The service design inspiration 008: One tap to impact, Charity Economy
When thinking about digital payments and interactions often we think at the dark side of the digital age, fueling the spending machine and the overload of information. We wanted to see how digital media can be used to make a difference and create an environment that rewards connections between people and fuels charities to create change.
Hello, we are two enthusiastic service designers who love to dive into the world of products and services. We are here to share with you our service design explorations and inspirations which we think could be helpful for all of us to develop and innovate.
Let’s go and take a look at some interesting examples of services that relate to charity and its economics!
Too busy to read it all?
You will find our big takeaway just below the case studies! Go and take a look!
Share the meal
With a tap on your phone, you can “share the meal” with a child in need. With US$ 0.80, we can feed one child for a day.
What problem are they solving?
Share the meal lets you donate food to people in need across the globe using their easy app. Also, the money is donated to the trusted organisation- WFP, removing the doubts about where the money goes.
Who is it for?
For any privileged person that wants to donate easily.
2 things we liked!
- The barrier of entry is low as they support rather smaller donations
- The simple message of “sharing the meal” instead of “feeding people” helps you connect with the cause.
We wish…
as much as the messaging of sharing the meal is in place, there was also a possibility to really share this joy in person on some level, to increase the warmth beyond money!
Service Design Inspiration.
Share the meal is very simple yet massively impactful. They are specific about the cause i.e. food, the on the ground organisation- WFP as well as the messaging. This helps the whole system move easily rather than having multiple filters and causes.
Beam
Make 1% spending go to nonprofits, at partner brands which match your values.
What problem are they solving?
Beam is a convenient donation app not only for users but also for brands. When you shop at a partner brand, they contribute 1% of your spending to the cause of your choice. Brands also get to choose the causes they care for, helping in meeting customers with the same concerns.
Who is it for?
For people as well as brands who are conscious about issues and want to help by donating.
2 things we liked!
- The map feature, where you can see all the partner brands and filter them according to causes, helping you see brands who share the same values as you.
- Helping brands find new customers with higher retention rates due to shared concerns.
We wish…
filtering causes helped in including different perspectives, as it might happen that brands will start supporting only the causes which generate more interest, affecting the whole purpose of donation.
Service Design Inspiration.
Beam has unlocked a huge win-win-win situation by offering a convenient donation mechanism for users, giving visibility to brands’ values and donations to a variety of causes. They have used the brands as touch points for charity while offering them statistics as well as loyal customers.
GoFundMe
From your desire to make a difference, to starting your campaign
What problem are they solving?
Being trustworthy when it comes to people’s money is not easy, GoFundMe gives the organizer credibility and tools to create fundraisers in a way that is convenient and easy to use for potential donors, making the campaign stand out for its purpose.
Who is it for?
People with a cause they believe in, with a clear goal in mind.
People in need of monetary help to support their lives.
People who desire to support various causes
2 things we liked!
- Creates an environment to make a difference, both if you want to support or start a campaign
- Helping already established non-profit organizations in having a digital footprint
We wish…
there was an active supporting process that specifically helped personal fundraisers to effectively communicate their story.
Service Design Inspiration.
GoFundMe focuses on the story that people want to tell, helping people explain the why of their fundraiser. This creates a community that is active in starting and contributing to causes, with money or by spreading the message.
GiveTide
Round up your change and donate it to a charity you believe in
What problem are they solving?
Charity work can be seen as big contributions done in a single push, GiveTide gives a way to slowly accumulate donations while constantly giving small amounts of money to a cause you believe in.
Who is it for?
People who want to passively donate to charity in comfortable amounts.
2 things we liked!
- The person donating accumulates their contribution for a charity of their choice. The donation process is automated thanks to auto-donate.
- A system to cap your weekly donations, ensuring donors not to spend more than what they can afford.
We wish…
there was a possibility to connect with the non-profit organization or to see the impact of donations made.
Service Design Inspiration.
GiveTide focuses on giving the person a feeling of actively contributing for good. Donating change every time you spend becomes a more rewarding experience compared to donating that same amount per week in one go.
Our big takeaway
With increasing awareness about issues around the world and things being communicated everywhere, thanks to social media; the charities could be the easiest way to take first action. Due to technology and networks evolving, it’s easy to find and help causes around the world.
In that case, personal stories and generating empathy becomes incredibly valuable, to communicate the impact of donations. Associating with charities adds a layer of value to any business as well.
The one-click-donate approach is amazing, but it still misses the experience or the organic satisfaction of helping people. Maybe we still need that physical touchpoint of helping other people in person. Donating time & efforts have taken a second seat in the charity world. Choice is yours, there is something for everyone, whether working on the field or contributing by a tap. We recommend doing both!
About Authors
Sebastiano Gobbo
Service Designer, problem solver and work-shopper, enthusiastic about reading and travelling.
Follow him: Linkedin, Personal Website, Instagram.
Suyog Sunil Risbud aka The fun Indian guy
A creative entrepreneur. Service designer, musician, filmmaker, podcaster & Founder
Follow him: Linkedin, Youtube, Instagram, Spotify, Personal Website
