The March of Dimes is among the leaders in online fundraising with the release of its innovative, new iPhone application.
The app, which links March of Dimes supporters directly to their own personal fundraising page, was released just in time for the 2011 March for Babies, the organization’s largest fundraiser, which is held the last weekend in April in more than 900 communities nationwide.
“This new app gives the March for Babies event a new level of portability and social reach,” says Patricia Goldman, vice President and chief marketing officer at the March of Dimes. “It is straightforward and very simple to use. It allows participants to constantly view their fundraising status and reach out to their social circle. With the development of this app, we are helping our walkers to fundraise on the go and increase their fundraising support for March for Babies.”
The user-friendly app is a free download available from iTunes that automatically syncs with the participant’s profile on the March for Babies fundraising page allowing supporters to manage their account. Participants can personalize a profile with a story and photo, view other teammate’s pages, and receive up-to-minute updates on online donations. There is also the opportunity to send emails thanking donors directly from their mobile device. In addition, a help button is available so the user can get answers to questions on how to use the application.
The app is just one of several ways the March of Dimes is using digital platforms to connect with its supporters. Its Facebook application has been revamped, and just like the iPhone app, is simple to operate. Through Facebook, March of Dimes supporters can post donation requests to their wall or message their “friends” asking them to support their March for Babies goals. A game board tracks a user’s activities and includes a leaderboard to foster competition.
Also, a March of Dimes supporter can send animated e-cards personalized with the senders photo and message, add a fundraising badge to an email signature, or download a March for Babies banner and logos.
The goal for this year’s March for Babies is to raise more than $106 million to support cutting-edge research and community-based programs that help moms have full-term, healthy babies. March for Babies has been held annually since 1970, and the event has raised a combined $1.8 billion to help all babies get a healthy start in life.