SMS marketing is one of the best ways for nonprofit organizations to get the word out and raise funds for their cause. It’s proven to be the most effective way to reach dedicated donors and supporters. Statistics show people open text messages at a higher rate—99%—than any other marketing communication method.
We could argue that marketing strategy is, in fact, the most essential aspect of a nonprofit’s success because it’s guaranteed to generate awareness and bring in funds to keep an organization going. Partnering with the Tatango experts to create the right SMS marketing strategy for your nonprofit could be a game-changer. A solid idea and expert execution will ensure you meet your fundraising goals.
If you’re looking for top-notch nonprofit fundraising ideas using SMS marketing, this article is for you. We’ve compiled several ideas to help you meet your fundraising goals and, ultimately, your nonprofit’s mission.
Where to Begin Your SMS Marketing Campaign
First, make sure you’ve chosen the right platform to support your fundraising needs. Tatango has over 14 years of experience working with some of the nation’s most notable nonprofit and mission-driven organizations. Our experts support organizations’ efforts to create results-driven SMS marketing campaigns that consistently achieve fundraising goals.
When you partner with Tatango, you can conference with our experts in a single click. We’re available to support you no matter where you are in the process of creating and executing your SMS campaign.
Fundamentals: What to Include in Fundraising Messages
Before we dive into some creative ideas, let’s make sure you’re covering the basics. Below are a few important things to include in each of your nonprofit fundraising messages.
MMS Messages
We recommend using multimedia messages (MMS) for your SMS fundraising campaigns. MMS messages can include attention-grabbing elements (such as audio files, GIFs, videos, photos, links, and even subject lines) that regular SMS messaging platforms don’t support. While MMS messages support up to 5,000 characters, SMS messages support a maximum of 160 text characters.
Subject Line
The subject line is one of the best features in MMS messages. Text message subject lines are similar to those used in emails. The difference between the two methods is that 78% of consumers say text messaging is the fastest way to reach them. Recipients read 90% of all text messages sent within the first three minutes of receiving them. So, as long as your subject lines are relevant to your bottom line, you’re sure to see high open rates and donation gains.
Links
Once your supporters open your message, a link to your call-to-action can guide people to your organization’s website. Adding links to your SMS messages is beneficial to your fundraising campaign. When you partner with Tatango, we send you a message report for each message you send. The message report includes a section dedicated to donations to help you keep track of the exact amount of money sent by each supporter. In addition, our partners can analyze your messages’ effectiveness so you can adjust your strategy to meet your fundraising goals.
Inspiration: Nonprofit Fundraising Ideas
Perhaps you’re confident in your knowledge of SMS marketing basics and just need a few ideas to spark your creativity. Here are three nonprofit fundraising ideas to use for your SMS marketing campaign.
1. Sell limited-edition merchandise.
If your organization sells branded merchandise, send supporters a text message when you receive new or limited-edition items. When you partner with Tatango, our MMS features make it easy to include an eye-catching photo of the merch in your message.
Be sure to include a call to action like “purchase your limited edition t-shirt now” to convey a sense of urgency, and add a link directing donors to a landing page to complete the purchase. Finally, include a brief description of the cause your supporter’s purchase will support, so they know their investment will make a difference.
2. Send donors tickets to an exclusive event.
Show your appreciation to long-time and major donors with a text message invitation to an exclusive event.
With the MMS features on Tatango’s platform, your messages can help supporters feel appreciated. For example, create a subject line such as “you’re invited to our annual celebration” or “get your VIP tickets now” to ensure a high open rate. And customize the message with the recipient’s first name to add a personal touch and reinforce their connection with your organization.
3. Run text-to-donate campaigns.
Asking your donors for what you need is one of the easiest ways to raise funds. If you’re fundraising for a specific purpose, send donors an SMS message with information about your goal and how you’ll use the funds. For example, your message could say, “Give $10 to support relief efforts,” and include a link supporters can click to donate right away.
4. Leverage the Tatango Design Studio
Generating ideas and monitoring their execution is time-consuming. Unfortunately, running a successful SMS marketing campaign requires resources, time, and staffing that nonprofits often just don’t have. That’s why we created Tatango’s Design Studio, where our design experts help you craft engaging MMS messages with images, gifs, audio files, and more.
When you choose Tatango as your text message marketing platform, you gain unlimited access to our design studio. Just follow these three easy steps:
- Contact your account representative.
- Share your goals and ideas for your desired SMS marketing campaign with our in-house designers.
- Let the experts at Tatango take it from there.
All you need to do is partner with us and give us an idea of the outcome you’d like to see. We’ll help you achieve your fundraising goals from start to finish.
Contact Tatango for More SMS Fundraising Ideas
If you’ve already partnered with Tatango and want more nonprofit SMS fundraising ideas, contact your account representative. We’re always available to work alongside you to create a campaign explicitly made for your organization’s mission and goals.
Not a partner yet? Contact us for more information on the benefits you’ll receive only when you become a Tatango Client.
