A Comprehensive Guide to Texting for Nonprofit Organizations

Communication is your nonprofit’s lifeline. From rallying volunteers to building lasting relationships with donors, finding the right channel can make all the difference. Enter SMS, a tool that’s powerful, immediate, and surprisingly underused in the nonprofit world. If you’re not already incorporating texting into your strategy, you’re leaving engagement—and donations—on the table.

This guide will walk you through why SMS is a game-changer for nonprofits, how to use it effectively, and what it takes to stay compliant. Let’s dive in.

Why SMS? The Benefits of Texting for Nonprofits

Why consider nonprofit text message marketing? It’s all about finding the right tools to help support your cause, stay top of mind for donors, and rally your people for big pushes and events. Below, we’ll take a more granular look at the benefits of nonprofit texting and how they can benefit your organization.

High Open Rates and Immediate Impact

Let’s face it: emails often sit unopened, and social media posts can get buried in endless feeds. But SMS? Text messages boast an open rate of 98%—and most are read within mere minutes.

Other communication tools can’t approach this level of immediacy when you need to deliver urgent updates or rally support for a cause. It means that you can do more with SMS than with other platforms and tools and see results almost immediately.

What does a high open rate mean? It boils down to this: a high open rate means that your contacts are engaged and find value in what you send them. Nonprofit texting is one of the most powerful ways to create a strong connection with your audience and then build engagement over time without getting lost in the noise of a busy inbox or the clutter of social media.

Cost-Effective Communication

Budget constraints are a universal nonprofit reality. Luckily, SMS is a low-cost, high-return channel. With affordable pricing models and the ability to send bulk messages, you can reach thousands without breaking the bank.

However, your costs will vary based on the platform and partner you choose, as well as whether you’re sending SMS or MMS. SMS is the more affordable of the two, with prices ranging from .01 to .05. MMS texts cost a little more. Note that international texting is pricier than domestic texting.

Nonprofits must keep an eye on their bottom line. Money’s always tight, and the more affordable and effective your tools are, the farther you can stretch your budget, allowing you to do more with less. That can translate into:

• Better resilience during dry spells when donors aren’t as willing to contribute
• Improved ability to plan, design, and implement initiatives
• More funds left for other marketing efforts and collateral creation

Personalization and Direct Engagement

SMS allows for a personal touch that feels like a one-on-one conversation. Whether you’re thanking a donor by name or reminding a volunteer of their upcoming shift, it’s a channel that fosters direct and meaningful connections.

And personalization is more important today than ever before. Don’t take our word for it, however. Here are a few eye-opening statistics to inform your nonprofit texting strategy and help you capitalize on the personalization shift:

• 71% of consumers expect personalized experiences with the brands they patronize. That includes the nonprofits they support.
• 73% of people expect companies to understand their needs and preferences. For nonprofits, that means knowing the types of initiatives they support, remembering their contributions, and more.
• Organizations that focus on marketing personalization see a 15% revenue lift. For nonprofits, that translates to more financial contributions, but also an increase in volunteer work.
• 64% of marketers personalize communications by segment in addition to other methods. This allows you to fine-tune your efforts and deliver the most relevant message to each audience member.

Real-Time Alerts

Need to mobilize volunteers for a last-minute event? Running a time-sensitive fundraising campaign? Texting delivers your message instantly, ensuring timely action.

Key Takeaway: SMS combines speed, reach, and intimacy, making it one of the most effective tools for nonprofit communication.

How Nonprofits Are Using SMS: Top Use Cases

Now that you have a better idea of the benefits you can see with nonprofit texting, let’s take a look at how SMS is being used by nonprofits and charitable organizations like yours. These use cases can give you a better idea of the different nonprofit text message marketing initiatives that you can implement and how to do so.

Donor Engagement and Retention

Engaging your donors doesn’t end with a single contribution. It’s all about building a long-term relationship with each one. You need to keep your audience involved and the best way to do that is with targeted, personalized nonprofit text message marketing. Use SMS to:

• Send thank-you messages immediately after donations.
• Share updates on how funds are making a difference.
• Provide early access to events or exclusive content.

Example:

“Thank you, Alex, for your support! Your $50 donation is helping us feed 100 families this week. We’ll keep you updated on the impact you’re making.”

Don’t leave it there, though. Follow through on your commitment to keep them updated. Let them know how the initiative is going, including when you need additional funding to reach further milestones or to cover unanticipated shortfalls. Think of engagement as an ongoing conversation.

Fundraising Campaigns

Texting has revolutionized nonprofit fundraising. It helps you transcend what’s traditionally been considered possible and can be used to augment just about any type of campaign. It can also be the foundation of its own fundraising campaign. Here’s how:

• Text-to-Give Campaigns: Donors can contribute directly via text—no forms or links needed. Make sure you’re using list segmentation, personalization, and targeting, and then make your ask.
• Donation Reminders: Gentle nudges to past donors can yield significant rewards. Often, it’s not that previous donors don’t want to contribute again. Maybe your cause has slipped their mind, or perhaps they assumed it was a one-time campaign.
• Event-Based Appeals: Real-time updates during fundraising events boost participation. Think of it as another arm of your event, like Facebook Lives or Reddit AMAs. Real-time requests result in real-time contributions, too, and that can help fuel excitement that drives even more donations.

Example:

“Hi, Sarah! We’re just $1,000 away from our goal to build a new shelter. Donate $25 now by replying YES to this text!”

Make sure to keep them in the loop about the event’s progress, too. Sometimes, donors are willing to make a second contribution if you need just a little bit more to get your event across the goal line.

Volunteer Coordination

Anyone who’s ever tried to manage volunteers knows it’s not particularly easy. There are dozens of things you’ll need to juggle, and everyone has to be kept up to date. Keeping volunteers informed and engaged is simpler with SMS:

• Share schedules and shifts.
• Send reminders before events.
• Notify teams of last-minute changes.

Example:

“Hey, Mark! Reminder: Your volunteer shift at the community garden starts tomorrow at 10 AM. See you there!”

These types of communications can do a lot to help streamline your event, make volunteers feel valued and engaged, and avoid potential problems from last-minute changes to plans. Imagine the issues you’d face if the start time of the event was changed but you couldn’t reach all your volunteers quickly to let them know. Or think about the need for real-time communications with your teams for safety and security. How would you get in touch with volunteers if an emergency happened?

Event Promotion and Reminders

Successful events are the foundation of your organization’s ability to achieve its mission. However, keeping attendees informed and engaged isn’t always easy. That’s where nonprofit texting can help. From invitations to last-minute updates, texting keeps your audience in the loop:

• Send RSVP links.
• Share event details and parking info.
• Provide post-event follow-ups and surveys.

Example:

“Don’t miss our Charity Gala this Saturday! RSVP now: [link]. Tickets are limited!”

This is a powerful way to create excitement and a sense of a direct, personal connection with your organization. It also lets you tap into interest and start building the foundation of your event’s audience ahead of time, as well as share relevant details, updates, and changes, or gauge sentiment about the event afterward.

Crafting Effective Nonprofit SMS Campaigns

To get the most out of nonprofit texting, it’s all about strategy. Here’s how to craft messages that resonate:

1. Keep It Short and Concise

Texting is about brevity. Stick to the essentials in your nonprofit texting and include a clear call to action (CTA).

Example: “Support education today! Reply YES to donate $10 and help us buy books for kids in need.”

2. Find the Right Balance

Bombarding your audience with texts can lead to fatigue. Stick to a thoughtful nonprofit text message marketing schedule and avoid sending anything at odd hours. Put yourself in their shoes. Would you appreciate the frequency or timing?

3. Use the Right Tone

Your tone should reflect your mission—empathetic, inspiring, and clear. Avoid jargon and keep it conversational.

4. Personalize Where Possible

Address recipients by name and reference their past interactions with your organization. Remember that they’re expecting a personalized experience based on everything that’s come before. Your job is to communicate like an individual who remembers those past touchpoints, not a faceless nonprofit only interested in raising funds.

Example: “Hi, Emily! Thanks for attending our 5K run last month. Join us again for our upcoming beach cleanup: [link].”

5. Timing Matters

Send messages when people are most likely to engage. Mid-morning or early afternoon tends to work best. Skip times when your messages are likely to be ignored or when they’re outright unwelcome (dinnertime and bedtime).

6. Include an Easy Opt-Out Option

Make opting out simple and straightforward to ensure you’re respecting your audience’s preferences. Not only is this a good practice, but it’s also a legal requirement.

Example: “Text STOP to unsubscribe from future updates.”

Staying Compliant: SMS Regulations for Nonprofits

Nonprofit texting isn’t the Wild West. There are rules and regulations that you’ll need to follow to stay on the right side of the law and to ensure you’re respecting your recipients. Navigating SMS compliance doesn’t have to be daunting. Here’s what you need to know:

Obtain Explicit Consent

Always get clear, affirmative consent before sending texts. This can be done through online forms, event sign-ups, or opt-in campaigns.

Respect Opt-Out Requests

Every message should include instructions for opting out, and those requests should be processed immediately.

Protect Privacy

Handle donor and recipient data with care, adhering to relevant privacy laws like GDPR or CCPA.

Key Takeaway: Nonprofits must follow regulations like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to avoid fines and maintain trust.

Choosing the Right SMS Platform

Ready to tap into the potential of nonprofit texting? That’s great. Now all you need to do is choose the right platform.

However, not all SMS platforms are created equal. Some may have more features and capabilities than you need (or want to pay for) and others might be lacking. So, how do find the right one?

When choosing one for your nonprofit, look for:

• Ease of Use: Platforms like DialMyCalls offer intuitive interfaces for quick campaign setup and overall ease of use.
• CRM Integration: Make sure the platform you ultimately choose will sync with your existing donor and volunteer databases.
• Scalability: Chances are good that your organization’s needs will evolve. Make sure the platform you choose can grow with you or you might find you need to change platforms down the road.
• Compliance Support: Make sure the platform offers built-in tools to manage opt-ins and opt-outs effectively. This will save you time and effort while also helping to ensure legal compliance.

Top SMS Platforms for Nonprofits

Some of the top-rated SMS platforms for nonprofit texting include:

• DialMyCalls
• Tatango
• Textedly
• Qgiv
• Donorbox

Make sure you compare prices and capabilities with each platform. For instance, DialMyCalls offers a credit-based tier for just $9.99 per month that’s well-suited for nonprofits and includes mass testing, MMS, outbound SMS, extended-length texting, and more. It comes with 150 credits, but you can add more for just 7 cents a credit if you need to reach more people. In comparison, Textedly’s base plan is $26 per month and comes with 600 texts per month but can’t be scaled.

Tapping into the Power of Nonprofit Texting

Texting isn’t just a communication tool—it’s a bridge between your nonprofit and the people who power your mission. From engaging donors to mobilizing volunteers, SMS makes it easier to connect, inspire, and act.

Ready to take your nonprofit’s communication to the next level? Start exploring DialMyCalls and see how easy it is to build impactful SMS campaigns.

Your cause deserves to be heard—one text at a time.

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