Text fundraising is rapidly rising with donations to the Red Cross sent by SMS accounting for around 50% of the total funds raised.

The American Red Cross launched its fundraising campaign hours after the earthquake hit Haiti accepting donations by cheque, credit card or the SMS option which essentially allows users to send a text message that would add the cost of a donation to the user's phone bill.

Katrin Verclas, director of MobileActive.org, explains that users "text, and in this case the key word 'Haiti,' to a short code which is a five-digit number. And then they will be asked essentially to confirm the $5 or $10 dollar contribution.

"And then at the end of the month when they receive their bill, there will be a charge in the amount of $5 or $10 dollars that the customer pays as part of their regular phone bill."

"I think in Spain it was $5.9 million dollars in 24 hours after the tsunami, all raised by SMS. US aid organizations were, in 2004, absolutely not on the bandwagon ... and they're now waking up. Which is good, it's about time."

With text fundraising being such an easy way to donate, it is no suprise that mobile users can also donate by SMS to a number of other aid organisations.