Thanks for weighing in, Valerie!

Have any of the organizations you’ve worked with asked about mobile fundraising options or considered creating apps? I’m curious if you have seen organizations looking more at mobile options after examples like the American Red Cross raising millions in response to Haiti and so on.

RT @amyrsward: My latest post is up on SSIR: It’s not about Apple – It’s about Community https://amysampleward.org/2010/06/11/new-… Would love to hear what yo …

I speak and consult about how to incorporate and otherwise make online giving EASIER for the donor (e.g., one click, not several; a visible [Donate] button above the fold on the web page template, etc.). The more steps and/or the more complicated the process is made, the higher the drop-off rate becomes – or the lower the initial engagement will be.

As Jake pointed out, Apple has done nothing to demonstrate it has any philanthropic roots whatsoever (“there is no “Apple Foundation,” no “Apple Grants”), and their attempt to whine about the technological difficulties of setting up a proper charitable accounting system is just absurd!

Equally preposterous, as you pointed out, is their 30% “handling fee,” or whatever they pretend to call it. It is understandable that mobile giving fees would be higher than, say, check or online fees, since they are new. Online giving fees were initially higher when they were new a decade ago, too . . . until it became more commonplace – but nowhere near 30%!

It seems pretty obvious which company is – and will be – a friend to the philanthropic community, and which one doesn’t give one whit about us.