Successful fundraising is not as simple as asking people to donate to your cause. Winning support requires building genuine relationships that go beyond transactions—you must make each donor feel like a partner in your mission by sharing updates, reporting on impact, and expressing your gratitude for all they do.
The average American spends more than five hours on their phone every day. By engaging potential and existing donors through texting, you can stay at the top of their minds and inspire more immediate responses to your fundraising appeals. To help improve your outreach, we’ve compiled 20+ text donation message examples and templates, along with tips for creating your own.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- The Benefits of Text Message Fundraising
- 21 Fundraising Text Message Examples + Templates
- Tips to Improve Your Text Donation Messages
By varying your text-to-give strategy, you can keep donors engaged through event invitations, special occasions like GivingTuesday, and sincere thank-you messages—all while opening up more opportunities to raise money.
The Benefits of Text Message Fundraising
While you should communicate with donors through multiple channels to maximize your reach, text messaging stands out as one of the most powerful ways to connect with donors and encourage them to take action. Compared to email, texting has a better:
- Visibility. In a recent survey, ZeroBounce found that 88% of people use email every day, and 39% check their inboxes three to five times daily. On the other hand, Americans check their phones an average of 205 times a day, meaning they’re likely scrolling through texts more often than emails.
- Open rate. Text subscribers open messages 99% of the time, compared to the 40.04% open rate of nonprofit emails. In fact, 90% of text messages are opened within the first three minutes they’re received.
- Click-through rate (CTR). The average CTR of text messaging campaigns is 36%, much higher than email (3%).
Plus, investing in text fundraising is simple. All you need to do is find a high-quality text-to-give platform, set up a short code and keyword, and build your contact list to start engaging with donors.
21 Fundraising Text Message Examples + Templates
Don’t spend another second mulling over how to craft the perfect text message to raise donations. Explore the following examples and templates to spark ideas for your next campaign.
1. Donor Welcome Text
Start your donor relationships off on the right foot by sending an automated welcome message as soon as they subscribe. Use this opportunity to summarize your mission, impact, and involvement opportunities. Link to your website so new donors can learn how to help, from donating to volunteering to advocacy.
“Hi [Donor’s Name]! 👋 Welcome to our community. Our mission is to [describe your mission], and we’re thrilled to have you on board. To learn how you can kickstart your impact, visit our website: [link]!”
2. Donor Cultivation Text
Turn your text subscribers into long-term donors by strengthening their emotional connection to your nonprofit. Share stories related to your impact to help them visualize the role they can play in your mission.
“[Donor’s Name], we want to share our latest success story with you! Today, Raoul’s dream of attending college has become a reality. He will start studying to become a software engineer in the fall, and he’s so excited for what’s to come! 🎓 Want to make more stories like this possible? Please donate today at: [link]”
3. Did You Know? Donation Text
To inspire donors to support your mission, you must first demonstrate why getting involved is so important. Educate your text subscribers with facts and figures related to your cause.
“[Donor’s Name], did you know that [shocking fact, such as ‘we’ve lost over half of the ocean’s coral reefs since 1950’]? Every dollar makes a difference. ♥️ Please donate today to help us create a better future: [link]:
4. Recurring Donation Text
Text-to-give already provides a convenient way for donors to contribute to your mission. Take this convenience one step further by inviting them to opt into recurring donations. Whether they give monthly or quarterly, recurring donors can support your nonprofit regularly without manually making another donation.
“[Donor’s Name], we’re so grateful for all your support so far! ⭐Imagine what we could achieve with your continued support. With only $15 a month, you can [specify the impact, such as ‘provide lifesaving vaccinations to 10 animals a year’]. Make your lasting impact at: [link]!”
5. Fundraising Event Invitation Text
Brighten your audience’s day by inviting them to your upcoming fundraising event. Doing so helps you secure more RSVPs, boost engagement, and raise more funds. However, be mindful of each recipient’s location and preferences. While it’s reasonable to invite local donors to your in-person event, it may not be feasible for donors to fly in from across the country.
“Hi [Donor’s Name]! We’re hosting our annual fundraising gala on [date] to support [describe your mission]. 🗓️ We’d love you to join us for a wonderful evening of music, entertainment, and impact. RSVP at: [link], or if you won’t be able to attend, consider donating instead: [link]!”
6. Membership Invitation Text
Membership programs are a popular way for nonprofits to generate reliable revenue beyond donations. Often, members pay monthly or annual membership fees in exchange for benefits, such as members-only merchandise or special event ticket pricing. Use text messages to invite subscribers to join a tight-knit community of changemakers.
“[Donor’s Name], become an exclusive member of [Nonprofit’s Name] and make a lasting impact in your community! You’ll unlock access to special events, merchandise, updates, and more. Join here: [link]!”
7. Awareness Day Fundraising Text
To create a successful text messaging strategy, you must plan for how you’ll engage donors throughout the year. One easy way to boost engagement and fundraising is to reach out on specific cause awareness and giving days. For example, a healthcare nonprofit might send out fundraising appeals on World Health Day in April, World Blood Donor Day in June, and World Mental Health Day in October.
“[Donor’s Name], today is World Health Day! 🌎Celebrate with us by providing essential healthcare resources to people in need. Donate today and help us make the world a happier and healthier place: [link]!”
8. Impact Donation Text
Convince donors to give by sharing everything you’ve been able to accomplish with their support. Doing so helps them make a clear connection between their dollars and your nonprofit’s impact, keeping them invested in your mission for the long term.
“[Donor’s Name], thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we provided over 175 families with emergency food assistance this month. 🌾 A $25 donation is all it takes to feed an entire family for a week. Can we count on your ongoing support? Donate here: [link]”
9. Emergency Fundraising Text
Sometimes, an unexpected situation or natural disaster can lead to an urgent need for funding. Since text messages can reach donors faster than any other channel, they’re perfect for emergency fundraising appeals.
“[Donor’s Name], we need your help! 🚨The recent [disaster] has left thousands of people without food or shelter. Every donation counts in this critical situation. Please donate to make an immediate impact: [link]”
10. Holiday Donation Text
17-20% of all annual giving occurs in December. The holiday season is often associated with increased generosity and gratitude, making it an ideal time for reaching out to your donors with a fundraising appeal.
“Happy holidays, [Donor’s Name]! 🎁 During this season of joy and cheer, we want you to know how grateful we are for your support. If you’d like to spread some warmth, please consider donating to help [your nonprofit’s beneficiaries] in need: [link]!”
11. GivingTuesday Save the Date Text
Send a reminder text one week before your next GivingTuesday campaign to maximize awareness and engagement. This reminder will allow you to collect more donations leading up to the giving day.
“[Donor’s Name], there are only 7 days left until GivingTuesday on [Date]! 🎉 We hope you’ll mark your calendar and join us for an exciting day of generosity and impact. If you can’t wait to share your support, you don’t have to! Donate now to help us toward our goal: [link]”
12. GivingTuesday Donation Match Text
GivingTuesday is a golden opportunity for engaging donors, mobilizing volunteers, and building meaningful community partnerships. Often, a company might agree to match all donations a nonprofit earns on GivingTuesday, doubling the impact of the funds you raise. Use text messaging to spread the word about this opportunity so more donors can take advantage of it.
“It’s GivingTuesday, [Donor’s Name]! For today only, your gift can go twice as far! 🙌 Every GivingTuesday donation will be matched, dollar for dollar, by [Name of Corporate Partner]. Donate now to double your impact: [link]”
13. Countdown Fundraising Text
Whether you’re about to wrap up a GivingTuesday fundraiser or another donation matching campaign, send a text in the last few hours to instill urgency in subscribers who haven’t given yet.
“[Donor’s Name], there are only a few hours left to give! ⏰ If you haven’t donated yet, there’s still time to make a difference. All donations until midnight will be matched – give now to double your impact: [link]!”
14. Milestone Donation Text
Fundraising campaigns unite donors in a collective effort toward a common goal. Keep the momentum going by celebrating milestones along the way. Send texts at 25%, 50%, and 75% of your fundraising goal to build excitement and encourage more donors to help you make progress.
“[Donor’s Name], we’re halfway there! 🥳 So far, our community has rallied to reach $[amount raised] of our $[goal amount] fundraising goal! Will you pitch in to help us hit our target? Donate now: [link]”
15. Finish Line Fundraising Text
If your nonprofit is right at the edge of its fundraising goal, don’t linger in the suspense! Send a quick text message to inspire donors to help you reach the other side.
“This is it, [Donor’s Name]! We’re on the final stretch! 💪 We’re only $[amount left to reach goal] shy of our fundraising goal, and your donation can help us get across the finish line. Give now to [describe the fundraising purpose, such as ‘help our community garden become a reality’]: [link]”
16. Engagement History Donation Text
Text messaging often feels more casual and genuine than an email or direct mail letter. Build stronger, more personal connections with subscribers by talking to them as individuals—not a generic funding source. Reference details such as their past giving, volunteer engagement, and event attendance. The closer they feel to your nonprofit, the more invested they’ll feel in your success.
“[Donor’s Name], thanks to your donation of $[amount] last year, we were able to [describe the accomplishment, such as ‘plant more than 5,000 trees throughout the country’]! 🙂Please consider giving again to help us build on our successes and make a lasting impact: [link]”
17. Lapsed Donor Fundraising Text
Your nonprofit’s situation is always changing. The same applies to your donors. Whether their finances have changed or they’ve simply become too busy to stay involved, it’s not uncommon for donors to stop engaging with your organization. A text message is a short, low-pressure way to encourage them to reconnect.
“[Donor’s Name], remember when you helped us [describe the specific impact, such as ‘build 20 wells to provide accessible drinking water in rural communities’]? ♥️ There’s still more to be done, and we hope you’ll be a part of our journey again. Donate now to renew your support: [link]”
18. Donation Thank-You Text
Text messages allow you to go beyond brief, sporadic interactions with donors and nurture stronger, more meaningful relationships. By following up after each donation, you demonstrate that every contribution counts to your nonprofit. Plus, non-advocacy organizations that send a cultivation text before a fundraising text typically see a 54% increase in average gift size.
“Your donation means the world to us, [Donor’s Name]! 🙏 With your gift of $[amount], we’re one step closer to [specify the goal, such as ‘bridging the digital divide within our community’]. Thank you so much for your support!”
19. Matching Gift Eligibility Text
As part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, many companies match the donations their employees make to nonprofits, typically at a 1:1 ratio. However, 78% of donors don’t know whether their employer offers a matching gift program. Help more donors double their impact by sending them a text encouraging them to check their matching gift eligibility.
“[Donor’s Name], every dollar counts toward [describe your mission, such as ‘providing today’s youth with the mental health resources they need to thrive’]. Thank you so much for your generosity. Did you know your donation can go twice as far? 💡 Check to see if you’re eligible for matching gifts with your employer!”
20. Volunteer Grant Eligibility Text
40% of Fortune 500 companies have volunteer grant programs. Volunteers who regularly serve with your nonprofit may be able to earn a donation to your organization from their employer, but they must be aware of this opportunity to take advantage of it. A text is a quick and easy way to inform your audience about volunteer grants.
“[Donor’s Name], we appreciate every hour you dedicate to furthering our mission. 🤝 Did you know your company might offer a volunteer grant to match your service hours? Check to see if you’re eligible for an easy way to amplify your impact!”
21. Donor Feedback Text
To secure more donations for your nonprofit, you must understand what motivates your donors to give. By collecting their feedback through text messaging, you can learn how to create a rewarding giving experience that keeps donors coming back.
“[Donor’s Name], we can’t tell you how much we value your support! We want you to have the best experience with our organization. Can you please spare a minute to share your thoughts with us? 💭 Fill out our survey: [link]”
Tips to Improve Your Text Donation Messages
You’ve likely noticed a few recurring strategies throughout these text donation messages. No matter what type of fundraising text you send to your audience, apply these tips to make them as effective as possible:
- Include a clear call to action (CTA) that lets your subscribers know exactly what you want them to do.
- Keep your text messages simple, skimmable, and personal to connect with each individual recipient.
- Incorporate images, emojis, GIFs, and video clips to make your texts more eye-catching and engaging.
Look for text-to-give tools that track open rates, click-through rates, and subscriber count in real time so you can continually assess your performance. Some platforms even come with A/B testing features that make it easy for you to experiment with various elements of your text messages and find out what works best for your audience.
Crafting Your Own Text Message Fundraising Strategy
Text messaging can be a game-changer for your nonprofit’s fundraising strategy, but you must start with a strong foundation to reap its benefits. To maximize your results and make the process easier for your team, partner with a leading nonprofit text messaging platform like Tatango.
As the #1 text solution for fundraising, Tatango has helped organizations raise more than $500 million for their causes. Our platform has the tools you need to connect with donors and meets the highest security standards for maintaining your audience’s trust. Contact us to see how Tatango can transform your fundraising for the better!
Want to learn more tips and tricks to improve your text messaging campaigns? Check out these additional resources:
- How Does Text-to-Give Work? A Complete Guide for Fundraisers. In this guide, learn everything you need to know to start collecting mobile donations for your nonprofit.
- The 12 Top Text-to-Give Platforms to Earn More Funding. Explore our top recommendations for comprehensive, user-friendly text-to-give platforms.
- Text-to-Give: Harness the Power of Giving on the Go. Discover Tatango’s innovative text-to-give tools, from message automation to advanced reporting.
