Frequently asked questions

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Oxfam Australia If Then Give pilot. Below you'll  find quick answers to common questions. Please check our comprehensive knowledge base if you need further information.

General information

• What is the If Then Give pilot
  This pilot is part of a research collaboration between the Universities of Lancaster, Edinburgh and Oxfam Australia. As part of this research we are testing a concept and pre-release software with real users using the product in a real environment. From identifying critical bugs to providing general opinions and ideas about the concept, this test will allow potential future donors to be involved in the development of the If Then Give app. As testers you have a chance to experience a new product firsthand, share your insights and ideas with the researchers and help Oxfam find new ways to engage the public with global issues.                           
  
  
• Is If Then Give a finished product?
  The If Then Give app is part of a research collaboration and currently in its beta phase. This means, the If Then Give app is pre-release software in a research context, and is expected to contain defects which may be material, and are not expected to operate at the level of performance or compatibility of a final, generally available, product offering. Thus, this software may not operate accurately and may be substantially modified prior to general availability or withdrawn at any time. Please read the If Then Give Terms and Conditions and participant information  to make sure you fully understand what participating in this pilot means.
  
  
• What is the If Give app
  The If Then Give app was developed by researchers from Lancaster University to explore a smart, secure and data-driven alternative to current fundraising models that enables you to link your charitable donations to real-world events, ensuring funds are immediately available when needed the most.
  
  With the If Then Give app you can tie your giving to real-world events that you care about. Choose from a set of campaigns, triggers and conditions and stay in control of your charitable giving. You can make pledges to give a limited amount of money during a set period of time. For example, you can set up a pledge that allocates an amount between now and September. Your contract can be a one-off amount or frequent small amounts.
• Can I accidentally donate too much?
  No, If Then Give does not use direct debits, or subscriptions, allowing you to load up the funds you want and set your maximum total for each pledge. In case you made a mistake you can change your pledge during the "cool-down" period. You can read more about this in our knowledge base. If your pledge expires, any remaining balance is returned to your If Then Give account balance and you can choose if you would like to renew your offer or donate money by creating another pledge within the app.
• Is all my money going to charity?
  The researchers from Lancaster and Edinburgh conduct the research, develop the app and provide the technical infrastructure at no cost and they don't charge any fees. Besides a little fee for top-ups that is directly charged by the payment provider Stripe Inc. all funds donated in the app go to Oxfam Australia.
• Do I have to pay for the If Then Give app?
  The If Then Give app is available for free in the Apple App Store and on Google Play. However, to use all functions of the app (i.e. donating to Oxfam), you will be required to credit funds into your If Then Give account using a credit or debit card. The minimum top-up amount is AUD$10.
• Can I use the If Then Give app without taking part in the research?
  To use the If Then Give app, users are required to accept the If Then Give Terms and Conditions and provide informed consent to participate in the research. As part of this trial, you may receive notifications to participate in a number of short surveys. If you do not wish to receive these messages, you can disable push notifications inviting you to participate in a survey on the profile page of the If Then Give app.

Using the app

• How do I use the app?
  We tried to design the app to be easy to use and accessible for everyone. However, if you get stuck on how to set up or use the If Then Give app, we have a set of guides to help you. If you are experiencing any issues not covered in the guides, or need further assistance we are always available to help out. email enquire@oxfam.org.au
• What is a pledge?
  A pledge is a virtual funding pot that is locked by a set of conditions and an expiry date. Funds in this pledge will only be released from your If Then Give account balance to a charity if conditions attached to the pledge are met. For example, a donor might set up a ’pledge’ to support people in Indonesia impacted by an earthquake. If an earthquake above a certain impact strikes, the funds are automatically and immediately released from your If Then Give account balance. If not, the funds are returned to your If Then Give account balance and can be used to make another pledge. A donor can set the following parameters to configure their pledge:
  

  • The amount they want to pledge.
  • Whether to give a one-off amount, or a small amount often.
  • The conditions for the donation. For example, your gift could be related to your own lifestyle, local and world events, or global measures and metrics.
  • How conditions will be met and who they trust to do this. For example, data about earthquakes from an official, authorised source could be used as the trigger if your gift related to earthquake events.
  • The expiry date.

  Note that the projects described in a pledge are indicative of the kinds of projects that your donation can support. Your donation can support projects like the ones described in the If Then Give app, as well as other life-changing Oxfam projects. This means your donation will be used to best meet the needs of a community. For example, we won’t distribute emergency humanitarian supplies if not needed but may instead help communities tackle poverty in other life-changing ways. By working in this way, your generous support will go to where it is needed most.
  
  
• How can I load up credit to the app?
  You can load funds via debit and credit card. Just click on "top up" in the home screen of the app and enter the amount you would like to deposit. The minimum amount for this pilot is AUD$10.
• Are my payment details secure?
  Yes, we are using Stipe Inc, a secure PCI Service Provider Level 1 certified payment provider to manage your payment and credit card information. The PCI Service Provider Level 1 is the most stringent level of certification available in the payments industry, ensuring your data is kept secure. Neither Oxfam Australia, nor the researchers have access to your card details.

Participating in the If Then Give research

• Who is running this research?
  This research is led by researchers from Lancaster University (UK) and the University of Edinburgh (UK), who have partnered with Oxfam Australia to deliver this pilot. We have worked with Oxfam Australia and Oxfam Great Britain to understand how new, data-driven technologies can foster new ways to give to the causes that matter to you most. We are experts in designing and developing new technologies and studying the ways people use them in real-world contexts.
  
• What is this research for?
  We are interested in how new digital technologies can provide better ways for charities to build relationships with their donors, and for the public to give to causes that matter to them. By enabling a wide range of people to try out new technologies in controlled real-life situations we can explore the potential of those technologies. Our research with the If Then Give app is exploratory, and we need people like you to help us understand how best to design and use new technologies like this.
  
• Who can participate in the pilot?
  This pilot is open to anyone (over the age of 18) who accepts the If Then Give Terms and Conditions and provides informed consent to participate in the pilot. We are looking for a wide range of people who will use the If Then Give App for up to 6 months.
  
  You do not need any specific technical knowledge or expertise to take part. Our participants:

  • Are not necessarily tech savvy
  • Are not necessarily Oxfam supporters
  • Are not necessarily native English speakers
  • Will give their own money through the If Then Give app
• What will be expected of me if I participate in the pilot?
  To take part in this pilot, you are required to download an app (iOS and Android) to your mobile phone. You will also be required to register an If Then Give account. During the registration, we are capturing some demographic information about you that will help us to better understand how people are using the app. For more information on how we use this information, please read the privacy and data page.
  
  For the following weeks, and until the end of this research, you will be free to use the app however and to the frequency you like. From time to time we will invite you to complete a questionnaire about your experiences of using the app. While participation in these questionnaires is highly appreciated, it is no requirement to participate in this pilot.
  
  
• How long will the pilot run for?
  The pilot will run for around six months in total, starting in late February until 1st September 2022. We may restrict logging in to the app from 1st December 2022. We will keep users informed about any updates on our schedule. You can read more about the pilot here.
• Do I have to donate to participate in the pilot?
  Participation in the pilot is voluntary and you are free to use the app however and to the frequency you like. You can browse content in the app without adding credit to your account, but using all features of the app would require you to credit your account balance which constitutes a charitable gift to Oxfam Australia.
• What do I receive for participating?
  This research is conducted in collaboration with Oxfam Australia (ABN: 18 055 208 636), a registered charitable organisation. Participation in this research is voluntary. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide financial compensation for participating in the trial. However, by taking part in our research, you are supporting Oxfam Australia to reach their goal of “ending the injustice of poverty”.
• What information and data about me will you collect and store?

  As this is a research study, researchers from Lancaster University will collect three types of data in our research. Firstly, we will record data automatically from your use of the Smart Donations application. This includes details about the pledges you set up and nformation when and how you used the app. We only record data and information in your use of the app and will never record any other data or information about how you use your phone or any other apps on your phone, such as your calls, contacts, location, internet use etc.,
  
  Secondly, we will gather research data from voluntary questionnaires you can fill in before, during and after the pilot. Questionnaires will focus on your familiarity with technology, your charitable giving and your use and experiences of the app.
  
  Thirdly, we will gather research data from phone interviews with some participants. It is not mandatory to take part in the phone interviews, and we will only contact participants that explicitly gave consent for participating in those.

  Oxfam Australia will collect personal details, like name, contact details and donation information, in order to process donations made through the app and issue receipts. Oxfam Australia may use this information to keep you updated and provide further opportunities for you to engage with and support Oxfam Australia’s work, but you can opt out of receiving such notifications at any time by contacting Oxfam Australia at privacy@oxfam.org.au. For more information, please read Oxfam Australia's privacy policy

• What will you do with the information and data you collect and store?
  We, the researchers at the three Universities, will use this data to understand people’s experiences of the Smart Donations application. We expect to write-up the research for academic publications and reports, but no participant will be identifiable from these publications. You can find more information in the participant information sheet and Lancaster University's privacy policy.
  
  Oxfam Australia will hold limited personal information that it has collected about you (name, contact details and donation information) in order to process donations and issue receipts, satisfy regulatory obligations and update you on any future opportunities to engage with or support Oxfam Australia. Should you wish to opt out of receiving any updates on Oxfam Australia’s work please please contact Oxfam Australia at privacy@oxfam.org.au. More information on how Oxfam Australia processes your information can be found in Oxfam Australia's privacy policy.
  
  
• Will I be able to change my mind about taking part?
  Participation in this research is voluntary. You can withdraw at any time without giving us a reason to do so. You can withdraw from participation actively (i.e. deleting your account) or implicitly (i.e.. by stopping to use the app). For more information about withdrawing from this research, please read the information provided under the “Withdrawing from research” subheading of the Participant Information.




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