In conjunction with the BBB Mobile Giving Foundation, Hipcricket will provide a mobile fundraising management solution including an SMS donation capability to qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations. For example, by securing and promoting Text-2-Donate keywords on one of Hipcricket's charitable short codes, users can send a text message and authorize the addition of a $5 or $10 donation to their mobile phone bill.
The initiative combines and integrates Text-2-Donate capabilities with Mobile CRM and loyalty programs within Hipcricket's AD LIFE®platform, resulting in a best-of-breed solution that includes:
- Content management to administer fundraising and/or messaging campaigns;
- Campaign management to create, preview, test, and manage a wide variety of text message and fundraising campaigns;
- Mobile fundraising management to provision, launch, record and track text giving campaigns; and
- A database of opted-in donors that can be re-engaged for charitable opportunities, news, and offers in order to reward loyal participants for their philanthropic contributions.
Hipcricket's work with non-profits has been evident throughout its eight-year history. For example, it provides comprehensive mobile products and services for the American Cancer Society ("ACS") and is currently conducting a nationwide mobile rollout for the 2011-2012 Relay for Life® season. The ACS has expanded its use of Hipcricket's cloud-based mobile marketing platform to enable localized communication and information-sharing among more than 5,000 individual communities of participants, volunteers and donors.
In addition, Hipcricket has enabled longtime client Hearst Baltimore to provide mobile alerts for the American Red Cross that contribute to that organization's efforts to encourage potentially life-saving blood donations.
Hipcricket personnel also volunteer in various charitable endeavors in several locations.
"This initiative provides an end-to-end mobile channel charitable giving solution that offers the highest level of trust and integrity," said Hipcricket Chief Operating Officer Eric Harber. "In conjunction with our partner, the BBB Mobile Giving Foundation, the entire tax deductible donation process is contained within Hipcricket's secure AD LIFE ® platform. This milestone furthers Hipcricket's commitment to not only do well, but to also do good."
The BBB Mobile Giving Foundation, 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. In February 2012, the Foundation joined forces with the Council of Better Business Bureaus and BBB Wise Giving Alliance to grow the mobile-giving channel, strengthen mobile-giving industry standards and accountability, assure donor confidence, and reinforce nonprofit acceptance of and control over the mobile-giving medium. The concept behind the Foundation is simple: provide the 330 million American wireless users a single "Mobile Giving Channel" through which they can receive and respond to appeals from worthy causes.
The BBB Mobile Giving Foundation approves select Application Service Providers (ASPs) based on stringent criteria that include the functionality of their mobile platforms, mobile marketing service capabilities, financial viability, commitment to pioneering the mobile channel, geographical coverage, transparency of ownership and governance.
About Hipcricket
Hipcricket, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Augme Technologies, Inc. (OTC.BB: AUGT), is the one-stop mobile marketing and advertising company that empowers brands, agencies and media properties to engage customers, drive loyalty and increase sales. Hipcricket's customers connect with consumers across every mobile channel, including SMS, 2D/QR codes, mobile websites, advertising networks, social media and branded apps. Hipcricket's proven technology, strategic and marketing services and experienced account management teams have provided measurable successes across an industry-leading 175,000 campaigns for many national and regional brand-name companies and organizations, such as Macy's, MillerCoors, Nestle, Clear Channel and The American Cancer Society. Hipcricket has also created the first mobile ad network that taps into the buying power of the mass market with industry-leading capabilities to target customers via location and highly-specific demographic information across SMS, display, rich media and video.
Hipcricket is based in Seattle, Washington, with operations in New York, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami.
