For Non-Profit Organizations

All organizations interested in becoming a qualified MGF grantee and running a mobile giving program must first apply through MGF by completing the MGF Non Profit Organization Application. To obtain a copy, please request one by emailing [email protected]. Applicants are required to provide payment for a one-time application fee of $350 at the time that the application is completed.

It typically takes MGF no longer than 5 business days to review and approve a new application. Once an application has been approved, the charitable program agreement is countersigned, and a copy of which is provided with notice of approval.

In parallel to completing the application package, applicants should also give consideration to how and with whom they wish to run their mobile giving program.

There are a number of program-extensive options available to NPO applicants that are offered outside of what MGF enables (i.e. carrier billed donations). With this in mind, MGF has approved a number of Application Service Providers (ASPs) ASPs are account managers, mobile marketers, consultants, and application developers with expertise in these respective fields. ASPs are connected to the MGF platform and are approved to provide account management services directly for charities running mobile giving programs. Please see the approved ASPs here.

When a qualified non-profit organization (NPO) has selected an approved ASP, two contractual agreements will be made; one between the NPO and the ASP, and the other between the NPO and MGF.

Pricing for mobile giving campaigns is then determined by you and your Application Service Provider (ASP) based on the package of services needed. Pricing may include a mobile giving campaign charge invoiced from MGF to the ASP. ASPs may be selected based on their alignment with your charity’s vision, goals and budget. Each approved ASP has gone through a detailed application process and will comply with MGF standards. However, working with an ASP is optional. Charities are not obligated to obtain services from an ASP. In all cases: your costs at a minimum will be based on the number of campaigns (i.e. keywords and donation amounts) you have in market per calendar month.

Regardless of service cost: Wireless carriers pass 100% of the charitable funds they collect to MGF. MGF also remits 100% of these funds to the respective recipient charities within 30 days of receiving funds from the wireless carriers.

Campaign activations take place every Friday. Requests for campaign activations or changes should be submitted no later than 5:00PM Pacific on the Wednesday prior to the targeted Friday activation. All campaigns are tested prior to launch in market to ensure functionality across participating wireless providers. No campaign activation request may be submitted unless the proposed grantee charity has successfully completed the application process.

MGF undergoes a rigorous reconciliation process each month to accurately account for all funds donated to the MGF where the donor has expressed an intent to donate to an MGF pre-approved nonprofit, and to ensure these funds reach the recommended charity as long as the charity remains compliant with the IRS. This process, at a high level, involves the following actions:

1. MGF receives reports from the Wireless Service Provider (WSP) to be reconciled with the MGF platform records.
2. MGF uses its reconciled platform records to account for all successfully pledged donations within a given month as the invoice back-up.
3. MGF consolidates all donations to it received from each WSP after reconciling with platform report to ensure that all funds have been received. It can take anywhere between 60-120 days after a month end for MGF to receive all funds from each participating WSP.
4. MGF holds all funds in its Donor-advised Fund Trust account until reconciliation is complete and grants are issued.
5. MGF issues grants as a DAF to the public donor recommended pre-qualified charity by ACH or in check form, and by post mail.
6. Prior to issuing grants, MGF issues each charity a reconciliation report via email with a summary of the total funds received by WSP and by campaign (keyword/short code) to show full transparency between mobile giving campaigns and the public donor’s recommendations to the MGF. This email also serves as notice that a grant has been made

1. All donations through text message are made to the Mobile Giving Foundation with the public donor’s recommendation to support a pre-qualified charity running and promoting the mobile program clearly noted.
2. All receipts for text message donations are provided by MGF to text donors that visit our web site to collect their tax receipt here: https://www.mobilegiving.org/tax-receipt/
3. Text donors are anonymous until they are able to validate that they are the user of the phone, which is validated through a handset verification process upon visiting the receipt page and inputting the mobile number from which donations were pledged.

1. My organization is a non-profit, but is not classified as a public 501(C) (3). Is my organization eligible to receive a grant and run a mobile giving program?
2. How long does it take to apply, get approved, and launch a program?
3. What information does my organization receive on mobile users that donate to MGF through text message?
4. How can my organization use the information received on mobile users that donate through text message?
5. What guidelines apply to the use of mobile giving programs?
6. What types of mobile giving campaigns are prohibited?
7. What information do I need to include when marketing a mobile giving call-to-action?

1. My organization is a non-profit, but is not classified as a public 501(C) (3). Is my organization eligible to receive a grant and run a mobile giving program?

No. Only qualified public 501(C) (3) organizations are eligible to receive grants from the MGF and run mobile giving programs. As a public 501(C) (3) organization, MGF may only gift funds received through text message donations to other public 501(C) (3) organizations.

2. How long does it take to apply, get approved, and launch a program?

It can take a minimum of two to three weeks from the date you submit your application to the date that your program goes live on all carriers.

3. What information does my organization receive on mobile users that donate to MGF through text message?

All donation transactions reported through the MGF platform include the mobile number from which the donation was initiated and completed. Also included with each donation transaction is the relative status of each, the time stamp for each, and the campaign keyword and short code for each.

4. How can my organization use the information received on mobile users that donate through text message?

This information can be used for internal reporting purposes only. This information is confidential and must not be used for any reason other than its intended purpose, which is to report on the transaction-based interaction between mobile users and a mobile giving program.

5. What guidelines apply to the use of mobile giving programs?

Mobile giving programs are supported through the use of common short code numbers and strictly managed by Mobile Giving Foundation to comply with US Wireless Carriers’ guidelines.

6. What types of mobile giving campaigns are prohibited?

Contests, sweepstakes, draws, or any other type of campaign where the donation through text message is used as a form of entry. Campaigns that offer a prize, or anything with fixed monetary value, to the donor, negate the tax deductibility of donations. Furthermore, MGF is not approved by participating wireless providers to support contest-like campaigns where the donation through text message is used as a means of entry.

7. What information do I need to include when marketing a mobile giving call-to-action?

Please refer to the Marketing Terms & Conditions for all mobile giving campaigns, which can be found here: https://www.mobilegiving.org/terms-and-conditions