New ‘Questions’ App To Raise Charity Dollars

The Australian Charities Fund and international professional services company, PwC have launched a new mobile app that raises money for charity by asking market research questions.

Called AskU the app lets businesses gain "real time" insights into consumer and employee behaviour for the cost of 20 cents per question.

For each question answered 10 cents goes to programs run by Opportunity International Australia, The Smith Family, Redkite and Mission Australia.

Through AskU, Opportunity International Australia says the app has already received $10,000, which will go towards its micro-financing program that helps families in poverty start their own small business.

“AskU is digital disruption at its best, using mobile technology to create economic and social benefits for both business and charity,” PwC CEO Luke Sayers said.

“Businesses get faster access to insights, reducing the  average time of traditional market research from six days to as few as 24 hours. Charities raise funds to help more people in need.”

ACF has licensed AskU in Australia and will work with PwC to maintain the technology and build the AskU user database.

ACF CEO Jenny Geddes said AskU was an exciting game changer for the charity sector.

“Real shared value between the business and community sectors is difficult to achieve but I believe this app will truly achieve it,” she said.

“Being digital, mobile and social, AskU has the potential to reach and engage more people who can help make a difference.  We know Australians are big users of technology and already very generous; so what’s exciting is that we aren’t asking for money just spare time.

“With smart devices accounting for around 60 per cent of Australia’s mobile market, Australians can now make a real difference to the lives of those less fortunate.”

The Smith Family will be the second charity to receive funds raised through the app, money The Smith Family says it plans to put into Learning for Life, a program that supports disadvantaged children with their education.

How does AskU work?

AskU is built on the premise of asking and answering questions.

Users will be asked two types of questions:

  ·    Those that organisations pay to ask to gain insights. These questions may be directed to the whole AskU community or a specific target  audience. Target audiences will be invited to participate and given a

“unique” log in to access the questions.

  ·    A range of general questions that help build the profile of the individual user and the AskU community as a whole. These questions include topics such as entertainment, popular culture, sport, technology, health and leisure.

Future Expansion

“We made a conscious decision to start with a smaller number of charities that were prepared to invest time and resources, and work with us to grow and improve AskU,” ACF CEO Jenny Geddes said.

“We would encourage the charity sector as a whole to get behind AskU. The more successful it is the more charities will benefit.

“It’s our hope that as AskU grows in popularity and businesses realise its potential, we will be able to support more charities with the funds it raises.

“Our focus initially though is working with Mission Australia, Redkite, The Smith Family and Opportunity International Australia to improve and learn and provide them with as much support as we can.”