Online vs. Mobile: All Giving Options Are Not Created Equal

In an effort to modernize your nonprofit fundraising strategy, adopting new technology like online giving and mobile apps are a big step in the right direction. Both have their merits, but these fundraising methods are not created equal.

Before selecting an option for your organization, it’s important to understand how they differ from one another.

The Faster, The Better

Filling out and mailing in a pledge card is definitely not the fastest fundraising option around. Mobile and online giving both make the experience faster and easier than ever.

But one of the two is the clear winner in the speed category. Online giving requires setting some time aside to fill out online forms prior to making a donation. With mobile giving apps, on the other hand, giving can be completed in just a few taps on a smartphone.

When it comes to giving, faster is better.

Location, Location, Location

Another major area where online giving comes up short is where it can be used. In order to give online, a donor has to sit down at a computer. But according to CNN, mobile devices now account for 55% of Internet usage — surpassing computers for the first time.

Even if donors try to use the mobile web on their phone, many online giving sites are not optimized for mobile. This makes it extremely difficult to navigate the site and fill out the necessary information.

Since giving apps are created for mobile, they are simple to use on a smartphone. Plus, they can be used anywhere — because most people carry their phone with them at all times:

79% of smartphone users have their phone on or near them for all but two hours of their waking day

63% keep their smartphone with them for all but one hour

25% of respondents reported keeping their smartphone with them at all times.

Even at a nonprofit fundraising event, a donor could pull out their phone and make a donation using a mobile app. Online giving is simply not as compatible with live event fundraising.

Online Giving, Givelify Style

Although mobile giving apps are more convenient and easy-to-use than online giving, we on Team Givelify understand that some organizations still want to make both options available to their supporters. Because we are listening to your requests, we will be launching our own online giving platform in the weeks to come.

To ensure that donors have the best experience possible, we are modeling our online giving feature after our mobile app. It will be just as easy to use, and donations can still be made in just a few clicks.

This will also simplify the process for organizations. Instead of using multiple systems to receive mobile and online donations, nonprofits will be able to use Givelify for both mobile and online fundraising. All tracking can be done using the same dashboard.