Modern Day Collection Tins Roll Out - Charity Apps

A number of major Australian charities have launched social media and mobile Apps to update their traditional fundraising.

Tin rattling is an integral part of the fundraising effort for Victoria’s iconic Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal and the Appeal has launched what it describes as “the modern day collection tin in the form of a donation app via its Facebook social media platform”.
 

A screenshot of the Good Friday Appeal Facebook app

The Facebook app has been developed with the pro bono support of social media experts, Online Circle.

“Giving via the app is very easy. Just like tossing a coin into a collection tin, donors can simply make a donation and receive an emailed donation receipt within minutes,” the Executive Director of the Good Friday Appeal Deborah Hallmark said.

Since the Good Friday Appeal began in 1931, Victorians have donated more than $245million to The Royal Children’s Hospital.

“While tin rattling will always be a feature of our Appeal,the progress of social media opens up a new area of fundraising for us.

“We know that many tens of thousands of Victorians follow the efforts of the annual Good Friday Appeal via our Facebook page so what better way to make their donation as simple as possible than via an app right on the same page.

“Online Circle has generously donated its expertise and significant time and creative ability into getting the app ready for this year’s Appeal on March 29th.

So far these Apps have been used in the United States to good effect but they are only just beginning to be used by charities in Australia.

“The Donation app allows your supporters and Facebook fans to make secure donations without ever leaving the Good Friday Appeal Facebook page. As well the app can be downloaded to a corporate or individual website and business colleagues and friends can see who they are supporting,” Hallmark said.

“So far a number of our major supporters including the Herald Sun, Channel Seven, 3aw, the AFL and a number of Football Clubs have put the donation App on their own Facebook page which can create some healthy competition around our fundraising.” 

In Sydney mobile donations platform and social enterprise GiveEasy has developed a Gold Telethon App in support of the Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation.

The Gold Telethon App has been released on the Apple App Store to allow supporters to donate from their mobile device.

The Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation fundraiser takes place on Monday 10th June, 2013 via a live television telethon.

"This is an exciting development for us and our ever-expanding Gold Telethon. The App provides a way for our supporters to donate to a worthy cause in an easy, social and simple way,” Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation Chief Executive Adam Check said.

Dr Jeffrey Tobias, founder of GiveEasy said "The Gold Telethon App is part of the wider GiveEasy vision which is to enable supporters across Australia to donate anywhere, anytime to their favourite charity off their mobile device.”