bnetTV speaks with Jim Manis of the Mobile Giving Foundation at the 2012 MMA Forum held in New York.

The Mobile Giving Foundation (MGF), headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, was founded in 2007 by veterans of the wireless industry who wanted to harness the immense power of wireless communications to empower non-profit organizations. The concept was simple: give the 250 million American wireless users a single “Mobile Giving Channel” over which they could receive and respond to appeals from worthy causes.

Specifically, MGF’s founders envisioned themselves as the organizational element that would permit charitable giving over the networks of US wireless carriers. Their goals were to develop and manage carrier standards for participation; ensure compliance with all laws and regulations concerning charitable giving; certify the participation of Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) and their campaigns; manage message delivery and billing solutions across all carriers; and act as a billing settlement and records clearinghouse between carriers and participating charities.

Since its launch, MGF has achieved 501 (C) (3) tax-exempt status, registered in all states to undertake charitable solicitations, enlisted numerous wireless industry participants, established relationships with major NPOs and won the support of wireless industry associations.

The Mobile Giving Foundation serves as the “glue” between a charitable giving campaign, the wireless industry and the 250 million wireless users in the United States. MGF processes and vets applications from nonprofit organizations wishing to deploy wireless technology in their communication and fundraising activities because we know it is critical to have a trusted third party—in this case, MGF—affirm the quality and integrity of nonprofits using this technology to solicit contributions. Once approved, MGF develops fundraising campaigns in conjunction with established mobile marketing firms and the nonprofit. Our messaging platform is then used by wireless carriers through their short message service (SMS) centers. (SMS is a communications protocol that allows the exchange of brief text messages between mobile telephone devices.) The wireless carriers pass 100% of the charitable funds they collect through to MGF. The MGF also remits 100% of the donation to the recipient nonprofit within 30 days of receiving funds from the wireless carriers. The MGF charges back costs for short-code costs, reporting and messaging charges directly to the nonprofit organizations or their supporting service providers on a post-donation basis.