iHobo is good example of online charity fundraising success

Written by Isabel Griffith

A new era of wireless technology presents "marketing potential" for non-profit organisations hoping to improve their charity fundraising, it has been claimed.

According to Helen Barrett on Third Sector, smartphones and other portable digital devices are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, a trend that could be harnessed by charities to improve income.

Recent figures released by research company Neilsen indicate smartphone use will overtake standard mobile phone use by the end of next year.

Commenting on Depaul UK's iHobo smartphone application, chief executive Paul Marriott told the website: "We didn't spend a penny on marketing. The app's success was entirely viral - generated by word-of-mouth and user reviews."

He added that the popularity of the app also led to small donations totalling £7,000, making it a more successful charity fundraising platform than Depaul's direct mail and media campaigns.

The application has so far garnered 400,000 downloads since it was launched in May.

It reached the number one spot on the Apple iPhone free app download chart shortly after release.