Mobile fundrasing is on the rise with a host of apps that facilitate donations. (maicasaa / Shutterstock.com)
Around 1.75 billion people in the world own a smartphone, making communication and access to the Internet more widespread than ever. These nifty gadgets also play a role in the world of fundraising, turning any smartphone user into a mini-philanthropist with a simple tap or swipe of the finger. Contributing to worthy causes via smartphones is a steadily growing field, and these five mobile fundraising apps stand out as original and quick ways to give on the go.
1. CHARITY MILES
THE LOW DOWN: This energy-filled app donates money to charity based on your physical activity, thanks to some very generous corporate partners. After choosing to either walk, run or bike, users select from a variety of worthy causes, such as The Michael J. Fox Foundation and The Nature Conservancy that receive money based on the miles put in. The app uses a basic distance monitor and the more miles logged, the more money donated by the sponsors.
AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON: iOs, Android
2. DONATE A PHOTO
THE LOW DOWN: Johnson & Johnson are the brains behind Donate a Photo, which allows individuals to upload one personal photo a day, translating into $1 from Johnson & Johnson. The one dollar donation can be directed to a selection of worthy causes like helping a child to read with the nonprofit Save the Children or giving a young girl school supplies in Guatemala with Girl Up. At the time of publishing, the initiative had seen 343,840 photos donated.
AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON: iOs, Android
3. SHOUT
THE LOW DOWN: Shout takes the value of small everyday expenditures like your morning latte or a movie ticket, and harnesses those small financial gestures towards nonprofits and other charitable projects. For each nonprofit listed, users have the choice to donate the monetary equivalent of a magazine, a pot of tea or home cooked meal. The micro-donation app is a proudly certified B-Corporation.
AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON: iOs, Android
4. CHECK-IN FOR GOOD
THE LOW DOWN: Charity meets Foursquare with Check-in for Good. When users frequent partnering businesses and “check in,” the location donates $1 to an important cause. The app also features a causes page, on which nonprofits and individuals can promote and raise money for social initiatives.
AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON: iOs, Android
5. MAKE A STAND
THE LOW DOWN: This app is inspired by its 10-year old founder Vivienne, who sought to raise money to end child slavery by selling lemonade. Now bottled and mass-produced, her Make a Stand lemonade has taken the shape of an app that allows users to easily crowdfund, showing people that every little donation can make an actual difference. Make a Stand divides users into two categories that can be interchangeable: standers or givers. Standers have the opportunity to create a campaign for a cause that is close to their heart and givers fund those campaigns. Currently, there are over 36 different campaigns that cover such causes as education & literacy, animal welfare and the environment.
AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON: iOs
