When it comes to engaging supporters and driving meaningful action, texting has become an indispensable tool for nonprofit organizations. During a recent webinar hosted by TrueSense Marketing and Prompt.io, experts Katie Damico and Stacia Yim shared insights and real-world examples of how to elevate nonprofit texting campaigns. 

Here are some of our favorite takeaways from the full webinar, “Beyond Pressing Send: Lessons from Top Nonprofit Texting Programs.”

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Common Challenges in Growing Your Texting Program

For many nonprofits, starting and scaling a texting program can feel daunting. Challenges include acquiring new subscribers, maintaining engagement, and navigating the fine line between meaningful outreach and message fatigue. As Katie noted, "Time is the enemy – contact must be made soon after engagement." Ensuring that messages are timely and personal is crucial.

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Strategies for Success: Building an Audience

"Successful programs feel personal, not mass-produced. Thoughtful audience acquisition can help lay the groundwork for deeper relationships." –Stacia Yim, Customer Success Manager at Prompt.io

Texting has a high open rate with a short, easily digestible message. However, audiences often need to be nurtured. Texting platforms allow for a great deal of segmentation, so this is your chance to put that functionality to use as you grow.

Katie and Stacia emphasized foundational strategies for audience growth:

1. Organic Opt-Ins: Use keywords or website forms to encourage supporters to subscribe. While this approach is slower, it ensures high-quality, interested engagement.
2. Leveraging Existing Donor Records: Import donor phone numbers and reach out with a soft introduction, explaining the value of texting as a communication channel. 
3. Nurture, Nurture, Nurture: Use what you know about your audience as you gain more contacts to craft messaging that makes sense to them. 

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Case Study: Donor Thanks via Text

Expressing gratitude is a cornerstone of nonprofit stewardship. Prompt.io highlighted how one organization successfully transitioned donor thanks to texting. Each month, recent donors received personalized thank-you messages without additional asks. The results? A 3x higher response rate compared to campaign messages and a 50% decrease in opt-outs.

Stacia summarized this approach beautifully: "You’re never wrong when you tell a donor you appreciate them. These messages are not just calls to action; they’re calls of gratitude."

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Spotlight: Hope For Paws’ Multimedia Texting Success

Hope For Paws, a nonprofit focused on animal rescue, faced the challenge of reconnecting with lapsed donors while showcasing its impactful video content. Their solution was innovative: sharing high-quality video screenshots via text alongside SmartLinks to YouTube. This approach resulted in a 7-13% click-through rate, double their email performance, and a 20% conversion rate.

Katie reflected, "Using texting to share stories allows organizations to tap into the emotional resonance of their missions, inspiring action and fostering loyalty."

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[Read More: How Hope For Paws Used Texting + Video to Increase Donor Engagement]

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Use Creative, Casual Content to Keep Supporters Engaged

"It’s about building a relationship that feels authentic. When you communicate like a friend, supporters are more likely to stick around." –Katie Damico, Vice President of Media & Digital Operations at TrueSense

Texting doesn’t have to be all business. Fun, interactive, and shareable content can keep audiences engaged and delighted while avoiding fatigue from other asks. Ideas include:

• Sharing jokes or memes related to your mission.
• Sending quizzes, polls, or surveys to learn more about supporters' interests or create community “debates.”
• Providing small "bonuses," like recipes or wallpapers.
• Personalized media in the form of GIFs and images.

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[See it in Action: FUSE™ – Custom GIFs for Personalized Messages]

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As the webinar concluded, one key message emerged: texting is more than just a communication tool—it’s a bridge to deeper connections. By treating supporters as individuals and offering value beyond financial asks, nonprofits can unlock the full potential of this medium.

Check out the full webinar, “Beyond Pressing Send: Lessons from Top Nonprofit Texting Programs,” to hear all of the insights from Katie and Stacia. Learn more about a texting platform for nonprofit organizations at Prompt.io for Good.

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