Fundraising body to raise issue of SMS donations with mobile operators

by Jennifer Whitehead, Brand Republic 26-Apr-05

LONDON - The Institute of Fundraising is to contact the major mobile phone operators after reports that as much as a quarter of text donations are skimmed off before reaching charities.

The institute, which campaigns for the highest standards in fundraising, is to take action after media reports uncovered figures showing that SMS donations saw between 17% and 25% of the total amount donated was lost in charges, including those levied by the mobile operators and aggregator companies.

A report in the Daily Telegraph today cites examples such as a £3 donation during the London Marathon seeing £1.20 siphoned off, and a £1.50 text to Capital Radio's Help a London Child appeal that resulted in only £1 going to the charity.

Lyndsay Boswell, chief execuitve of the Institute of Fundraising, said: "Donating money to charities is a very different proposition to a commercial transaction and the two should not be treated in the same way."

It is only since the outpouring of goodwill after that Boxing Day tsunami that charities have begun to harness the power of SMS donations.

The Disasters Emergency Committee raised £1m through 700,000 text donations in two months through its tsunami appeal. Other charities to embrace the medium include Samaritans and Breast Cancer Care.

If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the Forum.