The Big Issue Foundation, which addresses the wider needs of Big Issue vendors, has partnered up with Donr to enable supporters to donate via their card, digital wallet service or mobile phone.
This is the first time the charity has been able to accept donation’s via digital wallet services like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Following news of JustGiving’s decision to discontinue its JustTextGiving service, The Big Issue Foundation (TBIF) has been working closely with the Donr team to both prepare the technology to allow people to donate and to plan the campaign.
The charity’s Spring Appeal focuses on the feel-good success story of former Big Issue Vendor, Bill Webb, and asks supporters to donate via an online fundraising page hosted by Donr, or via text to Donr’s Text Giving shortcode number, 70085.
The Spring Appeal will explain how much work there is for the charity to do – people in personal crisis turn to the Big Issue for help every week of the year. In the past 12 months, the charity has supported over 1,000 Big Issue vendors to try and become financially independent, just as former vendor Bill Webb – the face of the charity’s Spring Appeal – has done.
Big Issue vendor Bill, who was supported by the charity to find a safe home, commented: “It was so important to me that The Big Issue Foundation team focused on helping me access healthcare when I first walked through the door and started selling the magazine. Liam, a Service Broker assessed my immediate and longer-term needs. My medication had run out so Liam arranged for me to see a doctor and Chloe was registered with The Dogs Trust so she could stay healthy too! I’m so grateful for the support of The Big Issue Foundation, knowing that they are there to help me”.
Rhia Docherty, The Big Issue Foundation’s Individual Giving and Support Services Manager, said: “‘We’re really excited to be partnering with Donr to launch our Spring Appeal. Donr’s Text Giving service is very effective, affordable and easy to use. This is also the first time we have been able to accept donation’s via digital wallet services like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Donr’s innovative platform will help us to future-proof donations in the digital age.’
The news follows the recent launch by The Big Issue Group of Pay It Forward, which turned The Big Issue into the world’s first resellable magazine.
The system, created by creative agency FCB Inferno and powered by Monzo, means each magazine can be sold-on each time after its been read, doing good wherever it goes. Each magazine will come with its own scannable QR code, that allows readers to pass the magazine onto a friend, who can scan the code to pay for it again.
Supporters can text ‘BILL’ followed by a donation amount to 70085 to make a contribution to the Spring Appeal. For instance, texting ‘BILL 3’ to 70085 would donate £3 to The Big Issue Foundation. Any whole pound amount from £1 to £20 can be donated via text. Texts cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message and this money will either be taken from a supporter’s Pay-As-You-Go credit or added to their monthly mobile phone bill.
Alternatively, The Big Issue Foundation’s online fundraising page, powered by Donr, is now live at www.donr.com/big-issue-foundation, where supporters can donate via their card, digital wallet service or mobile phone.
For more information, visit www.bigissue.org.uk.
