{"id":1903,"date":"2026-02-12T00:03:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T04:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildapricot.wpengine.com\/?p=1903"},"modified":"2026-02-17T12:28:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T16:28:28","slug":"text-to-give","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/text-to-give","title":{"rendered":"A Text-to-Give Fundraising Guide: Overview + Top 6 Platforms"},"content":{"rendered":"

With cellphone and tablet use on the rise, fundraising in the digital space is increasingly important. In fact, mobile giving statistics<\/a> show that mobile giving donations have increased 205% over the last year. A whopping 51% of people who visit a nonprofit\u2019s website access it on their mobile device\u2014and 25% of donors complete donations there too.<\/p>\n

Text-to-give campaigns combine the popularity of mobile devices with the human desire to do good in the world. It\u2019s a simple way to empower people to donate\u2014and take an administrative load off your nonprofit or association.<\/p>\n

In this guide, we\u2019ll talk all things text-to-give fundraising and give you the best tools to try to make it a breeze.<\/p>\n

Before you can start your fundraiser<\/a>, you\u2019ll need to understand text-to-give basics. Let\u2019s start by briefly defining text-to-give.<\/p>\n

What is Text-to-Give Fundraising?<\/h2>\n

Simply put, text-to-give fundraising allows nonprofits and charities to accept donations via text message. Here\u2019s how it works: A donor texts a predetermined dollar amount or a keyword to a nonprofit\u2019s designated text-to-give phone number.<\/p>\n

Some platforms will automatically charge the donation amount to the supporter\u2019s cell phone bill. The phone carrier will then process the donation and transfer the funds to the organization.<\/p>\n

Other text-to-give platforms will simply send a confirmation text to the donor prompting them to fill out a donation form on the nonprofit\u2019s website<\/a>. Regardless of the process, this type of fundraising has become increasingly popular among nonprofits, as it provides an easy, fast and secure way for donors to give.<\/p>\n

Read more: 12 Donation Website Templates + Examples to Inspire You<\/strong><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Case Study: A Successful Text-to-Give Campaign<\/h2>\n

One of the first and most widely publicized text-to-give campaigns occurred after the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010. As part of their relief efforts, the Red Cross advertised \u201cText HAITI to 90999\u201d across broadcast, print, and online. By providing people from across the world with a swift and easy way to donate, they were able to raise tens of millions of dollars to help rebuild the country.<\/p>\n

According to Snowball\u2019s list of top mobile fundraisers<\/a>, \u201cfor an overwhelming majority of people surveyed, the Haiti campaign was the first time they had ever used texting to donate to charity.\u201d Due to its widespread success, it opened the door for other nonprofits to use text-to-give as a viable means of fundraising.<\/p>\n

4 Best Practices for Ramping Up Your Text-to-Give Efforts<\/h2>\n

Although most text-to-give platforms are designed to be exceptionally easy to use, there are a few things you\u2019ll need to consider as you implement this kind of fundraising.<\/p>\n

1. Keep It Simple<\/h3>\n

According to Double the Donation<\/a>, text-to-give fundraising is popular because it \u201cutilizes a form of technology that most donors use on a daily basis.\u201d Donors are already texting on a daily basis, so this makes giving easy by using \u201can existing technology that donors are already extremely familiar with.\u201d<\/p>\n

As you\u2019re setting up your text-to-give campaign, prioritize simplicity. Some text-to-give software providers will ask you to come up with a customized short code that your donors will use to make a donation. Choose a short and relevant keyword that will be memorable for donors and lessen the potential for typos.<\/p>\n

For example, a cat rescue nonprofit might choose \u201cKitty15\u201d to be the designated number that initiates the donation. This will also give donors confidence that their gift is going to the right cause.<\/p>\n

2. Shout It From the Rooftops<\/h3>\n

Well, not literally. After all, this is a technological solution. But you\u2019ll want to get the word out about your method for accepting donations.<\/p>\n

The key to success is to make your new text-to-give function part of your nonprofit\u2019s regular marketing efforts<\/a>. Some ways you can do this include:<\/p>\n

\"Market<\/p>\n