Txt us ur cell# asap for imp info.

The UCC is now making better use of mobile communications to stay in touch with members and to provide another opportunity for supporters to offer financial gifts.

The church has contracted with Mobile Commons, a leader in text-based fundraising and communications, to support and grow the church's cell-phone-based capacity, says the Rev. J. Bennett Guess, the UCC's director of communications. Mobile Commons' long list of non-profit clients includes the Human Rights Campaign, Care, Oxfam, ACLU, AARP, Habitat for Humanity, the Humane Society, plus dozens more.  

"Mobile fundraising and texting were definitely desirable tools sitting on our front burner before the Haiti earthquake occurred," Guess says, "but that terrible disaster actually hastened our application through the Mobile Giving Foundation because cell companies acted swiftly to simplify the process so that more non-profits could take advantage of this technology."

This new tool enables the UCC to receive text-initiated financial gifts that are collected by cell-phone users' monthly bills. A short "key word" sent to a five-digit number initiates the transaction; then, givers automatically receive a reply message asking them to confirm by texting "yes" to authenticate the gift. 

The UCC will also use its mobile list to send periodic messages that point to important information or urgent appeals, such as the Haiti Relief Fund, for example.

Guess says the UCC promises not to be a nuisance. "We will use our mobile list sparingly and promise that we will send, on average, only two text messages per month," he says. "Our goal is to send information that's important, urgent and could be missed if it's not underscored through a text message." 

To join the UCC's mobile-texting database, simply text the word UCC to 69866. A reply message will ask you to respond again with your e-mail address and zip code so that registered users at ucc.org can sync their cell-phone number with existing profiles.

To support the UCC's work in Haiti, text the word LOVE to 25383 to contribute $10. Individuals can make up to five gifts per month. Contributions will be collected via cell-phone bills with proceeds forwarded to the UCC's Financial Development office. Details are available here.

In time, the UCC will have key words that will enable supporters to offer gifts to various funds and ministries of the church, including Our Church's Wider Mission and the UCC's special mission offerings, says Guess.

Dan Hazard, the UCC's electronic communications manager, explains that, since Mobile Commons is a partner with Convio, the UCC's web provider, users will continue to have one profile at ucc.org that will automatically integrate a person's text number with his or her e-mail address.