Text To Give Platforms For Nonprofit Organizations

Text-to-give technology has become a great aid for nonprofits, churches, and many other organizations, enabling them to perform fundraising via mobile phones with ease. They no longer require supporters to remember a website or go through a long process of donations, but simply promote a keyword that users will type at their phones and send to an organization.

Today’s text-to-give solutions usually reply with a link to the website which allows donors to complete their donations. However, the processes and features offered by different providers vary significantly.

If you are going to choose among various platforms for text-to-give process, it is important to take into account not just the fact that a provider offers a text-based keyword, but also a number of other factors such as transaction fees, regular contributions, and donor management.

This article will analyze some of the best text-to-give providers in 2026.

If you’re also looking at SMS as a broader communication channel, our guide to SMS for nonprofits explains how organizations can use text messaging beyond fundraising.

What Is Text-to-Give?

Using the method of text-to-give is a mobile way for the supporters to make donations by sending either a keyword or campaign code via an SMS. The process usually goes like this:

• The nonprofit launches a text giving campaign and a keyword. 
• The organization is responsible for promoting this keyword through social media, events, emails, websites or printed materials.

Beyond fundraising, nonprofits can also use SMS to keep supporters informed about events, campaigns, and organizational updates. Learn more in our guide to SMS for nonprofits.

• The supporter sends the text to the specific number.
• The supporter receives a response with a link to the donation page.
• The supporter opens the mobile giving page.
• The supporter either enters or chooses the amount.
• Finally, the supporter completes the payment.

For example, a nonprofit can promote:

Text HELP to 12345 to support our community program.

Specifics such as the actual keyword, phone number, acknowledgement, and donating experience are contingent on the service in use. Typically, modern systems of donations via text rely on the process of text-to-link to an online donation instead of directly charging the donations to donor’s phone bill account. Various providers are likely to implement different terms to refer to the process, hence it is recommended that organizations check the actual donor experience and not just follow the terms they encounter.

How Does Text-to-Give Fundraising Work?

The approach of the text-to-give fundraising concept is effective since it minimizes the steps that must be taken from the fundraising request to the page with the donation.

A good example would be that of a nonprofit conducting a fundraising campaign. Rather than having participants type a long URL on their mobile devices, the organization can simply show a short text with a keyword on the screen.

A supporter can identify the message and send the keyword to receive the donation request link on their phone.

Text-to-give is especially advantageous for:

• Fundraising campaigns
• Fundraising efforts
• Capital campaigns
• Emergency fundraising programs
• Donations to churches
• Mission trips
• Annual donations
• Community projects
• Awareness-raising campaigns
• Social media-related fundraising campaigns
• Live fundraising programs

The best features offered by popular platforms are also reporting and management tools, which help organizations monitor fundraising and analyze their projects.

Text-to-Give vs. Text-to-Donate

The terms text-to-give and text-to-donate are frequently used interchangeably. In the realm of fundraising for nonprofits, these terms are often used to refer to mobile giving, whereby a donor sends a text message and receives an online link to complete the donation. The application of these terms is not uniform, however; for instance, Donorbox uses the term “text-to-give” but mentions that the process is actually text-to-donate. What matters the most is what the platform has to offer. Before selecting a provider, one should check the following features of various platforms:

1. The way the donor initiates the donation process;

2. Availability of the secure donation link for donors;

3. Support for recurring donations;

4. Available payment methods;

5. Fees for the transaction and the platform;

6. Campaign management;

7. Donor management;

8. Reporting;

9. Capacity of sending outbound messages;

10. Compliance features;

11. Specific features for churches and events.

What Should You Look for in Text-to-Give Software?

Not every text-to-give solution is designed for the same organization. A small church may have very different requirements from a national nonprofit running multiple fundraising campaigns.

Here are the most important factors to consider.

1. Simple donor experience

The donation process should be easy to understand and complete from a mobile phone.

The fewer unnecessary steps supporters encounter, the better.

2. Custom keywords

Custom campaign keywords make fundraising appeals easier to remember.

Organizations may want separate keywords for different campaigns, events, programs, or giving initiatives.

3. Mobile-friendly donation pages

The text message should lead donors to a secure and easy-to-use mobile donation experience.

4. Recurring donations

Recurring giving can help nonprofits build predictable revenue rather than relying entirely on one-time donations.

5. Multiple payment methods

Look for platforms that support the payment methods your donors are most likely to use, such as cards and digital wallets.

6. Donor management

If the platform also provides donor profiles, segmentation, reporting, or CRM capabilities, it can reduce the need to move information between multiple systems.

7. Campaign reporting

Organizations should be able to determine how much each campaign raised and understand donor activity.

8. Event fundraising

For organizations that run galas, auctions, conferences, or other fundraising events, event-specific tools can make a major difference.

9. Transparent pricing

Compare both software fees and payment-processing fees.

A platform that looks inexpensive at first may become more expensive as donation volume grows.

10. Compliance and security

Review how the provider handles donor information, payment processing, privacy, SMS disclosures, and applicable messaging requirements.

If your organization also sends regular SMS campaigns, it is important to understand the broader requirements for nonprofit messaging. Our SMS compliance guide for nonprofits covers the key areas to consider.

8 Best Text-to-Give Platforms for Nonprofits in 2026

The following platforms stand out for different nonprofit fundraising needs. There isn’t one universally best option; the right choice depends on your organization’s size, fundraising model, audience, and existing technology.

1. Donorbox

Donorbox serves as a platform for organizations in need of online fundraising instruments. It provides Text-to-Give, a feature that makes donating through mobile devices simple and convenient. Donorbox has a standard text-giving feature as well as its own custom-keyword option with a shortcode.

Key features

• Text-to-Give
• Donation forms
• Donation pages
• Recurring donations
• Crowdfunding
• Peer-to-peer fundraising
• Event ticketing
• Donor management
• Reporting
• Digital wallet support

Pricing

Donorbox’s Standard plan is free, with platform fees generally ranging from 2.95% to 3.95% depending on the fundraising feature, plus applicable payment-processing fees. Its Pro plan starts at $150/month and has lower platform fees.  

Text-to-Give is available as an additional feature:

• Standard Text-to-Give: $19/month
• Custom Keyword: $50/month  

Best for

Small and mid-sized nonprofits that want online fundraising and text giving in one platform.

2. Givebutter

Givebutter is a service that specializes in fundraising, managing donors, organizing events, engaging supporters, and introducing text-to-donate options. This text-to-donate option has a special five-digit shortcode. Supporters send text messages containing keywords and receive secure links to the campaign page of the organization.

Key features

• Text-to-donate
• Fundraising campaigns
• Donation forms
• Events
• Auctions
• Donor management
• Supporter engagement
• Mobile fundraising
• Digital payment options

One important limitation is that Givebutter’s dedicated text-to-donate flow is designed for inbound messages; responses to those inbound messages aren’t customizable.  

Pricing

Givebutter’s core platform is free when optional donor tips are enabled. If tips are disabled, a 3% platform fee applies, along with standard processing fees.  

Givebutter Plus is available for organizations that need additional CRM capabilities, starting at $29/month for accounts with fewer than 250 contacts when paid monthly.  

Best for

Nonprofits looking for an all-in-one fundraising platform with a free starting option.

3. Give Lively

Founded as a nonprofit organization, Give Lively provides an all-in-one fundraising solution with its Text-to-Donate system, campaign pages, peer-to-peer fundraising, events, and various other fundraising tools.

Through its text donation system, Give Lively assigns a unique five-digit shortcode to the cause that donors need in order to send donations via mobile phones.

Key features

• Text-to-Donate
• Custom text codes
• Campaign pages
• Peer-to-peer fundraising
• Event fundraising
• Digital wallets
• Donation tracking
• Live fundraising displays

Pricing

Give Lively says its fundraising platform is free for eligible nonprofits, with no setup, platform, membership, subscription, monthly, or annual fees.  

Payment-processing arrangements still apply to transactions.

Best for

Eligible nonprofits that want a full fundraising platform without a software subscription fee.

4. Tithely

⁠Tithely focuses specifically on churches and faith-based organizations.

Its giving solution includes Text-to-Give, making it possible for churches to incorporate mobile giving into services, events, campaigns, and member communications.

Key features

• Online giving
• Text-to-Give
• Church management
• Member engagement
• Events
• Giving management
• Church-specific tools

Pricing

Tithely currently advertises Giving + Text-to-Give for $19/month as part of its offering. It also advertises an all-access package at $119/month that includes Giving and other church-management and engagement tools.  

Organizations should confirm the current package and transaction fees before purchasing.

Best for

Churches that want fundraising tools built specifically for the faith-based market.

5. Bloomerang Fundraising

Bloomerang mixes donation and fundraising features for non-profit holders. This includes functionality such as: fundraising via text message, donation forms, event management, and mobile fundraising. With Bloomerang, donors can send fund-related texts with the amount to a predetermined number from which they can get a mobile donation form and make their donations instantly.

Key features

• Text fundraising
• Donation forms
• Event fundraising
• Donor management
• Reporting
• Personalized text messages
• Scheduled outbound texts
• Peer-to-peer fundraising

Pricing

Bloomerang currently lists its Fundraising product starting at $40/month billed annually, with the important qualification that it must be purchased as part of the required bundle with Bloomerang CRM. Its broader Giving Platform starts at $242/month billed annually.  

Bloomerang’s current payment-processing pricing for fundraising transactions includes rates such as 3.95% + $0.30 for Visa, Mastercard, and Discover, with different rates for other payment methods.  

Best for

Nonprofits that want fundraising and donor-management capabilities within the same ecosystem.

6. Snowball

Snowball Fundraising has different tools for fundraising which include Text-to-Give, donation campaigns, events, auctions, donor management, and outbound communication.

With the Text-to-Give system, campaign trigger words are supported which help organizations to generate different keywords for different fundraising campaigns.

Key features

• Text-to-Give
• Unlimited campaigns
• Trigger words
• Donation forms
• Recurring giving
• Events
• Auctions
• Donor management
• Reporting
• SMS and email engagement

Pricing

Snowball currently advertises:

• Essential: $0/year
• Premium: $55/month or $549/year
• Professional: $85/month or $849/year  

The exact features included in each plan should be reviewed before choosing a package.

Best for

Organizations that want text fundraising alongside events, auctions, and other fundraising tools.

7. OneCause

OneCause offers fundraising software for nonprofits, specializing in event fundraising. Their Text2Give solution has features such as keyword campaigns, forms for donations, recurring gifts, digital wallets, and managing supporters as well as inbound and outbound messages.

Key features

• Text2Give
• Fundraising pages
• Donation forms
• Recurring donations
• Digital wallets
• Event fundraising
• Auctions
• Mobile bidding
• Supporter management
• Reporting

Pricing

OneCause offers multiple plans. Its current pricing information says plans start at $200, including a pay-as-you-go option with a cap, while other annual packages are available.  

Because pricing depends on the fundraising solution selected, organizations should request a current quote.

Best for

Nonprofits that run fundraising events, auctions, galas, and other organized campaigns.

8. GiveWP

⁠GiveWP is a WordPress-focused donation and fundraising solution.

Instead of being a standalone fundraising website, GiveWP is designed to add fundraising capabilities to WordPress websites.

Key features

• Donation forms
• Donor management
• Donation reporting
• Recurring donations
• Payment gateways
• Fundraising add-ons
• Peer-to-peer fundraising on higher plans

Pricing

GiveWP offers a free core plan.

Current paid plans include:

• Basic: $149/year
• Plus: $349/year
• Pro: $499/year

Individual add-ons are also available.  

Organizations should verify the availability and current pricing of any specific text-giving integration or add-on they intend to use.

Best for

Nonprofits that already use WordPress and want to manage fundraising through their own website.

Best Text-to-Give Platforms for Churches

Churches have some specific requirements that aren’t always addressed by general nonprofit fundraising software.

For example, a church may want to support:

• Weekly offerings
• Tithes
• Special campaigns
• Mission trips
• Building funds
• Youth programs
• Holiday giving
• Recurring donations
• Event fundraising

Best options for churches

Tithely is particularly focused on churches and combines giving with other church-management and engagement tools.

Donorbox also supports faith-based organizations and recurring giving, while providing broader fundraising capabilities.

Snowball can be useful for churches that want Text-to-Give alongside campaigns and events.

Give Lively can be considered by eligible nonprofits looking for a free fundraising platform with text-based giving.

The best choice depends on whether the church primarily needs mobile giving, church management, event fundraising, or a combination of these.

What Is the Best Platform to Receive Donations?

There is no single best donations platform that can be used by every nonprofit organization.

The choice of a good donation platform is based on what aspect of the organization matters more.

Take Donorbox if:

You are looking for a flexible way to fundraise online that provides you with the ability of Text-to-Give, and supports recurrent giving, crowdfunding, and events organization.

Use Givebutter if:

You want one complete platform for fundraising that has a no-charge starter option with optional tips for donors. 

Choose Give Lively if:

Having free software subscription fees is a must for you, and your organization is eligible for the platform.

Pick Tithely if you are a church:

Looking for the options for giving and managing donations for churches specifically.

Choose Bloomerang if:

You are interested in fundraising as well as donor management options all in one place.

Take Snowball if:

You are looking for an option for fundraising, Text-to-Give, events, and auctions.

Use OneCause if:

Your organization is a heavy user of fundraising events as well as auctions.

Pick GiveWP if:

Your website is based on WordPress and you want to have the option for fundraising integrated with it.

How Much Does Text-to-Give Cost?

Text-to-give costs differ greatly among providers.

There are some platforms charging a monthly fee for their services, while others have free plans generating revenue through donor tips as well as transaction fees.

Costs for providers can include:

• Monthly subscription
• Yearly subscription
• Charge per donation
• Payment-processing charge
• Charge for the text-giving feature
• Charge for a keyword
• Event fees
• Other fundraising tools

For example, Donorbox charges $19 a month for its Text-to-give service and $50 a month for a specific keyword, not excluding added fundraising and payment processing charges.  

Givebutter provides its services free of charge, although its total fundraising fees depend on whether donor tips are used.  

Give Lively’s fundraising services, including Text-to-donate, are provided to non-profits without charge, as long as they meet specific requirements.  

Snowball has both paid and free plans, and its Premium plan currently costs $55 per month or $549 a year.  

The cheapest service may not be the most cost-efficient one, as non-profits need to look at the total cost of services at the expected donation volume, not only their subscription plans.

Text-to-Give Compliance and Security

Fundraising through SMS is far more complicated than just setting up a keyword.

It is important for organizations to have their SMS service provider’s policies regarding:

Donor data

They need to know exactly what donor data is collected, saved, or shared.

Transactions safety

Organizations need to look for a safe donation page and correct payment process organization.

SMS obligations

It is important for organizations to be aware of their SMS requirements including those on consent, information, HELP, STOP, etc.

Telecom requirements

SMS requirements depend on the type of phone number, messaging process, and operation of the provider.

For instance, 10DLC requirements refer only to application-to-person messaging using ordinary long numbers. A different approach should be applied when dealing with other SMS fundraising processes. 

Regulations on the collection of donations

Even if an organization tends to raise money through SMS, the regulation of charitable solicitation applies to its endeavors. 

Organizations should pay attention to the regulations under which their provider operates and consult a lawyer if needed.

Is Text-to-Give Right for Your Nonprofit?

Text-to-give can represent an effective fundraising tool if your supporters are already involved and active on mobile devices.

Text-to-give works effectively in the following cases:

• You have a strong donor base
• You conduct live events
• You communicate via social media
• You have an email list
• You have live broadcasts
• You have annual giving programs
• You want the effective fund-raising appeal

At the same time, text-to-give cannot be the only tool you use.

Thus, it is also necessary for a non-profit organization to use

• a website
• donation pages
• email marketing
• social media
• donor management
• event management
• peer-to-peer fundraising
• SMS marketing
• reporting and analysis

The most effective fundraising approach would consist of several instruments.

Text-to-Give vs. SMS Marketing Platforms

This distinction is important.

A text-to-give platform is primarily designed to help an organization collect donations through mobile messaging.

An SMS marketing or messaging platform is primarily designed to help an organization communicate with its audience through text messages.

These are related but different use cases.

Capability	Text-to-Give Platform	SMS Messaging Platform
Mobile donations	Core function	Not the primary function
Donation pages	Usually	Usually not
Fundraising campaigns	Core function	Can support communication around them
Bulk SMS	Varies	Core function
Two-way conversations	Varies	Often core function
Contact segmentation	Often	Often
Scheduled SMS	Varies	Common
Shared inbox	Not always	Common
Campaign analytics	Donation-focused	Messaging-focused
Donor payment processing	Core function	Usually not

For a nonprofit, the difference comes down to the primary job the software needs to perform.

If the goal is collecting donations, a text-to-give platform is the appropriate category.

If the goal is communicating with supporters through SMS at scale, an SMS messaging platform may be the better fit.

Where ZeepText Fits

⁠ZeepText is an SMS broadcast and two-way messaging platform designed for campaigns, nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and grassroots teams.

Its focus is the communication side of SMS outreach.

Organizations can use ZeepText for:

• Personalized bulk SMS
• Scheduled SMS campaigns
• Two-way SMS conversations
• Shared inbox management
• Contact management
• Contact tags and segmentation
• Keyword-based automatic replies
• Campaign management
• Delivery tracking
• Click tracking
• Reply tracking
• SMS compliance workflows

ZeepText uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model with $0 monthly platform fees, $0.039 per outgoing SMS, and $0.015 per incoming SMS.

For a nonprofit that already has a fundraising platform, an SMS platform can serve a different purpose by helping the organization communicate with supporters around:

• Fundraising campaigns
• Events
• Announcements
• Supporter engagement
• Reminders
• Organizational updates
• Campaign communications

The distinction is simple:

Fundraising platforms focus on collecting and managing donations. SMS messaging platforms focus on communicating with an audience through text.

For organizations that need both, the two categories can complement each other rather than replacing one another.

How to Choose the Right Text-to-Give Platform

Before making a decision, create a short list of your organization’s requirements.

Step 1: Define your primary fundraising use case

Are you raising money through:

• Events?
• Church services?
• Annual campaigns?
• Emergency appeals?
• Capital campaigns?
• Social media?
• Livestreams?

Your use case should influence your platform choice.

Step 2: Calculate your expected donation volume

Don’t compare subscription prices alone.

Estimate:

Expected donations × average transaction fee + software costs

This gives you a more realistic picture of your annual cost.

Step 3: Check the donor experience

Test the process yourself.

Ask:

• How many steps does the donor take?
• Is the donation page mobile-friendly?
• Can donors use digital wallets?
• Can donors set up recurring donations?
• Is the confirmation process clear?

Step 4: Review fundraising tools

Determine whether you need:

• Events
• Auctions
• Peer-to-peer fundraising
• Crowdfunding
• Recurring giving
• Donor management
• Reporting
• Campaign management

Step 5: Review SMS capabilities

If SMS is an important part of your overall strategy, check whether the platform supports:

• Outbound messaging
• Two-way conversations
• Scheduled campaigns
• Contact segmentation
• Automated replies
• Message analytics

Step 6: Review the total cost

Look beyond the advertised monthly subscription.

Include:

• Platform fees
• Payment processing
• Text-giving fees
• Keyword fees
• Event fees
• Additional user or contact fees
• Other add-ons

Step 7: Verify compliance

Ask the provider how its system handles applicable SMS and payment requirements before launching a campaign.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some good text-to-give platforms for churches?

Good options for churches include Tithely, Donorbox, Snowball, and Give Lively. Tithely is particularly focused on churches, while Donorbox and Snowball provide broader fundraising capabilities. Give Lively is another option for eligible nonprofits looking for a platform without subscription fees.

What is the best platform to receive donations?

There is no single best donation platform for every organization. Donorbox, Givebutter, Give Lively, Bloomerang, Tithely, Snowball, OneCause, and GiveWP all serve different nonprofit needs. The right choice depends on your fundraising model, donation volume, required features, and budget.

How does text-to-give work?

Typically, a supporter texts a keyword to a designated number and receives a link to a mobile-friendly donation page. They then choose their donation amount and complete the payment online. The exact workflow varies by provider.

How much does text-to-give cost?

Costs vary by provider. Some platforms offer text giving at no additional software cost, while others charge monthly fees, keyword fees, platform fees, payment-processing fees, or a combination of these. Organizations should compare the total cost rather than the subscription price alone.

Is text-to-give secure?

Text-to-give platforms generally direct donors to secure online donation pages where payment is completed. Before selecting a provider, nonprofits should review its payment-processing, data-security, privacy, and SMS compliance practices.