In today’s digital age, nonprofits need to meet their donors where they are—and that means offering convenient, mobile-friendly ways to give. Text-to-give has become one of the most effective methods to simplify donations, allowing supporters to contribute with just a few taps on their phones. Whether it’s for a live event, a campaign push, or recurring donations, text-to-give provides nonprofits with a powerful tool to boost fundraising and engagement.

But with so many platforms out there, how do you choose the right one? While some nonprofit CRMs come with built-in text-to-give features, many organizations turn to specialized platforms designed for mobile giving. In this blog, we’ll explore the best text-to-give platforms outside of traditional CRMs, each offering unique features to help nonprofits reach their fundraising goals.

From Give Lively’s free, easy-to-use system to Qgiv’s comprehensive fundraising suite, we’ll break down the pros, pricing, and best use cases for each platform. Let’s dive into how text-to-give can empower your nonprofit to connect with supporters on the go!

1. Give Lively

Give Lively is a free platform for nonprofits that offers text-to-give, online donations, and event ticketing. It’s known for being budget-friendly while providing advanced features.

Key Features:

• Free for nonprofits with 0% platform fees (payment processing fees apply) (as of September 2024)
• Customizable text-to-give campaigns with unique keywords.
• Donors receive a link via SMS to complete their donation.
• Integrates with CRMs like Salesforce, NeonCRM, and more.
• Built-in reporting and analytics to track text-to-give performance.

Best for:

Nonprofits of any size looking for a free and easy-to-use text-to-give platform without monthly fees.

2. Qgiv

Qgiv is a versatile fundraising platform that offers text-to-give, online donation forms, peer-to-peer fundraising, and event management.

Key Features:

• Text-to-give with unique campaign codes and keywords.
• Donors can quickly donate by texting a keyword to a short code and receiving a mobile-friendly donation link.
• Supports recurring donations via text.
• Comprehensive fundraising suite includes donation forms, peer-to-peer, and auctions.
• Integrates with CRMs like Salesforce, Bloomerang, and DonorPerfect.

Pricing (as of September 2024): Starts at $25/month with a 3.95% + $0.30 transaction fee.

Best for:

Nonprofits looking for a well-rounded platform with multiple fundraising tools, including text-to-give.

3. OneCause

OneCause focuses on event-based fundraising with strong text-to-give capabilities. It’s particularly useful for live and virtual events, auctions, and peer-to-peer fundraising.

Key Features:

• Text-to-give with customizable keywords.
• Donors receive an SMS with a link to a branded donation page.
• Supports text-based bidding for auctions and event check-ins.
• Integration with Salesforce and other CRMs for streamlined donor tracking.
• Strong event fundraising tools like ticketing and mobile bidding.

Best for:

Nonprofits hosting live or virtual events that want to integrate text-to-give with other event-based fundraising tools.

4. GiveSmart

GiveSmart is a dedicated mobile fundraising platform that provides text-to-give, peer-to-peer fundraising, and virtual event tools. It’s designed to help nonprofits engage donors on mobile devices.

Key Features:

• Text-to-give campaigns with custom keywords and dedicated short codes.
• Supports recurring donations via text.
• Seamless integration with virtual events, live stream fundraising, and auctions.
• Advanced reporting and analytics to track text donations.
• Integrates with CRMs like Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, and more.

Pricing (as of September 2024): GiveSmart offers custom pricing based on the features needed, starting at around $500/month.

Best for:

Mid-sized to large nonprofits looking for a mobile-first fundraising platform with extensive virtual event tools.

5. Snowball

Snowball offers easy-to-use text-to-give tools alongside a suite of online fundraising features, such as event ticketing and auction software.

Key Features:

• Text-to-give with simple keywords that trigger an SMS link to a donation page.
• Supports one-time and recurring donations.
• Includes fundraising features like event ticketing and online donation forms.
• Can be integrated with popular CRMs, including Salesforce, NeonCRM, and DonorPerfect.

Pricing (as of September 2024): Starts at $549/year, plus processing fees of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

Best for:

Small to medium-sized nonprofits looking for affordable and straightforward text-to-give capabilities with event fundraising tools.

6. Tithe.ly

Tithe.ly is a popular platform primarily used by churches and faith-based organizations, but it’s also effective for nonprofits looking for text-to-give options.

Key Features:

• Text-to-give with customizable campaign keywords.
• Donors can complete donations via SMS in a few steps.
• Supports recurring giving and specific campaigns for events or initiatives.
• Affordable platform with strong integrations for online giving and mobile apps.

Pricing (as of September 2024): Free to start, with a 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee.

Best for:

Faith-based organizations and nonprofits that want to offer simple text-to-give features with low costs.

Choosing the right text-to-give platform depends on your organization’s size, goals, and fundraising strategies. For nonprofits seeking free and simple solutions, Give Lively stands out as a budget-friendly option. If you need a more comprehensive suite of fundraising tools beyond text-to-give, platforms like Qgiv and GiveSmart offer more robust features, including event management and peer-to-peer fundraising.

For organizations running live or virtual events, OneCause provides seamless text-to-give integration with auctions and event ticketing. Whatever your needs, these platforms can help nonprofits tap into the convenience and accessibility of mobile donations to boost engagement and fundraising success.

If you are looking for a team to help strategically think through your texting strategy, please contact us today!