This page offers 28 fundraising text messages that nonprofits and churches can copy and adapt. They are grouped by the moments when organizations most often text donors: year-end giving, Giving Tuesday, event follow-up, thank-yous, monthly giving, emergency appeals and volunteer requests. Every example is under 160 characters, so it sends as a single standard text. The first example in each group is written as a first message and includes "Reply STOP to opt out."
Send these only to people who agreed to receive texts from your organization. A donor's phone number in your database, or on a check or a pledge card, is not by itself permission to text them. For the wider picture of sending one message to many supporters, see our guide to mass texting.
How to use these fundraising text messages
- Replace everything in brackets with your own details, then check that the finished message is still under 160 characters. A longer text is split into two parts and billed as two.
- Name your organization in every text, near the start, so supporters know who is writing.
- Add "Reply STOP to opt out" to the first text each person receives from you.
- Use a short link to your giving page. The link counts toward the 160 characters.
- Leave out emoji and curly quotation marks. Either one switches the message to a larger character set in which each part holds only 70 characters.
- Space your messages out. One or two fundraising texts a month is plenty for most organizations, with a few more during a year-end or Giving Tuesday campaign.
- Keep every claim true. Use a matching-gift or deadline message only when the match or the deadline is real, and report totals accurately.
Year-end giving
1. Year-end campaign launch
Hi [Name], it's [Org]. This year you helped us [Result]. Will you help us start next year strong? Give here: [Link] Reply STOP to opt out.
Send this early in December, before inboxes fill with other appeals. Name one concrete result from the year.
2. Progress toward the goal
[Org]: we're [Amount] away from our year-end goal of [Goal]. A gift of any size helps us get there: [Link]
A specific number gives supporters a reason to act now. Send it only to people who have not yet given this season.
3. What a gift will do
[Name], a gift to [Org] before the year ends helps [Number] families in January. Give here: [Link] Thank you.
Tie the gift to something people can picture, such as meals, beds or school supplies.
4. Last day of the year
Today is the last day of the year. [Org] is [Amount] from our goal. If you've been meaning to give, here's the link: [Link]
Send this in the late morning or early afternoon of December 31, so people have time to act.
Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States, and many organizations hold a one-day campaign on it.
5. The day before
Hi [Name], it's [Org]. Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, and we're raising [Goal] for [Program]. Watch for our link. Reply STOP to opt out.
A short heads-up the day before tells supporters what to expect.
6. Giving Tuesday morning
It's Giving Tuesday. Every gift to [Org] today goes to [Program]. Give here: [Link] Thank you for being part of it.
7. Matching gift
Today a donor is matching gifts to [Org] up to [Amount]. Your gift goes twice as far until midnight: [Link]
Use this only when a donor has actually committed to the match.
8. Afternoon update
Giving Tuesday update from [Org]: we've raised [Amount] of [Goal]. Help us finish the day strong: [Link]
Send it only to people who have not given yet today. Move people who have given into a separate group before you send.
Event follow-up
9. Thank you for coming
Thanks for coming to [Event], [Name]. It was good to see you. If you'd like to give to [Cause], here's the link: [Link] Reply STOP to opt out.
Send this the morning after the event, while the evening is still fresh.
10. The event total
[Org]: thanks to everyone at [Event], we raised [Amount] for [Cause]. If you missed the chance to give: [Link]
11. For people who could not attend
Hi [Name], we missed you at [Event]. Here's a short video from the night and a link to give if you'd like: [Link]
12. Photos and thanks
[Org]: the photos from [Event] are up here: [Link] Thank you for being part of it.
A message that asks for nothing is a good way to keep supporters glad to hear from you.
Thank-you messages
13. Right after a gift
Thank you for your gift to [Org], [Name]. Your receipt is on its way by email. We'll send an update on how it helps. Reply STOP to opt out.
Your giving platform sends the official receipt. This text adds a personal note.
14. A personal thank-you
Hi [Name], it's [Person] at [Org]. I wanted to thank you personally for your gift. It's already helping [Result].
A thank-you from a named person, such as the pastor or the executive director, feels more personal than a message signed only by the organization.
15. Impact update
[Org] update: your gift helped [Result] this month. Thank you for making it possible, [Name].
16. Giving anniversary
One year ago today you made your first gift to [Org]. Thank you, [Name]. Here's what you helped do: [Link]
Monthly givers
17. Invitation to give monthly
Hi [Name], it's [Org]. Would you consider giving [Amount] a month? Monthly gifts help us plan [Program]. Details: [Link] Reply STOP to opt out.
Send this to people who have given more than once, rather than to first-time donors.
18. Welcome to monthly giving
Welcome to [Org]'s monthly givers, [Name]. Your first gift supports [Program]. Thank you for joining.
19. Payment card update
[Org]: the card for your monthly gift expires soon. You can update it on our giving page: [Link] Questions? Reply here.
Link only to your own giving platform, and tell supporters that you will never ask for card numbers by text.
20. Quarterly update
Update for [Org]'s monthly givers: together you provided [Result] this quarter. Thank you for giving every month.
Emergency appeals
21. First appeal
Hi [Name], it's [Org]. [Event] has left families in [Place] without [Need]. We're responding now. Help here: [Link] Reply STOP to opt out.
Describe the need plainly and accurately. Avoid exaggeration, even when the need is urgent.
22. Specific need
[Org]: after [Reason], our [Program] needs [Item or Amount] by [Day]. Can you help? Give here: [Link]
23. Progress update
Update from [Org]: thanks to you, we've delivered [Result]. We still need [Amount] to reach everyone. Give: [Link]
24. Thank you and close
Thank you, [Name]. Your gift to [Org]'s [Fund] is at work. We'll text one more update when the work is done.
Close every emergency campaign with a final update, so supporters know what their gifts accomplished.
Volunteer requests
25. Recruiting volunteers
Hi [Name], it's [Org]. We need [Number] volunteers for [Event] on [Day] at [Time]. Can you help? Reply here to sign up. Reply STOP to opt out.
26. Shift confirmation
[Org]: thank you for signing up for [Shift] on [Day]. Please arrive at [Time] at [Location]. Reply here with questions.
27. Day-before reminder
Reminder from [Org]: your volunteer shift is tomorrow at [Time] at [Location]. Reply here if you can't make it.
28. Volunteer thank-you
Thank you for volunteering at [Event], [Name]. Together we [Result]. We'll text you about the next one.
A prompt thank-you shows volunteers that their time mattered. Send this the same evening or the next morning.
Sending these with CampaignCNX+
- Sort supporters into groups. Import only the people who agreed to receive texts, then add tags and groups such as donors, monthly givers, event guests and volunteers. Sends go to groups, so each message reaches only the people it fits.
- Schedule campaigns ahead of time. Write your year-end and Giving Tuesday messages in November and schedule them. CampaignCNX+ sends texts only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in each recipient's time zone.
- Use drip sequences for planned series. A welcome series for new monthly givers, or a three-part event follow-up, can run as a drip sequence.
- Answer replies in the shared inbox. Templates 17, 19, 25 and 27 invite replies. Add staff or volunteers as team members, with roles of admin, manager or staffer, so several people can answer.
- Set up a giving keyword. A keyword such as GIVE can reply automatically with your giving page link. Our guide to text to give explains the setup.
- Let STOP take care of itself. CampaignCNX+ handles STOP replies automatically, so anyone who opts out receives no further texts.
As an example of cost, an organization that sends six fundraising texts during the season to 500 supporters sends 3,000 texts. At the pay-as-you-go rate of $0.06 per text, that is $180. On the Basic plan ($55 a month with 1,000 texts, then $0.055 each), sending all 3,000 in one month would cost $165. The number is $5 a month in either case, and on a monthly plan, unused included messages roll over.
Common questions
How often should a nonprofit text donors?
For most organizations, one or two fundraising texts a month is enough, with a few more during a short campaign such as Giving Tuesday. Mix in messages that ask for nothing, such as thank-yous and updates.
Should fundraising texts include a link?
Yes. A link to your giving page lets a supporter give in a few taps. Use a short link, because it counts toward the 160 characters.
What should a donor text message say?
Name your organization, state one clear need or result, include the link, and keep it under 160 characters. The first text a person receives should also include "Reply STOP to opt out."
Can churches send fundraising texts?
Yes, to members and supporters who agreed to receive texts from the church. Churches register their number with the carriers like any other organization, and CampaignCNX+ files that registration for you.
Can we text everyone in our donor database?
Only the people who agreed to receive texts from you. A phone number in your records is not, by itself, permission to text. Ask for permission on your sign-up forms, pledge cards and giving page, and record when each person agreed. Our post on texting donors, volunteers and members covers how to build that list.
Start texting your supporters
Pick the moments that matter most to your organization this year, adapt the templates, and schedule them before the season begins. Every new account includes 100 free SMS, and your number is $5 a month. Our page on texting for nonprofits and churches shows what else an account can do.