How to Raise More Before, During, and After Your Fundraising Event with Text-to-Donate
What Is Text-to-Donate?
Text-to-donate (also called text-to-give or SMS giving) is a mobile fundraising method that allows supporters to donate directly from their smartphones by texting a keyword or shortcode. After sending a text message, donors receive a secure link to a mobile-friendly donation page where they can complete their gift in seconds.
As donors increasingly engage with nonprofits through their mobile devices, text-to-donate has become one of the fastest and most effective ways to capture donations at the moment inspiration strikes. Whether you’re hosting a gala, golf tournament, school auction, peer-to-peer fundraiser, or annual giving campaign, text-to-donate creates a seamless giving experience that removes barriers between donor intent and donor action.
Why Text-to-Donate Works
The average donor spends hours each day on their mobile phone. When a supporter feels moved by a story, a fundraising appeal, or a live event moment, every additional step can reduce the likelihood they’ll complete a donation.
Text-to-donate helps nonprofits:
- Reduce friction in the donation process
- Increase mobile giving participation
- Capture impulse donations during key moments
- Create memorable calls-to-action
- Simplify fundraising for event attendees
- Reach donors wherever they are
By making giving as simple as sending a text message, nonprofits can convert engagement into impact more effectively.
How to Use Text-to-Donate Before Your Fundraising Event
The weeks leading up to your event are critical for building excitement, driving registrations, and generating early donations.
1. Launch an Early Giving Campaign
Encourage supporters who cannot attend your event to participate in your mission before event day.
Example:
Text HOPE to donate and help us reach our fundraising goal before the gala begins.
Early donations create momentum and can help establish a fundraising thermometer that demonstrates community support before guests arrive.
Best Practice:
Share your text-to-donate keyword consistently across:
- Media campaigns (TV & Radio)
- Social media posts
- Sponsor communications
The more frequently donors see your keyword, the more likely they are to remember and use it.
2. Promote Matching Gift Opportunities
If a sponsor or major donor is providing a matching gift challenge, text-to-donate offers an easy way for supporters to participate immediately.
Example:
“Every dollar donated this week will be matched up to $25,000 from X Corporation. Text MATCH to give today.”
Urgency and simplicity are powerful fundraising motivators.
How to Use Text-to-Donate During Your Fundraising Event
Live events create some of the most powerful opportunities for mobile giving because donors are emotionally connected to your mission in real time.
According to nonprofit fundraising professionals, text-to-donate performs particularly well when integrated into a larger event fundraising strategy or being offered as a standalone tool.
1. Power Your Fund-A-Need Appeal
One of the most effective uses of text-to-donate is during a Fund-A-Need, Raise the Paddle, or Mission Moment. After sharing a beneficiary story, impact video, or program presentation, display your text-to-donate keyword prominently on screens throughout the venue. This can be done in conjunction with traditional paddle raise prompts to make sure everyone has a chance to give at any level and in any way that works for them.
Example:
Text IMPACT to donate now and help fund life-changing programs.
This allows donors to act immediately while emotions and engagement are at their peak.
2. Capture Donations from Non-Bidders
Not every attendee participates in an auction.
Text-to-donate provides another pathway for guests who may not bid on auction items but still want to support the mission.
This is particularly effective at:
- School auctions
- Charity galas
- Golf tournaments
- Community fundraisers
- Faith-based events
3. Encourage Real-Time Giving Throughout the Event
Don’t wait until the final fundraising appeal.
Display your keyword:
- On table signage
- In event programs
- On presentation slides
- During sponsor recognition
- During entertainment breaks
Consistent visibility helps reinforce the opportunity to give.
Best Practice:
Use a short, memorable keyword that aligns with your organization or campaign.
Keywords that are easy to spell and easy to remember generally perform better than complex or lengthy alternatives.
How to Use Text-to-Donate After Your Fundraising Event
The fundraising opportunity doesn’t end when guests leave the venue. Many nonprofits miss significant revenue by failing to continue the conversation after the event.
1. Extend Giving for One Week After the Event
Some attendees need additional time before making a gift.
Send a follow-up message thanking supporters and reminding them that they can still contribute.
Example:
“We are only $8,500 away from our goal. Text IMPACT to help us finish strong.”
2. Re-Engage Attendees Who Didn’t Donate
Event attendance and donation participation are not always the same.
Text-to-donate can help convert attendees into donors after the event has concluded.
3. Support Your Stewardship Strategy
Donor retention begins immediately after a gift is made.
Use post-event communications to:
- Thank donors
- Share impact updates
- Highlight campaign results
- Invite future engagement
A text-to-donate campaign should be viewed as the beginning of a donor relationship, not the end. Fundraising professionals consistently emphasize that mobile giving works best when integrated into a broader donor engagement strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Text-to-Donate
Does text-to-donate work for fundraising events?
Yes. Text-to-donate is particularly effective at fundraising events because donors can give instantly during moments of inspiration without leaving their seats or searching for a donation page. Many organizations successfully use it during Fund-A-Need appeals, live programs, and post-event campaigns.
Is text-to-donate the same as text-to-give?
The terms are often used interchangeably. Most modern solutions send donors a secure donation link after they text a keyword, allowing them to complete their gift on a mobile device.
Can text-to-donate increase event revenue?
When promoted consistently and integrated into your fundraising strategy, text-to-donate can help nonprofits capture additional gifts before, during, and after an event, creating more opportunities for supporters to engage with your mission.
How Do I set up Text-To-Donate with Greater Giving?
Setting up Text-to-Donate with Greater Giving will require a few steps that must be completed before you can fully have your Supporters texting and making donations.
- An active agreement with Greater Giving using Online Payments (the Project Website).
- An active donation page.
- Having an authorized member of your organization fill out our Text to Donate request form.
Turn Every Mobile Moment Into an Opportunity to Give
Fundraising success often comes down to making generosity easy.
Text-to-donate empowers nonprofits to meet donors where they are, capture gifts at the moment of inspiration, and create a frictionless giving experience before, during, and after every fundraising event.
When paired with compelling storytelling, strategic promotion, and thoughtful donor stewardship, text-to-donate can become one of the most effective tools in your fundraising toolkit.
