“Such apps and services are an offshoot of society’s on-demand life. But instead of catering to our whims or solving first-world problems (like wanting your Uber ride now) with just a few taps on a smartphone, these charitable-giving apps take advantage of technology to make it more impulsive to do good,” said CNET. “They make charity instant, easy, social and affordable.”
That “affordability” is another key to the growing popularity of charity-based apps like PinRaise. Some people resist giving simply because of the cost involved. But with apps like PinRaise, the donation is built in to the price of the product or service, so it costs the user nothing.
The State Of Charitable Giving
Charitable donations in this country hit a record level last year—the second record year in a row—at an estimated $373.25 billion, according to Giving USA. That includes individuals, estates, foundations, and corporations, and many experts think the increase is because charity-based apps make giving back easy.
According to Nonprofit Tech For Good, “Given the opportunity, 48% of American adults would make donations within a mobile app.” Giving USA reports that “online giving represents only about 10 percent of total giving at the moment,” but is growing fast, “spurred by the convenience of technology, such as mobile apps, catering to people on the go.
Patrick M. Rooney, associate dean of academic affairs and research at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, which researches and writes the Giving USA report, told them he predicts “that percentage will double and possibly triple within five years.”
A Win-Win-Win
These charity-based apps aren’t just beneficial for those who are looking to increase their giving in the easiest possible way; there is an obvious benefit for charities and businesses as well. Businesses are able to increase their charitable contributions while raising awareness and building goodwill with customers, and charities are able to bring in more money while partnering with businesses that share their same commitment to charitable efforts.
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