Santa Barbara nonprofit aims to increase awareness and expand reach in 2017
SANTA BARBARA — Unite to Light has joined efforts with Coin Up to offer an innovative and efficient way for donors and activists to help their favorite cause using their mobile device. Megan Birney, President of Unite to Light said, “Unite to Light is dedicated to providing low cost solar lighting to those without electricity. Now, it is simple and convenient for donors to help with every purchase they make.”
Coin Up is an innovative mobile app that allows Unite to Light donors to give their “spare change” by virtually rounding up debit and credit card transactions to the nearest dollar. This spare change adds up to a maximum set by the donor, and is donated directly to their charity. This new technology allows Unite to Light to reach a larger number of donors, especially millennials, through various social media and online channels, resulting in greater impact for the cause.
The process is very simple. Users download the app to their mobile device from the Apple Store, select their charity, and register their bankcard. Every time they use their credit or debit card to make a purchase, whether it be filling up their car with gas or buying a meal at a restaurant; each transaction is rounded up to the nearest dollar and is directly transferred to Unite to Light at the end of the month, less transaction fees. Donors maintain control by setting a monthly limit on their spare change donations and are protected by the highest levels of bank approved security protocols. Coin Up’s mission is to create a society that engages in giving through their everyday transactions – simply and incrementally.
Megan Birney commented, “Worldwide 1.5 Billion people do not have electricity. By partnering with Coin Up, Unit to Light hopes to use technology to bring awareness to this fact and enable everyone to be part of the solution.”
Leena Patidar, Co-Founder and CEO of Coin Up, said, “We are excited to partner with such a wonderful charity as Unite to Light. At the nexus of this relationship is technology that is going to adopt new donors and help generate more donations seamlessly so Unite to Light can focus on their mission and making a difference.”
About Unite to Light: Unite to Light is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) that manufactures and distributes solar lights to those without access to electricity. For more information on Unite to Light, visit the website at: www.UnitetoLight.org
About Coin Up: The Coin Up app is free to download in the Apple app store. Just download the app, select Unite to Light, add credit/debit card details, and set a monthly limit. The spare change rounded up from each transaction and limited by their pre-set amount, will be directly sent to Unite to Light at the end of each month, less transaction fees. Donors will receive a monthly snapshot that reflects the impact of their donations to Unite to Light (sharable on social media) and a tax donation receipt at the end of the year. The company was co-founded by Leena Patidar and Scott Graham. For more information on Coin Up, visit the site at: https://www.coinupapp.com.