Millions Donate To Haitian Earthquake Relief Using SMS

On January 12th, news began to trickle in of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. As NGOs, governments, and private companies began gearing up their relief efforts, a new way to send aid emerged via SMS. Concerned people can send “Haiti” to several short-code addresses to donate US$5 or US$10 pledges, which appear on the sender’s monthly bill.

Over US$8 million has been raised via mobile text donations. Jeffrey Nelson of Verizon Wireless noted that SMS donation was about US$4 million for the entire 2009 calendar year. Of the US$35 million the American Red Cross has received since Thursday, US$5 million was given to them through their mobile donation service provided by mGive.

Firms such as mGive as well as mCommons have been providing SMS donation services for a few years. However, until this week, this method of giving has been relatively unknown.

Typically, mobile donation firms cut deals with wireless carriers to reduce fees to non-profit firms raising money. However, the four major US carriers—Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile—have announced that customers will not be charged the typical SMS fee for sending a text message. T-Mobile also said that it would not charge people calling Haiti through January 31, and retroactively remove charges starting on January 12th, when the earthquake occurred.

Social media played an important part in the increased use of mobile donations. People used Facebook and Twitter to alert their friends and followers on how to donate. Over 150,000 Twitter updates have the words “Haiti” and “Red Cross.” Haitian singer-songwriter Wyclef Jean requested that his 1.4 million Twitter followers donate to Yele Haiti Foundation using text messaging. Also, the White House blog let people know how to give via SMS.

Donors may not be aware, though, that their contributions may take up to 90 days to reach charitable organizations as telecommunications companies typically do not transfer money until customers have paid their phone bills. Several companies have already stated that their are working to find a way to transfer money sooner, and Verizon has stated that it will advance US$3 million of SMS donations. Although this delay is undesirable, the relative ease of making a donation by text encourages people to give rather than not give at all.

To donate to Haitian relief efforts:

- Text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross.
- Text the word “YELE” to 501501 to donate $5 to the Yele Haiti foundation.
- Text the word “HAITI” to 20222 to donate $10 to the Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund.
- Text “HAITI” to 25383 to donate $5 to the International Rescue Committee.
- Text “HAITI” to 85944 to donate $10 to the International Medical Corps.

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