FAQ: How Do I Set Up Text to Give?

Engaging with your supporters and raising funds for your organization can be tough in the modern age. Smartphones and social media have shortened people’s attention spans and increased the competition for nonprofits and other donation-based organizations. To keep up, you need to support modern fundraising solutions like text-to-give. 

The Text2Give feature of SMS marketing is a fundraising tool that allows users to instantly donate to nonprofits, faith groups, and political organizations via text message. Text2Give is an incredibly effective fundraising method because it engages your supporters on a device they’ve got in their hands all day long; additionally, it provides donors with an easy and convenient way to contribute to your organization. 

Supporters simply need to text “GIVE” or “DONATE” to join your Text2Give campaign.

What Is Text2Give?

Text2Give is a feature that allows your organization to accept donations via text message. Whether you’re a nonprofit, faith group, or political organization, Text2Give provides a secure and convenient channel for your supporters to send you donations. You may have heard Text2Give referred to as:

• Text2Donate
• Text Giving
• Mobile Giving
• Text2Tithe

No matter what you call it, this feature allows your donors to easily send money without leaving their native texting app making Text2Give a powerful fundraising tool in the modern age.

How Do I Set Up Text2Give?

The first step in starting a Text2Give campaign is choosing a software platform that supports this feature. There are many text message delivery platforms to choose from, so to narrow down your options you should think about exactly how you’ll be using the software.

For instance, do you want to implement other text message marketing strategies in addition to Text2Give? Do you need to integrate your text messaging software with your existing CRM? It will also help to have a budget in mind before you shop around so you can ensure you find an affordable Text2Give solution that fits your organization’s specific needs.

Once you’ve chosen your software provider, it’s time to set up your Text2Give campaign. Every text message delivery platform is different, but there are a few steps you’ll need to follow whichever provider you use.

1. Select a keyword: For the most effective Text2Give campaign, you’ll want to use keywords that your supporters can text to your phone number to start the donation process. Some examples of frequently used Text2Give keywords include “donate,” “support,” and “give.”
2. Create an autoresponder: Most software platforms allow you to create customized autoresponders that are triggered when a supporter texts your keyword. These autoresponders serve two purposes. First, they provide an opportunity for your supporters to legally opt-in to receive text messages from you, and second, they tell your supporters how to complete the donation process.
3. Advertise your Text2Give campaign: Your supporters need to know how to donate. You can advertise your Text2Give campaign and keyword in a variety of ways including posters, social media, and fundraising events.

As you can see, setting up Text2Give is quick and straightforward. However, to get the most out of your Text2Give campaigns, there are some best practices and tips you can use to get the best results.

Text2Give Best Practices

If you want to ensure a successful Text2Give campaign, you should put in the same amount of planning and care as you would any other fundraising initiative. Here are some tips to help you plan, market, and track your Text2Give fundraising campaigns.

Set Clear Goals

Your Text2Give campaign should be clear about what you’re raising money for and why it’s a cause worth supporting. You should also set a specific fundraising goal so your donors can see the impact of their donations. 

This goal must be realistic, so your supporters don’t feel overwhelmed or pressured into giving more than they’re comfortable with. One way to help encourage donations is by updating your followers when you reach certain fundraising milestones.

Promote Your Text2Give Campaign

When it comes time to advertise and promote your Text2Give campaign, there are a variety of popular strategies you can employ. For instance, your Text2Give keyword can be added to your email signatures, social media posts, and website landing pages.

If you’re collecting donations for a time-sensitive issue, you could host a fundraising event or pledge drive and add your Text2Give keyword to flyers, napkins, and coasters so attendees have an easier way to give money. It’s easy to incorporate Text2Give into existing marketing strategies, but you also shouldn’t be afraid to get creative about promoting your campaigns.

Make It Easy for Donors

For the average smartphone user, Text2Give will be an intuitive process, but you should prepare to answer any questions your supporters may have. In addition, some of your supporters may be skeptical about the security of sending money via text and need some reassurance or guidance about how Text2Give complies with financial regulations like Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI/DSS).

One of the best ways to address these questions and concerns is with an illustrated guide or infographic. You can post this information on your website and social media as well as provide a link or printed hand-out to any donors who request it.

Say Thanks!

As mentioned above, most text-to-give software platforms will let you create customized autoresponders, so you should craft one to thank your donors after they make a donation. Even if they know it’s an automated message, they’ll appreciate the effort. 

To go the extra mile, you should also make a point to personally (and manually) thank your more generous donors—preferably within 24-48 hours of the donation. Showing appreciation to your donors increases the chances that they’ll donate again, so you shouldn’t skip this important step.

Collect and Analyze Fundraising Data

When a supporter makes a Text2Give donation, you should input their name and contact information in your CRM or database so you can get in touch with them for future campaigns. You should also track metrics such as average donation size, individuals’ Text2Give donation frequency, and how donors are connecting with your campaign (e.g. from social media, email click-throughs, word of mouth, etc.).

Tracking this data will help you plan and strategize your next Text2Give campaign to get even better results.

Finding the Right Text-to-Give Platform

Selecting the right text message delivery platform is vital to the success of your Text2Give campaign as well as any future marketing and fundraising strategies. Your SMS provider should offer transparent pricing, hands-on support, and a robust suite of marketing and communication features to help you meet your fundraising goals. 

Jeff Winaker

Jeff Winaker is the CEO of NorthText. He’s passionate about helping clients reach their customers faster with SMS marketing. He resides in the Bay Area with his family.