More than 200 million people got their first mobile device in 2017, and two-thirds of the world’s 7.6 billion inhabitants now have a mobile phone. Smartphones are the world’s preferred choice for going online too, accounting for a greater share of web traffic than all other devices combined. In the past year alone, mobile giving donations have increased by 205%. It comes as no surprise that more and more nonprofits are exploring text-to-give as a way to empower people to donate. Text giving is a fast and convenient way for people to make a donation that can help save the day for people in need.

1. TEXT-TO-GIVE FUNDRAISING
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR NONPROFITS (2019)

2. 200 MILLIONPeople got their first mobile device in 2017
Two-thirds of the world’s
7.6 billion inhabitants
now have a mobile phone

3. We’ll take you through all
things text-to-give fundraising,
including
1. What is text-to-give fundraising?
2. What kind of organizations use text-to-give
fundraising?
3. How does text-to-give fundraising work?
4. Text-to-give fundraising statistics
5. Advantages of text-to-give fundraising
6. Disadvantages of text-to-give fundraising
7. Text-to-give fundraising tips and best practices
8. Best text-to-give fundraising platforms
9. Text-to-give fundraising FAQ

4. What is Text-to-Give Fundraising?
 Text-to-give lets donors make donations right
from their cell phones, using their phones’
native texting application and/or web browser.
 Text-to-give is a mobile fundraising method that
enables donors to give through a few text
messages, requiring little effort

5. What Kind of Organizations Use Text-to-Give
Fundraising?
 Emergency relief nonprofit organizations
 Educational institutions
 Churches
 Political campaigns

7. How Does Text-to-Give Fundraising Work?
The text-to-give process is simple and
straightforward

8. Usually, through word-
of-mouth, through
digital marketing
means, or at an
event/service, a donor
is asked to give via text
Donors typically send a
text message (unique
keyword) to a
shortened number
The “keyword” or the “short code” triggers the next
step
The donor will have a defined
amount added on their mobile
cell phone bill
The donor will instantly
receive a text message
that includes the link to a
donation page
The donor is guided to a
donation landing page
where they give
Donors should
automatically
receive a
confirmation
email
Nonprofits receive the
donations either
directly from online
donation forms

9. Text-to-Give Fundraising Statistics
1. 1 in 4 donors use mobile devices to discover
nonprofits they were previously unaware of.
2. 25% of donors complete their donations on
mobile devices.
3. In the past year, mobile giving donations have
increased by 205%.
4. 90% of text message reminders are read in 3
minutes

10. Advantages of Text-to-Give
Fundraising
Convenience Simplicity and Speed
Intuitive Use Impulse Giving Word of Mouth

12. Disadvantages of Text-to-Give
Fundraising
The time it Takes to
Access Funds
Price
Donation Cap
No Clear-Cut
Engagement Path
Low Retention Rates

14. Text-to-Give Fundraising Tips and Best Practices
The text-to-give process is simple and straightforward
1. Hold your horses.
2. Simplicity is key.
3. Spruce up your website.
4. Customize your donation forms.
5. Combine text-to-give with your other fundraising
methods.
6. Promote your campaign.
7. Designate a coordinator or a coordinating team.
8. Don’t forget to follow up.
9. Measure, track, and evaluate.

15. HOLD YOUR HORSES
SIMPLICITY IS KEY
It might be wise to reserve this
fundraising method for specific
fundraising campaigns
With text-to-give, simplicity is
everything. The customized short-code
that your donors will use to donate and
the numbers they text it to should be
short and easy to remember

16. SPRUCE UP YOUR WEBSITE
CUSTOMIZE YOUR
DONATION FORMS
Revamp your website and
online donation forms so they will load
faster and be more easily navigable on
mobile devices
Customize your mobile-responsive
donation pages with logos, fields, and
gift amounts

17. COMBINE TEXT-TO-GIVE
WITH YOUR OTHER
FUNDRAISING METHODS
PROMOTE YOUR
CAMPAIGN
You can pair text-to-give
with fundraising events to capitalize on
the excitement created by in-person
interactions
Promoting your text-to-give campaign
is critical to your fundraising success.
Put together a social media and
marketing plan to promote your
campaign

18. DESIGNATE A
COORDINATOR OR A
COORDINATING TEAM
DON’T FORGET TO
FOLLOW UP
For best results, treat text-to-give as a
completely separate donation channel
(which it is)
Thanking donors is always important;
so it is with text-to-give fundraising.
Make your donors feel valued by
thanking them for their gift and
celebrating their contribution

19. MEASURE, TRACK
AND EVALUATE
Just like with any other fundraising
method, you must keep track of the
results of your text-to-give campaign
Keep honing your strategies and
making more out of your text-to-give
campaigns

21. Best Text-to-Give Fundraising Platforms
When choosing the right text-to-give platform for
you, make sure your provider’s software offers
1. Intuitive interface
2. Easy processing and reconciliation
3. Secure processing
4. Availability of funds
5. Support
6. Pricing

22. Text-to-Give Fundraising FAQ
1. What are keywords?
2. What are shortcodes?
3. What is tokenization?
4. Does text-to-give work only with younger donors?
5. Is text-to-give secure?
6. What types of payments does text-to-give accept?
7. Is there a cap on text-to-give donation amounts?
8. Is there a way to keep track of mobile donor data?
9. Can text-to-give donors set up recurring donations?

23. READ THE ENTIRE BLOG HERE
https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-
blog/text-to-give-fundraising-guide/

24. Conclusion
Text-to-give fundraising can bring in a high volume of
donors, and it can be integrated with other fundraising
methods. However, due to the limited amount of
segmenting and personalization this method offers, there’s
a potential for alienating donors. Furthermore, if you’re not
an emergency relief organization, a text-to-give solicitation
may not be as compelling to the donor as an “impulse”
donation in the wake of a tragedy is.
At Donorbox, we strive to make your nonprofit experience
as productive as possible, whether through our
online donation system or resources on our nonprofit blog