Charity: water has begun raising money from supporters directly using Facebook’s messenger app, according to a spokeswoman from the organisation.
The United States-based water and sanitation charity, which announced that it was launching in the UK in June, is now allowing its supporters to donate using Facebook Messenger.
According to the organisation, it is the first charity in the world to fundraise through this avenue.
The charity worked with messaging specialists Assist to create a bot that will automatically respond to certain trigger words, such as ‘donate, with relevant options. Donations received through Messenger will be powered by Stripe.
The technology was developed and first piloted in the US in mid-August.
Anna Stock-Matthews, senior communications manager for charity: water in the US, told Civil Society News that supporters can message charity: water on Facebook, and the bot will give them options to either make a one-off donation or make a regular, monthly gift.
The bot also has a ‘join us’ option, which prompts people to register their email address with the organisation and can also be used to “discover ways to get involved in upcoming charity: water events” and as a tool for “learning about the global water crisis.
Stock-Matthews said that charity: water is “the first ever charity to accept donations on Facebook Messenger”.
Charity: water supporters in the UK can use the bot to donate to the charity, but Angharad McKenzie, head of key relationships for the organisation’s UK arm, said that all donations will go to its headquarters in the US.
Both McKenzie and the Stock-Matthews declined to comment when asked how much money has already been raised through Messenger by the organisation.
McKenzie said that charity: water has yet to have its registration confirmed by the Charity Commission.
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