“Waiting for someone else to do the job that needs to be done just doesn’t feel right,” said Chris Wall, a child and adolescent psychiatrist who graduated from Union in 1996. Wall recently launched 4Giving, an innovative platform that facilitates what he describes as “spontaneous moments of generosity, wherever they occur.”
Wall, who is based in Rochester, Minnesota, is passionate about the app that allows people to easily give to a cause by simply scanning a Quick Response—or QR—code with a smartphone camera.
Launched in December 2017, 4Giving has already processed more than $75,000 in donations for a range of organizations in education, healthcare, science, the arts and beyond. The main idea behind 4Giving is to streamline generosity through mobile-friendly philanthropic giving.
“We try to make it super simple to sign up and super simple to give,” said Wall, who stressed that many giving opportunities are missed because there isn’t a quick, hassle-free way to give to good causes.
Wall said he attended a church fundraiser and was interested in giving a substantial amount, but was put off by the cumbersome process of giving larger gifts.
“I would have given $2,000,” said Wall, “but the moment passed.”
After that frustrating experience, Wall set out to create a way to “make it easy for someone in my generation or younger to give.” Wall emphasized that few people carry cash on them and even fewer lug around checkbooks.
“Through this platform, our hope is to make it easier and more organized to help those interested in leading a charitable cause go from concept to donations in a matter of minutes,” he said.
Organizations that wish to use 4Giving can easily create an account to get started. They are then equipped with a unique 4-digit code—a QR code, and a quick-link allowing for easy sharing on social media, websites, promotional materials, flyers, signage, coasters, text messages, and more.
The impact of servant leaders
“My Union College experience gave me and my family a great range of perspectives.” said Wall. “One of the most important and influential characteristics I observed was in our professors and various campus administrators. I was impressed by their common willingness to live as servant leaders oriented to the Union College mission.”
Wall said this attitude of personal responsibility and initiative has helped him in his clinical, education and research career at Mayo Clinic and subsequent practices and businesses he has led.
LuAnn Davis, vice president for Advancement at Union, shared fond memories of Wall. “Chris was a student worker in the Advancement office when he first came to Union College and from the first day I met him I knew he wasn’t going to last long in this office. I knew science was going to nab him!”
Davis described 4Giving as “a fabulous application” and said it was especially relevant to younger alumni who wish to give to Union. “I applaud him for contributing something to the profession that helps people easily make a gift.”
