As the true horror of the earthquake toll in Haiti is revealed, charities and disaster relief organizations are mobilizing to help in the search for survivors, treat the injured and provide aid for the survivors. And while they’re tapping their traditional channels, they’ve also been using mobile as a means to quickly raise funds for the relief effort.
The Mobile Giving Foundation and The MGive Foundation, aggregators that power SMS short codes campaigns for charities, have both worked with relief agencies to set up contribution engines targeting the Haiti relief effort. The campaigns have been the most successful in history, far outpacing mobile giving in the aftermath or Hurricane Katrina and the Tsunami relief efforts in Southeast Asia in 2005 and 2004 respectively. It shows not only the magnitude of the tragedy in Haiti but also the increasing comfort levels US wireless users have in using their phones for mobile transactions.
Verizon Wireless today reported that $3 million in funds have been raised by the Red Cross through short code contributions in the first 31 hours after the earthquake, $1 million alone coming from VZW customers. Verizon also said contributions are on track to exceed that number today. In comparison, the Red Cross raised a total of $400,000 over one month through mobile contributions for its Katrina response , and CARE raised $200,000 in December of 2004 for Tsunami relief efforts via mobile phones.
You can contribute to the Red Cross Response Fund by texting the word “Haiti” to the short code 90999. A $10 donation is added to your wireless bill after a confirmation message is sent, and 100% of all funds are sent to the Red Cross. Mobile Giving and MGive has also set up these short codes for other relief agencies working in Haiti:
- Text the word “Haiti” to 20222 to donate $10 to (Former President Bill) Clinton Foundation’s Haiti Relief Fund
- Text the word “Yele” to 501501 to donate $5 on behalf of the Yéle Foundation, the leading contributor to rebuilding Haiti founded by Wyclef Jean
- Text the word “Haiti” to 85944 to donate $5 on behalf of the Rescue Union Mission and MedCorp International
- Text the word “Haiti” to 25383 to donate $5 on behalf of the Internal Rescue Committee
- Text the word “Haiti” to 45678 (In Canada Only) on behalf of the Salvation Army in Canada