The Mobile Accord / mGive Story

The Mobile Giving Vision Takes Root

Mobile Accord grew out of the experience and vision of Denver mobile content entrepreneur James Eberhard. James entered the mobile industry in 2001, founding 9 Squared, Inc. with less than $50,000.00 and quickly building it into a leading mobile content and services business.

When 9 Squared was acquired by London-based MonsterMob in 2004, James was asked to lead international business development. In his extensive travels James saw mobile technology being used to support advocacy programs, political campaigns, and -- most importantly – fundraising. James attended the London Live 8 Concert to End Global Poverty that helped raise more than ₤2 million via text messaging in a matter of days and it was then that James realized the mobile phone could be used for much more than phone communication or entertainment; it could change the world!

Returning to Colorado, James set out to make mobile fundraising a reality in the U.S. He teamed up with Tony Aiello and Dan Weaver to found Mobile Accord in early 2005.

Early Success

The three executives worked to build a state-of-the-art mobile giving technology platform, educate nonprofits about the power and benefits of the mobile channel and talk to wireless carriers about opening up the channel for mobile fundraising. While the team realized it would take a while to get the carriers on board with the concept they also realized that based on carrier input that a 501C3 organization would need to be formed to help vet charities wishing to participate in the mobile giving channel and to distribute the donations collected by the wireless carriers to nonprofits.

With support from Mobile Accord, Colorado attorney Jenifer Snyder founded the Mobile Giving Foundation in 2006. In 2007, Jim Manis, wireless industry consultant and owner of 1024 Wireless joined the MGF team as President and the two worked together to negotiate agreements with wireless carriers including: 100% pass through of donations, identifying mobile donations as nontaxable events on the mobile donor's bill and the creation of a set of standards and best practices to help govern the mobile giving channel.

After several years of hard work and dedication Mobile Accord would officially launch the mobile giving channel with United Way of America's text FIT campaign during the NFL during Super Bowl on Feb 3, 2008.

Mobile Accord led the way for all others in the Mobile Giving Channel and its mGive program remains the leading source of mobile donations in the U.S. The company's steady record of precedent-setting/award winning achievements includes:

Milestones
  • The most successful text donation campaign to date (America Idol –Keep A Child Alive)
  • First and most successful major college football mobile fundraising campaign
  • First and Most successful text donation campaign during national US concert tour
  • First to market with text donation call to action on nationally broadcast telethon
  • First to market with $5 mobile donation campaigns
  • First to market with $10 mobile donation campaigns
  • First to Market with Volunteer by Text Solution
  • First to market with donor data collection mobile web page solution
  • First to market with Facebook Mobile Giving solution and viral Mobile Giving web applications
Awards
  • 2009 Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) -Social Impact Award
  • 2009 Fearless Fundraising Award from Fundraising Success Magazine
  • 2009 Fundraising Professionals of the Year – Special Contribution to Fundraising Sector
  • 2009 NTEN Nonprofit Technology Network – Best of the Best –Presentation
  • 2008 MMA Global Finalist- Leadership in Innovation/Creativity

Innovation Continues

Today, Mobile Accord / mGive is responsible for raising more than 90% of all funds raised to date through the mobile giving channel. Mobile Accord works with more than two hundred nonprofit clients, including many of the nation's top charities and new non-profits register every month to raise funds through mGive

In September 2009 a group of wireless pioneers established the mGive Foundation to expand the scope and reach of the mobile giving channel. In October 2009, Jenifer Snyder, founder of the Mobile Giving Foundation, joined the mGive Foundation as Executive Director. The mGive Foundation is now one of three organizations with the ability to conduct 100% pass-through mobile donation campaigns.