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The Salvation Army has become a traditional part of the holidays as it's organization's volunteers ring the bell outside businesses all across the country to solicit funds for charity. But it took a company in Reidsville, N.C. to create the organization's ability to accept both credit and debt cards.
Don Brock, the President of Secure Pointe Technologies was featured on CBS affiliate WFMY News 2 in Greensboro, N.C. and said that his company tested the concept in Dallas and Atlanta first.
"The net result was, the average cash gift was $2, and the average donation with debit and credit was $15. So it was a 650% increase," said Brock.
Since last year's successful test, more than 100 Salvation Army organizations, including the Triad, picked up the card reader mechanism across the country.
"We went from two cities to over 100, so if we keep that up, I guess we'll probably be in a 1000 cities. Hopefully, in 30 to 40 states. And within three to five years, we want to saturate the country," said Brock.
He says he came up with idea after doing some research on the age group of 25 year-old adults and younger. Brock realized a credit card reader like you find in a grocery store would be a perfect solution for the generation that doesn't carry cash or checks,
"You just pick it up. You touch debit or credit. You actually punch in the amount you want to give and you swipe your card. It transmits in 2 to 5 seconds and you get two tax receipts back. You put one in the kettle, keep one for your taxes and you are done," Brock said.
The Salvation Army's new ways of giving doesn't stop there. A new iPhone app for the same purpose is expected to increase this year's donations, as is a new national “text-to-give” program enabling donations via text message.
Specifically, through Dec. 24, donors can text "GIVE" to 85944 to make a USD 10 donation to the Red Kettle Campaign.
Visit The Salvation Army for more information or check out the history of The Salvation Army's kettle.
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Askcherlock: I was even more pleased to find out that the region where I live is home to the company that developed this technology for the national non-profit organization. I would think that other non-profits might want to consider such technology to use at any fundraiser breakfasts, luncheons and so on so that people attending could truly donate on the spot! :) (So looking for the next article in your series. I could easily read a book on this story. I'm trying to be patient. I hope there are many more articles to follow as well. :)