[Note: My Del.icio.us account houses 100’s of links related to stewardship, generosity, and giving – and the list grows almost daily – that can be easily searched and used for sermon prep, committee prep, funding strategy, etc.]

1. A balanced look at text-message giving

Thoughts: Excellent podcast with people who were instrumental in the implementation and use of text message giving by the American Red Cross in Haiti relief efforts. It’s comforting to hear that this platform’s overwhelming success was a surprise and not calculated or planned. Good thoughts about the use of this platform in a broader context moving forward, too.

2. Text donations to Haiti relief spur nonprofits to follow suit

Thoughts: Success makes others take notice. Before Haiti, text message giving was limited in use and overall impact. Now that a chunk of change has been received via text message giving, this platform has been officially legitimized. The next steps are for early adopters to work out the rough spots of this platform and make it as smooth as online giving is today. This option is here to stay and even has the potential to become the primary way we exchange currency in the future.

3. 7 tools to raise money by mobile for charity and cause marketing

Thoughts: This post offers some excellent ideas about how to leverage the mobile phone as a tool to generate funds. The list includes options beyond text message giving. Of course, any options beyond text giving options are limited to smart phones. Church leaders definitely want to incorporate these practices into their funding strategy.

Feel free to send me any links you think are missing from my Del.icio.us account.