You know that mobile giving for nonprofit fundraising continues to grow, but is your organization really making the most of supporters who want to donate to you via mobile platforms?
Launching a text-to-give program should be at the top of your to-do list if you don’t yet have one. Getting started is easy. We have a few helpful tips so that you can implement text-to-give right away.
You will need to partner with a reputable, affordable mobile fundraising company who will manage the service behind the scenes. There are many great companies out there offering this service; do your research and ask for referrals. (We recommend Textify Mobile, and you can sign up for a free 30-day trial here.
Host a special event to introduce text giving.
If you’re just beginning with text-to-give, you should make your launch memorable. Create a special giving campaign or event to introduce text giving — or pair text giving with your next campaign. We’ve seen text giving work effectively at all sorts of conferences, races, galas, and other fundraisers. At an appropriate time during the event or presentation, introduce text-to-give and invite attendees to get out their phones and give on the spot.
Tell people exactly what to do.
Give a basic explanation of how text giving works. Take your audience step-by-step through the process. Include visuals with your keyword and short code for reference. Consider printing announcement cards with your information included so that attendees can take them home. Depending on your audience, you may want to include videos, screen shots, or other visual aids (either at the event, through direct mail, and/or on your website) to show people exactly how to use your new service.
Promote your new donation-collecting method.
As with anything your organization does to get more gifts, you’ll want to promote the text-to-give launch. Announce it on all your regular communication channels, including direct mail, email, and social media.
Giving through text messaging is definitely a popular and effective method of acquiring gifts for most nonprofits these days. Don’t miss out on donations that could come in via text; make sure your organization is set up and ready to receive donations through text-to-give.
