Mobile as a new donation channel has not only brought down barriers to donating by making it quick and easy, but has been (as shown with Haiti) both powerful and critical in raising money quickly in times of crisis. Wireless networks and operators in the US have integrated systems that make it easy for you to donate money quickly and securely when natural disasters and other crises occur across the globe.
All four leading mobile carriers in the US quickly worked to implement a mobile giving program that allows you to send donations over text message to charities and other relief organizations in Japan. The amount donated will be added to your next phone bill statement (for prepaid customers the donation will be taken from your prepaid balance), and you will not be charged a fee for sending the text message. AT&T and Verizon are additionally offering free calling and texting to Japan for the next several weeks.
If you’re considering donating to the earthquake and subsequent tsunami relief efforts in Japan, here’s how to donate and have faith on these four carriers:
AT&T
AT&T is allowing you to donate $10 to the American Red Cross for relief in Japan by texting REDCROSS to 90999. No text message fees apply to sending this SMS. AT&T is also offering wireless customers free international calling and text messages from the US to Japan, and up to 60 minutes of free calling from US landlines to Japan. During the disaster period AT&T is also providing free TV Japan (the 24 hour Japan news channel).
Sprint
If you are a Sprint customer, you have four different organizations to choose to donate $10. Sprint has also waived any text message rates for sending the donations.
- American Red Cross: text REDCROSS to 90999
- Convoy of Hope: text TSUNAMI to 50555
- World Relief Corp. of National Association of Evangelicals: text WAVE to 50555
- The Salvation Army: text JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888
T-Mobile
T-Mobile customers who wish to make a donation of $10 dollars to the American Red Cross can text REDCROSS to 90999. Donations will not be charged your text messaging plan, and the amount will be added to your next T-Mobile wireless bill.
Verizon Wireless
Verizon is allowing you to send a $10 mobile donation to the ten different relief organizations listed below. You will not be charged rates for sending the text message, and 100% of your $10 donation will go to the charity or organization you specify. Verizon subscribers can also place calls and send text and multimedia messages to Japan free of charge.
- ADRA Relief: text SUPPORT to 85944
- American Red Cross Relief: text REDCROSS to 90999
- Convoy of Hope: text TSUNAMI or SUNAMI to 50555
- GlobalGiving: text JAPAN to 50555
- International Medical Corps: text MED to 80888
- Mercy Corps: text MERCY to 25383
- Salvation Army: text JAPAN to 80888
- Save the Children Federation, Inc.: text JAPAN or TSUNAMI to 20222
- World Relief Corp. of National Association of Evangelicals: text WAVE to 50555
- World Vision, Inc.: text 4JAPAN or 4TSUNAMI to 20222
