20 Short donation message examples of text-to-give superpowered by a nonprofit CRM

Erin Booker

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October 29, 2024

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4 minutes

Nonprofit Trends

Awesome Examples

This article is part of a series

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20 Short donation message examples of text-to-give superpowered by a nonprofit CRM

There are plenty of great text-to-give fundraising platforms out there. Or, well, there's definitely a few text-to-donate services that are hard to beat. But if you want to know why you should jump on the text-to-give bandwagon and how to send a text message from your nonprofit donor CRM, here are more than a dozen sample fundraising messages and how to use them.

Why text-to-give is great for nonprofits

First, the why: It's how people communicate these days. How many times in the last few years have you heard someone say they don't talk on mobile phones; just text them! Or listened to a voicemail instructing you to text the person you're calling? How often do you try to log into an online account and it tells you to input the code they just texted you? Smartphones are here to stay, so if you're interested in capturing younger donors, this is the way to communicate with them, period.

Text-to-give's combined security features offer a higher level of protection compared to traditional nonprofit fundraising methods, making text-to-give a more secure option for many donors and nonprofits alike.
Over 90% of adults own a smartphone these days, so text truly is the most accessible way to ensure your online fundraising appeal gets to your donors—and that they can make a positive impact through your nonprofit organization.
If you don't have a way for donors to tell you how they prefer to hear from you, you should consider adding that to your donor profiles. Think about it: even if they provide their cell phone number, there are going to be folks who prefer texting over calls, and vice versa.
How do you send the right appeal at the right time to the right place to the right donor? Your donor CRM has all the info, plus the ability to send text appeals.

Email vs. Text

Not-for-profit email open rates average 28.59%, with a 3.29% click-through rate. If you've got great content and deliverability, like Funraise's customers, maybe you're at 52%. But nonprofit text message open rates run north of 98%—you can't even compare the two. And with high engagement speeds and rates among younger target audiences, the effectiveness of text-to-give for nonprofits is likely to grow in the future.

Comparison of Nonprofit Email and Text Message Open Rates

What's the message?

Really, anything. Because in Funraise's platform, you can segment supporters into infinite lists and send them all unique messages. You wouldn't talk to major donors the same way you'd address first-time donors, right? Here's a few ideas:

Send targeted asks in your donation text messages. Pull together a core group of dedicated supporters who always show up to help—text them when you really need help.
Have a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign going on? Send your fundraisers encouragement, updates, and tips to help them bring in direct donations.
Send a text to individual supporters whose credit cards are expiring.
When your event is rained out and you need to move your garden party fundraiser indoors, send a text to your registered guests letting them know the venue has changed.

SMS fundraising text messages

The most obvious way to begin your text-to-give fundraising efforts is just to send a text message appeal to potential donors. If you want generous donations, you have to ask.

"Your $10 donation can provide essential supplies for families in need. Text GIVE to help us change lives. Every dollar counts—thank you for your support! 🙏"

Peer-to-peer texts

Help your fundraisers get the word out. In addition to providing web copy and social posts to share and scripts so they can make the ask, give them text messages they can send to the (hopefully) hundreds of contacts in their mobile phones with a click.

"Hi Sarah! 🌟 Your P2P fundraising page is live! Tell 5 friends—every $20 raised provides clean water for a month. Need help? Reply TIPS for fundraising ideas."

"Hey Alex! I'm raising funds to give a family clean water for a month. I'm aiming for $500—that's 25 families! Can you help? Text WATER to 55555 to donate. 🙏💧"

Recurring upgrade texts

Turn one-time donors into recurring monthly donors with a quick text. Donors primed to give regularly appreciate targeted, personal communications pushing them to the finish line.

"Hi [Donor]! Your recent gift made a real difference. Imagine feeding 360 kids a year—that's only $15 monthly. Join us in making lasting change in kids' lives."

Event texts

Use your donor list in your CRM to keep attendees abreast of updates in your event schedule, encourage them to donate during the event, and ensure accessibility as the event progresses.

"Hi [Attendee]! 🌟 Free parking for the Fancy Spring event is across the street from City Hall. We can’t wait to see you for an inspiring evening tonight! 🎉"

Auction texts

Give your supporters a teaser of your event's auction items, and even allow them to bid before the big fundraising event.

"Annual Gala is offering exciting auction items: a beach weekend, Bad Bunny tickets, & a gourmet dinner for two! Bid to win& support our cause! See you there!"

Shareable texts

Share and share and like. Just like social posts, text messages can be shared and forwarded. When you throw down compelling messaging, your texts can end up going viral. And with 160 characters to stretch out in, your message can have real impact in just one glance.

"Imagine being 50 mi away from freedom and needing $10 to get there. Kim is so close to a new life: Donate $10 toward her escape. https://your.tiny.url.here"

Text-to-give codes

Using specialized codes, you can provide your prospective donors with an automated experience, leading them to a specific mobile donation form or ask array. GIVE50 leads to a $20 donation form, MONTHLY10 leads to a $10 recurring form, and so on. The sky's the limit, nonprofit friend!

"Hi [Name]! 🌟 Help us provide clean water to families in need. Text WATER50 to donate a month of water for 1 family—Every drop counts! Thanks for your support!"

Funraise AI

Funraise's AI with machine learning gives nonprofits the ability to provide an individual ask array based on donor engagement signals and activity in your CRM. Far out!

"Hi [Donor]! Thanks for your support the past 3 years! Your 5 gifts provided 100s of kids' lunches—Consider monthly donations? $10 a month ensures kids are fed."

Thank you texts

How rad is it to not have to call everyone on your donor list? Obviously, you love talking to your supporters, but sometimes it's so nice to just send a thank you text.

"Thanks for your support, [Donor]! Your gifts are making a real difference to families in our community. We couldn’t do it without you! Together, we can make change."

Credit card update texts

Recurring donors love how easy it is to make a difference—regular donations are a predictable way to make a difference long term. But when a credit or debit card is expiring, what's the most convenient way to update it? Through a magic link in a text message on a smartphone, obviously.

"Hi [Donor]! Your credit card is expiring! To ensure your support for MegaMeals continues, update it using this secure link. Thank you for making a difference!"

SMS + email communication

It's a one-two punch combo: email and text. Use one to get potential donors' attention and then the other to bring their donation home.

Email

Email Subject Line: Join Trees in Tahoe in Making a Difference!

Dear [Donor], I hope this message finds you well! As a valued supporter of Trees in Tahoe, we want to share an exciting opportunity to make an lasting impact in our community.

This month, we are launching our campaign to replant burned forests in Tahoe. With your past support, we've already made significant strides, but we need your help to reach our fundraising goal of 1,000 trees.

Here’s how you can help:

Donate Today: Every dollar you contribute goes directly toward planting trees in Tahoe.
Click here to donate or text TNT to 12345.
Spread the Word: Share the Trees in Tahoe mission statement with friends and family.

Together, we can amplify our fundraising efforts! Thank you for your continued support and belief in our cause. Together, we can create a beautiful forest in Tahoe!

Warm regards,

[Your Name]

[Your Title]

[Nonprofit Name]

[Contact Information]

[Website URL]

SMS

"We’re on a mission to replant trees in Tahoe, and we need your help! Can you support us? Every dollar plants a tree! Text TNT to 12345 or click here: [Link].

Volunteer texts

Stay in contact with volunteers through text! Send instructions, signup links, or a link to Funraise app, so your volunteers can help accept mobile donations at your events.

"Hi [Volunteer]! We're excited to have you assist at our upcoming event! Please download the Funraise app so you can collect donations right from your phone."

Automated texts

Set up automations in your donor CRM to make the donation process easier on your supporters. Triggers can be donor activity, a texted code, or just perfect timing.

"Hi [Donor Name]! With 2024 ending, make a tax-deductible gift to support [specific cause]. Text 2024 to 12345 to give before the 2024 ends. Thanks for your generosity!"

Preferred communication texts

Some supporters on your donor list *coughUScough* prefer to be texted rather than called or even emailed. Start keeping track in your CRM and you'll cultivate a cadre of committed companions.

"Hi [Donor Name]! 🌟 We know you prefer texts over calls, so we're reaching out this way! To make change today, please donate $10. Your support means the world to us."

Donor portal app

Funraise offers modern donors a user-friendly Donor Portal so they can manage subscriptions, change payment methods, and see the total of their generous gifts over time. Use your CRM to send a link to recurring donors so they can manage their subscriptions (and hopefully give more!)

"Thanks for your ongoing support! You can easily manage your subscription and update your info in our Donor Portal. Download the app to manage your ongoing gift."

Members-only texts

Who doesn't love exclusive members-only content? Tease your subscribers or give them top-secret early access to swag, fun event tickets, or contest entries.

"As a valued member of Trees in Tahoe, we’re excited to offer you access to limited-edition swag! Show your support and show off your pride in the TNT mission!"

Friendly communications

Use text messaging to deepen and strengthen your donor relationships. Not every communication has to be a hardcore ask. Ask your current donors how they're doing sometimes!

"Hi [Donor]! We just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU and ask how you've been—We'd love to hear from you and tell you about the difference you've made."

How to set a text-to-give fundraising strategy for your nonprofit

Now, the how: Once you see how integrated and easy it is to achieve your fundraising goals with an all-in-one donor CRM + text-to-give, you're definitely gonna want to talk to Funraise.

Decide on a message. In a perfect world, how would people respond? Do you need money, volunteers, or loud voices?
Segment your individual donors. Use Funraise's handy donor CRM filters to reveal your recurring donors, most reliable volunteers, or peer-to-peer fundraisers.
Send the text. Click, copy, paste, and send. Boom.
Follow up. Don't forget about email. Send a follow-up to provide more detailed information to your text recipients.

Combining your text-to-give platform with your nonprofit CRM ultimately makes tons of sense. You don't have to give up email, but use the two in conjunction to create uniquely targeted, effective online donation campaigns.

Mobile phone with donation form and donation charts floating around the phone.

Woman looking at fundraising chart with button to book a call.

Yellow shapes in background with donation form in front with stylized text, build an intelligence giving experience.

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Text-to-give examples FAQ

What is the best fundraising platform for text-to-give?

Funraise is widely considered the best text-to-give platform for nonprofits. It offers robust features like customizable campaigns, real-time donation tracking, and integration with other fundraising tools, all wrapped up in a friendly, easy-to-use package perfect for nonprofits big and small.

How do you write a short donation message?

We get it; while less is more, sometimes it's hard to keep it short. Craft a concise, direct donation message by clearly stating your cause, the impact of donations, and specific calls-to-action with emotional language. For example: "Your $25 gift provides a week of meals for a family in need. Text FEED to 55555 to More Meals today!"

How do I send a fundraising text message?

To send a fundraising text, choose a reliable SMS platform, craft a concise message with a clear call-to-action, and insert donation link or keyword. Segment your broader audience for personalized messaging, schedule the text at optimal times, and ensure compliance with opt-in requirements and other regulations.

How do I kindly ask for donations?

Kindly ask for monetary donations by being transparent about your needs, showing appreciation for past support, and explaining the huge impact of donor contributions. Use a warm, personal tone and provide specific giving options. For example: "Your generosity has helped us [achievement]. Would you consider a $20 gift to continue this important work?"

When is the best time to use short donation messages?

Short donation messages are most effective during time-sensitive campaigns, emergencies, or in conjunction with annual events. They're ideal for Giving Tuesday, year-end appeals, disaster relief efforts, or when you need to quickly mobilize support. Use them strategically to create urgency and prompt immediate action from generous donors.

What kind of nonprofits use text-to-give fundraising successfully?

Well, first, any nonprofit with a mobile device-savvy audience in mind can benefit from text-to-give fundraising. Nonprofits that successfully use SMS fundraising include disaster relief organizations, political campaigns, animal welfare groups, and health-focused charities. Charitable organizations with younger donor databases or those needing to raise funds quickly often find fundraising success with text-to-give.