5 Automated Text Messages to Increase Giving

With nonprofit staff often short on time and resources, automating communications can be incredibly valuable. But, the channel you’re automating matters. It is estimated 90% of text messages are opened within three minutes of being received. 

When you can automate a high-engagement channel like texting, your communications not only reach the right person at the right time with the right message. They also get opened.

Here are five automated text messages that can help increase giving.

1. New Donor Text Welcome Series

Donor retention rates have largely declined since 2016, according to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project. One of the top reasons donors stop giving is because they don’t hear back regarding the impact of their gift.

Sending an automated new donor text welcome series ensures messages are delivered at the right time to celebrate, report back and retain donors.

For example, a nonprofit could text an emotional video story of a family helped by donations one week after an initial gift and share “Your recent kind gift has made stories like this possible.” If you’re texting using a short code, that video can be up to 30 seconds and played directly within the text message. In other words, no click-through is required.

In its "The State of Modern Philanthropy" report, Classy found that 29% of first-time donors become a recurring donor within the first 90 days of their initial gift. With text automation, you could also reach new donors 30 days after their gift and invite them to join your monthly giving program.

2. New Participant Text Welcome Series

After someone registers for your fundraising event, their engagement level is likely high. Someone or something about your mission just motivated them to commit their time to attend your event. If you can quickly reach new participants during this time and share your unique story, you have an opportunity to deepen their connection to your mission and perhaps motivate them to start fundraising.

For example, after registering, a participant could receive an automated text with a video of a family that has been helped with event revenue. Another automated text could arrive a few days later asking if they watched the video and, if they want to help, make a personal donation. Finally, a week later, they might get a text to download the event app to help them do more and receive important event notifications.

3. Failed Monthly Gift Payment Text Alert

Monthly donors are nine times more valuable than one-time donors, according to "The State of Modern Philanthropy" report. One of the most common reasons monthly gifts end, though, is failed payments. 

By sending donors a timely text alert that a monthly gift payment has failed, you can reach monthly donors who need to update their payment method. Retaining even a small percentage of your lapsed monthly donors regularly can significantly increase your ongoing monthly giving revenue.

4. Pre-Birthday Text

Leading up to my last birthday, I received an automated text from a nonprofit asking if — instead of presents — I’d like to ask family members to donate to help more children reach their next birthday.

When you can reach your constituents at the right time — a few weeks before their birthday when their family starts asking what presents they’d like — you’ll have a better chance of getting them to start a birthday fundraiser.

It’s not possible for a nonprofit to manually send out these texts every single day of the year. Therefore, with text automation, you can easily have this timely message automatically delivered daily.

5. Pre-Event Arrival Text

How often do you hear “I wish I knew that ahead of time” from your participants? Getting thousands of participants to open timely messages is challenging leading up to your event day.

Text messages help cut through the clutter to deliver important event messages, like packet pickup, start times and late registration details during those busy days. For example, you could text participants one hour before the event starts with important information on parking, checking in, locating restrooms and water stations, and other top tips for the day.

For national events with regional community event dates, text automation makes these timely communications possible.

If you can improve communications and elevate your participants’ event-day experience, chances are more teams, top fundraisers and participants will return next year.

The preceding post was provided by an individual unaffiliated with NonProfit PRO. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of NonProfit PRO.