The Ultimate Guide to Text-to-Give Fundraising for Nonprofits

Text-to-give fundraising has become one of the most powerful and convenient ways for nonprofits to raise money. With mobile phones becoming an integral part of everyday life, the ability to give through a simple text message provides donors with a seamless and instant way to support their favorite causes. Nonprofits of all sizes can leverage this technology to increase donations, engage supporters, and drive fundraising success.

This ultimate guide will walk you through everything you need to know about text-to-give fundraising, from how it works to the benefits, best practices, and tools you can use to launch a successful campaign.

What is Text-to-Give Fundraising?

Text-to-give is a mobile fundraising method that allows donors to contribute to a nonprofit by sending a text message to a designated phone number. In most cases, the donor texts a keyword (e.g., “GIVE” or “DONATE”) to a short code or phone number, then follows a simple process to complete the donation.

This method simplifies the giving process and is particularly effective for fundraising campaigns that aim to reach people on the go or during live events, such as galas, church services, or conferences.

How Text-to-Give Works

The text-to-give process is designed to be quick and easy. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Donor Sends a Text: The donor texts a keyword (e.g., GIVE) to a designated phone number or short code provided by the nonprofit.
2. Confirmation and Link: The donor receives an automated response with a link to a secure donation page.
3. Donation Details: The donor clicks the link, enters their payment details (credit card, debit card, or mobile wallet), and selects the donation amount.
4. Donation Confirmed: The donor receives a thank-you message or confirmation receipt via text or email.
5. Nonprofit Receives Funds: The donation is processed, and the funds are deposited into the nonprofit’s account.

Many platforms also allow for recurring donations, giving donors the option to automate their contributions on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis.

Benefits of Text-to-Give for Nonprofits

Text-to-give fundraising offers several unique advantages for nonprofits:

1. Convenience for Donors

With mobile phones always at hand, donors can give anytime, anywhere, with just a few taps on their screens. There’s no need to visit a website or write a check.

2. Instant Donations

Text-to-give enables real-time donations, making it ideal for live events, emergency appeals, or urgent fundraising campaigns where speed matters.

3. High Engagement

Texting is one of the most engaging forms of communication. Text messages have a 98% open rate, far surpassing email, ensuring your fundraising appeals reach donors.

4. Broad Donor Reach

Text-to-give appeals to donors of all demographics, especially younger generations like Millennials and Gen Z, who are highly mobile-driven and prefer digital giving options.

5. Increased Donations

Streamlining the donation process reduces friction and encourages more people to give. Recurring giving options also help increase lifetime donor value.

6. Easy Setup and Management

Many text-to-give platforms are user-friendly, easy to set up, and come with built-in tools for tracking donations and managing donor data.

Best Practices for Text-to-Give Fundraising

To maximize the success of your text-to-give campaigns, follow these best practices:

1. Choose the Right Platform

Selecting the right text-to-give provider is critical. Look for platforms that offer:

• Easy setup and management.
• Secure payment processing.
• Custom keywords.
• Integration with donor management systems.
• Affordable pricing and low transaction fees.

2. Make it Easy to Understand

Keep your text-to-give instructions clear and simple:

• Example: “Text GIVE to 12345 to donate $25 to [Nonprofit Name]. Follow the link to confirm your gift.”
• Display instructions on all promotional materials, including your website, emails, and social media posts.

3. Use Keywords that Resonate

Choose keywords that are easy to remember, short, and relevant to your campaign. Examples include:

• GIVE
• SUPPORT
• FEED (for a hunger relief campaign)
• BUILD (for a capital campaign)

4. Promote Your Campaign

To make your text-to-give campaign successful, you need to actively promote it across multiple channels:

• Social Media: Share posts, stories, and videos explaining how to donate.
• Email Marketing: Send email appeals with clear text-to-give instructions.
• Website: Add a text-to-give call-to-action on your homepage.
• Events: Announce your text-to-give keyword during live events and display it on screens, banners, or programs.

5. Create a Sense of Urgency

Encourage immediate action by creating a sense of urgency. Use phrases like:

• “Help us reach our goal of $10,000 by midnight!”
• “Your gift today will provide meals for families in need.”

6. Optimize the Donor Experience

The donor journey should be quick and seamless:

• Limit the number of steps required to give.
• Ensure donation pages are mobile-friendly.
• Offer preset donation amounts with a custom option.

7. Send Thank-You Messages

Always thank donors promptly. Send an automated thank-you text or email after each donation, and let donors know how their gifts are making a difference.

8. Follow Up with Donors

Don’t let the relationship end after one gift:

• Send updates on the impact of their donations.
• Encourage recurring giving.
• Invite donors to future campaigns or events.

9. Track and Measure Results

Monitor your campaign’s performance using metrics like:

• Total donations.
• Number of donors.
• Average donation amount.
• Donor retention rates.

Use this data to optimize future campaigns and identify opportunities for improvement.

Top Platforms for Text-to-Give Fundraising

Here are some of the leading text-to-give platforms nonprofits can use:

1. Tithe.ly

Tithe.ly is a popular choice among churches and nonprofits for its affordability and user-friendly features.

2. Givelify

Givelify offers a simple and app-based giving solution that works well for small nonprofits and churches.

3. Kindrid

Kindrid focuses on simplicity and generosity, making it a great option for text-to-give campaigns.

4. Snowball

Snowball is an all-in-one fundraising platform that supports text-to-give and other digital fundraising tools.

5. CharityAuctionsToday

CharityAuctionsToday is ideal for nonprofits hosting events and auctions in addition to text-to-give campaigns.

Text-to-Give vs. Text-to-Donate: What’s the Difference?

Many people use the terms “text-to-give” and “text-to-donate” interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference:

• Text-to-Give: The donation is charged to the donor’s mobile phone bill. This option is often used for small donations (e.g., $5 or $10).
• Text-to-Donate: The donor initiates a text message and completes the donation through a secure online form using their credit/debit card or mobile wallet.

Most modern platforms use text-to-donate because it allows for larger donation amounts and recurring giving.

Final Thoughts

Text-to-give fundraising is a powerful, accessible, and convenient tool that nonprofits can use to connect with donors and drive donations. By implementing best practices, choosing the right platform, and promoting campaigns effectively, your organization can tap into the power of mobile giving to achieve fundraising success. Whether you’re running a large campaign, hosting a live event, or responding to an urgent need, text-to-give is a flexible and effective solution for modern fundraising.