Once upon a time, fundraising was limited. Nonprofits had to host events or pound the pavements to raise funds. It was not easy.
Today, technology has taken over and there are many ways to reach out to donors. You can solicit donations through emails, social media, and text.
Text to donate is especially successful because so many people interact with their phones. It leads to increased open rates. According to Textellent, marketing messages have a 98% open rate and are read in about three minutes. It also provides a link that takes users to a donation form so they can give from wherever they are.
If text to donate sounds good to you, read on to learn more about the process.
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Here’s how the text-to-donate process works:
Many text-to-donate platforms are free. However, they will charge a transaction fee. Others charge for the service.
Note, text to donate varies from text to give in that text to donate sends users a link that takes them to an online text donation form. Text to give requires users to respond to texts with a donation amount or a keyword that confirms they agree to a requested donation. The donation is then added to their phone bill.
Watch this video for more information on how to set up text-to-donate for your nonprofit.
Text to donate is more effective than traditional and online methods. Here are some comparisons to consider.
Here are some other texts to donate benefits to consider:
With text to donate, forms are instantly accessible. Donors can simply tap on the link in the message and go to the donation page. They can donate from wherever they are, so they don’t need to be reminded to donate later.
Text to donate is not limited to your contacts. You can advertise it through social media, your website, banner ads, and even marketing fliers. Use these tools to collect contact information and target new donors in your next campaign.
Here are some examples of how to grow your text to donate reach:
Text messages allow you to communicate with donors in real-time for increased engagement. You can send them thank you messages immediately after the donation. Text to donate can also work with SMS messaging, an automated solution that allows organizations to communicate with donors quickly and easily.
Here are some other ways you can improve engagement in your text to donate campaigns:
Text to Give uses secure donation forms to process payments. People know their sensitive information will be safe when they donate. This sense of security builds trust within your organization.
Here are some other security measures to keep in mind with text to give.
Your organization will likely grow over time. Choose a platform that scales with it. The platform should allow you to send messages to as many donors as you need to, even if it requires switching plans. If switching plans is necessary, the platform should provide an easy and instant upgrade process.
Here are some other features that indicate a scalable text-to-donate platform:
Text to donate is an effective fundraising solution, but it will be even more effective if you create engaging messages that encourage donors to give. Here are some pointers to keep in mind.
“Text messages have subject lines?” you may ask. They do. You can click the “show subject” field in your settings to enter a subject.
Check out this video to learn more about the process.
However, the text-to-donate platform you use may allow you to set up a subject line using its unique system.
In any case, your subject line will be the first thing people see when they receive your text. It should captivate donors enticing them to learn more about your cause.
With just 40 characters, you need to make your subject line short and sweet. Some of these characters should make up action words and phrases like:
If space allows, mention your cause in the subject of your text message to donate. Personalize your message to boost donor engagement by using their name.
Text-to-donate SMS messages have character limits of typically around 160 characters. You don’t have room to get overly descriptive. You must be clear and to the point.
Come right out and say what cause you are supporting. If you are asking for a monetary donation amount, mention it upfront. Briefly discuss how it will help you reach your fundraising goal.
If you are using MMS (multi-media messages) you may have a longer character limit of around 1600 words. You can take advantage of this longer-form text to engage readers with a storytelling element.
However, keep in mind that most people aren’t expecting long text messages and may not take the time to read them. It’s best to keep things brief and to the point.
As you might guess, multi-media messages also give you the option to include video and images in your fundraising text message. These tools can boost engagement and provide a succinct way to develop messages that tell a story.
Funraise provides the following donation message example:
“Dear (Donor Name), Today, I’m writing to ask you to support (cause). By donating just (amount) you can (specific impact). To donate (specific action). Thank you for joining (cause’s) efforts during this (adjective) time- it’s supporters like you that help us change the world every day.”
It’s ideal because it allows for personalization, it mentions a specific cause and amount, it’s optimistic, and it thanks the donor in advance.
This video offers other tips that will help you create text-to-donate messages that encourage giving:
Fundraising can be frustrating. While statistics vary depending on the cause and fundraising method, most people you ask to donate will say no. Fundraiser staff often get down in the dumps when they are unable to reach their goals.
However, despite obstacles, you must keep fundraising optimistic. Positivity will produce better response rates.
Additionally, if you hint that your cause is not successful, it will hinder giving. People want to know they are giving to a cause that’s thriving. If they give to an organization that closes the next day, their money may be wasted.
Be optimistic when asking for money so donors know they are giving to a reliable cause.
Another reason the example text is so effective is because it gratifies donors in advance. Take the line “It’s supporters like you that help us change the world every day”. The message almost assumes that the donor has already given- whether they’ve given to past campaigns or not.
Here is the psychological impact of that type of message.
A call to action (CTA) demonstrates what you want donors to do after receiving your text. Depending on how the CTA is used, it could encourage people to sign up for a newsletter, check out a website, or learn more about a cause.
But for donate via text, the CTA is very specific. You want the recipient to visit the link and donate money. State that clearly in your text with a message like ‘Donate Here’.
Make the link clickable so it takes them directly to the mobile donation form.
Text to donate is popular among nonprofits because it is highly engaging. With most people on their phones, it leads to higher open rates and more engagement. Some services also charge transaction fees only ensuring ROI.
Yes, most text-to-donate transactions occur over a secure platform. Some platforms may be more secure than others, but they all offer some level of security.
Text-to-donate fees vary depending on the platform. GiveLively is free but charges a transaction fee. DonorBox charges an additional $19 to clients who use text to donate as an add-on service and $50 a month for a custom keyword. GiveWP charges $79 a year.
Vanco offers text to donate services for just $10 a month plus transaction fees. Our system is secure, flexible, and simple to use. It will produce significant returns for your organization.
Yes, nonprofit organizations of all sizes can benefit from text-to-donate. The right platform will scale with your company as it grows offering optimal support.
It is difficult to average an increased donation rate when using text to donate. It depends on the success of your current campaigns, the success of your text-to-donate campaign, and how many of your donors move to text to donate from other giving platforms. However, according to Nonprofit Source, 1 in 4 donors use mobile devices to discover nonprofits they were unaware of, 25% of donors complete donations on mobile devices, and mobile donations increased by 205% in the past year.
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