What is Text to Donate?

Text to Donate is a mobile fundraising method that lets supporters give right from their phones by sending a text. It's built for nonprofits, political campaigns, and community groups that want donating to be as easy as sending a message. This article explains how it works and when to use it. Ready to build one? See Set Up a Text to Donate Campaign.

How it works

For your donor, the whole journey takes three steps:

1. They text a keyword, like GIVE or DONATE, to your designated phone number.
2. They instantly receive a reply with a link to a mobile-friendly donation page.
3. They open the link, pick a payment method such as a credit card, PayPal, or a digital wallet, and complete the donation.

No forms to hunt down, no website to navigate. The gift happens in the same place the ask did: their phone.

Why it works

It converts. People are already comfortable paying on their phones, so a donation flow that stays on the phone gets more gifts completed instead of abandoned.

It captures the moment. Giving is emotional. Text to Donate lets supporters act at the peak of engagement, during an event, a social media campaign, or a compelling story, rather than "later," which often means never.

It shines at live events. At concerts, rallies, and galas, display the keyword and number prominently and donations come in on the spot, in real time.

It builds recurring support. Donation pages can offer recurring giving, turning a one-time impulse gift into steady, long-term support for your organization.

Put together, this helps you reach mobile-first audiences, simplify the giving experience, and strengthen your donor relationships.

Before you fundraise by text

⚠ Sending in the US? Registration rules apply. Fundraising texts must go out from a number registered for 10DLC under the right use case (Charity or Political for fundraisers), and fundraising opt-ins must state "Donations may be solicited." See Choose the right category for your 10DLC use case and Write your 10DLC Message Flow (with opt-in examples) before you launch.