fundraising Telethon Raises $245,000 in Text to Give Donations

Participation television Text to Give is big winner for Teleton—$245,000 in additional donations raised for Children’s Rehabilitation Centers in Latin America.

Featured Client: Teleton

Since 1997—on the first weekend of December—Teleton holds a worldwide PTV telethon on Una Vision for rehabilitation centers for disabled children across Latin America. Teleton’s mission is “To provide knowledge about physical disabilities, giving a strong message about respect, equality and support to people in these conditions.” Each year the fundraising goal is to raise the previous years total plus one Mexican Peso. The 2011 slogan was “Let’s Walk Together.”

During this years PTV event many Latin American actors, musicians, athletes, politicians and celebrities promoted the fundraising campaign for disease treatment and physical therapy in children’s hospitals. During this emotional broadcast viewers learned how they could help kids with disabilities walk, talk, play, smile and reach their dreams.

To increase donation amounts in the United States—Teleton partnered with MobileCause to create a Text to Give fundraising opportunity where viewers could easily make up to three $10 text message donations by texting TELETON to 80888 – in which donations were charged directly to donors cell phone bills. Text to Give helped Teleton raise an additional $245,000 from American viewers during the 24-hour fundraising campaign.

In addition to the Television broadcast—the Text to Give opportunity was virally promoted across facebook, twitter, tumblr and other social networks by supporters. See example Tumblr post from Javiar Hernandez Balcazar—futbol forward for Manchester United and Mexican National teams.

Learn more about MobileCause fundraising and engagement tools for nonprofits.