Integrating the use of mobile devices through applications that extend a company’s service or product offerings is never a bad thing. In fact, it’s a “must have”. Regardless of whether the application is a mere widget that when clicked, takes an individual to a mobile version of a website or a fully mobile application that interacts and interfaces with actual functionality, “going mobile” has become a staple offering.

Mobile video livestreaming with applications such as Qik and Ustream back in the day, was an interesting novelty and allowed “digital journalists” like me, to provide realtime, relevant content to interested viewers around the world. Viewers were able to interact during the livestreaming of an event, and thus partake in the event, virtually.

Below is a video taken during one of the Frankfurt Girl Geek Dinners. I took livestreaming to a whole other level by creating a Cafe in a virtual world called Second Life and livestreaming the real life event into the virtual world cafe where individuals from all over the world could attend.

At this time, accessing Second Life’s virtual world was done through an application called Vollee. The features weren’t developed for a fully rich and interactive experience but the sheer fact of being able to access a virtual world right in the palm of your hand offered a wow effect.

I’m mentioning mobile virtual world access just to prove a point -> that great things are being developed for the mobile platform, the likes of which mainstream has yet to see.

Last week I was able to attend the 5th Annual Artez InterAction Conference. The conference was tagged “Social and Mobile Fundraising Strategies”. I heard about the conference from a Facebook Status posted by a dear friend of mine, Sean Moffitt. This wasn’t the first time I had heard of “must attend” events through friend’s Facebook statuses.

What I found most interesting was the fact that dialog on mobile technology was being discussed by the Non-Profit Sector. I was equally amazed that ARTEZ had opened up the dialog to include not only their client base, but key personalities that were well versed on the topic as well as Social Media mention.

Strategies for Non-Profits entering the mobile space were explored and examined. The rise of smartphone usage was brought up, as well as the high cost of sms messaging used as a way to make donations via mobile phones. Implementing mobile fundraising strategies should definitely be included by non-profits seeking to remain connected to present supporters and those determined to reach new donators.

The fact that mobile technology is slowly being adopted by companies and mainstream, the challenge still remains in coming up with the perfect strategy that encourages and drives people to take action and want to donate. It’s the same challenge that mobile advertisers face.

“What more can we do and offer in order for people to buy our product or service?”

I am now wondering if Non-Profit mobile donation requests will appear a lot like mobile advertising. Advertising a cause and asking people to donate their money doesn’t really rub well together. Mobile fundraising strategies must then be part of a larger strategy -> BElieve, BE empathetic, BE compassionate, BE passionate, BE supportive of a cause that is worth caring about.

This would indeed require some thoughtful planning in tying a mobile strategy with existing and future campaigns that run online and with real world events. Thoughtful planning would involve how to allow individuals to become empowered to support and get behind a cause and then, how to get individuals to want to be evangelists for the cause.

A mobile fundraising strategy doesn’t necessarily mean offering an application that people can download in order to donate. It could mean, using the mobile platform to help create awareness of a cause and allow people to interact and engage with it. Could this lead to a gamification of some kind? Perhaps. I wholeheartedly believe so. But it would need to be an obviously, well thought out game. FYI, I have the contacts for such an endeavor.

Specific presentations were focused on the mobile topic ->

Myths About Mobile and QR Codes:
(Clicking on these links immediately downloads their corresponding .pdf documents.)
Noel Webb, Vice-president/Chair, SpeakFeel Corporation Presentation
Jeremy Otto, Director, Web & New Media, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto Presentation

I think the most compelling and informative presentation on the topic of mobile and what impact it would have in the future of non-profits was the end of day keynote from David J. Neff, Co-Author of The Future of Nonprofits. I managed to catch him just before going on stage.

My mission is not solely to discover what innovations are being developed on GOOGLE’s Android Platform but to seek which industries are adopting mobile technology, how they are utilizing it and which ones utilize it well.

It would be interesting to see how mobile technology will be used within the non-profit sector. I can only guess that the applications and engagement level will surprise us all. I look forward to being surprised.

A special thanks goes to Kiran Balladin for making it possible for me to attend. Kiran did an absolutely terrific job in putting the entire event together without a glitch!