Learn how to set up text-to-give for your church. CharityAuctionsToday offers easy steps to follow so you can take advantage of this simple fundraising tool.
Text-to-give is a simple and convenient way for congregants to support their church financially. By enabling donations through text messages, churches can increase giving, especially among younger members who prefer mobile-friendly options. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up text-to-give tools for your church.
Don’t Just Enable Giving — Inspire Participation
You know how to set up text-giving for your congregation. Now elevate engagement — launch an auction to bring your community together around your mission.
Launch Your Church Auction1. Choose a Text-to-Give Platform
Start by selecting a text-to-give service provider that meets your church's needs. Popular options include Tithe.ly, Pushpay, and Snowball. If you're looking for an event-specific service, CharityAuctionsToday offers unlimited text-to-give services with our Prepaid plan and as an add-on for our Flex plan.
- Key Considerations When Choosing a Platform:
- Ease of use for donors.
- Integration with your church’s existing financial or management systems.
- Price and transaction fees (typically 1–3% per donation).
- Support for recurring giving and fund designation (e.g., tithes, missions, building fund).
- Customer support and training resources.
2. Create an Account with the Provider
Once you've chosen a platform, sign up for an account. You’ll likely need to provide the following information:
- Your church’s name and address.
- Banking information for receiving donations.
- Proof of nonprofit status (e.g., 501(c)(3) documentation).
Most platforms guide you through the onboarding process, which may include verification steps and signing agreements.
3. Set Up Donation Keywords
Donation keywords are short, memorable words that donors text to a designated phone number to start the giving process. For example:
- Text TITHE to 555-123-4567 to donate.
- Best Practices for Keywords:
- Choose simple and intuitive words (e.g., TITHE, GIVE, OFFERING).
- Set up multiple keywords for different funds (e.g., BUILDING for a building campaign).
4. Customize Donation Options
Configure your text-to-give platform to match your church’s needs:
- Suggested Giving Amounts: Provide options for preset amounts (e.g., $25, $50, $100) while allowing custom amounts.
- Recurring Donations: Enable donors to set up weekly or monthly gifts.
- Fund Allocation: Allow donors to specify where their gift should go (e.g., general fund, missions, youth ministry).
5. Integrate with Existing Systems
To streamline your church’s financial operations, integrate the text-to-give tool with your existing systems, such as:
- Accounting Software: Ensure donations are automatically tracked in your financial records.
- Church Management Software (ChMS): Link donor information to member profiles.
6. Test the System
Before launching, test the text-to-give system to ensure everything works smoothly.
- Try different keywords and donation amounts.
- Test the receipt process to ensure donors receive confirmation messages.
- Confirm donations are deposited into the correct bank account.
7. Train Staff and Volunteers
Educate your staff and volunteers about the new text-to-give system so they can help congregants use it. Provide training materials, such as:
- Quick reference guides.
- Step-by-step instructions for donors.
- FAQs to address common questions.
8. Launch the Text-to-Give Tool
Announce the new text-to-give option to your congregation during services and through other communication channels:
- During Services: Mention it during the offering segment, and display instructions on screens or in bulletins.
- Email Newsletters: Send an email with step-by-step instructions and a link to your text-to-give platform.
- Social Media: Post graphics or videos explaining how to use the feature.
- Website: Add a dedicated page with instructions for text-to-give donations.
9. Promote Regularly
To encourage ongoing use, regularly remind your congregation about text-to-give.
- Special Campaigns: Highlight it during fundraising drives, mission campaigns, or holiday services.
- Recurring Giving: Encourage members to set up recurring donations for consistent support.
- Testimonies: Share success stories or testimonials about how giving supports the church’s mission.
10. Monitor and Optimize
After launching, monitor the performance of your text-to-give tool and make adjustments as needed.
- Analyze Data: Review reports to track usage, donation amounts, and fund allocation.
- Gather Feedback: Ask congregants about their experience and address any concerns.
- Update Keywords: Add or refine keywords based on the needs of your church.
Example Messaging for Promotion
Bulletin Announcement:
“Giving just got easier! You can now support [Church Name] by texting GIVE to 555-123-4567. It’s fast, secure, and convenient. Try it today!”
Social Media Post:
“We’re excited to introduce a new way to give! Text GIVE to 555-123-4567 to support [Church Name] and help us continue our mission. Thank you for your generosity!”
Set Up for Success
Setting up text-to-give tools for your church is a straightforward process that can significantly enhance giving. By choosing the right platform, customizing it for your needs, and promoting it effectively, you can make giving more accessible and increase contributions to support your mission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is text-to-give for churches?
Text-to-give lets attendees text a keyword to a dedicated number and receive a secure link to a mobile donation page. It’s fast during services and convenient for remote members and recurring tithes.
How do we set up text-to-give quickly for our church?
Choose a phone number (10DLC or toll-free), register/verify it, pick a short keyword (e.g., “GIVE”), connect your payment processor, build a mobile-first giving form, and write auto-replies for JOIN/STOP/HELP and receipts.
Should we use a 10DLC, toll-free, or short code number?
10DLC (local) is affordable and quick to provision. Toll-free can offer strong deliverability after verification. Dedicated short codes have the highest throughput but higher cost and longer setup.
What keyword and autoresponder best practices should we follow?
Choose a short, memorable keyword (e.g., GIVE, TITHE). In the first reply, include your church name, a short impact line, the giving link, and opt-out language (e.g., “Text STOP to cancel”). Keep messages concise to avoid multi-segment SMS charges.
Can donors select funds like Tithe, Missions, or Building through text-to-give?
Yes. Configure your giving page with fund designations and suggested amounts. Some systems support multiple keywords (e.g., “MISSIONS”) that deep-link to specific funds for quicker checkout.
How do we enable recurring tithes with text-to-give?
Offer a monthly toggle or schedule options on the donation form. Send a follow-up text confirming the plan and include a self-service link to update amounts, cards, or cancellations anytime.
How should we present text-to-give during services?
Show the number and keyword on screens and printed seat backs, mention it from stage with a 10–15 second script, and include it in the bulletin and livestream lower-thirds. Provide a QR code as an alternative for guests.
What compliance and consent basics should we follow for church texting?
Obtain explicit opt-in, disclose message frequency and data rates, support STOP/HELP, honor quiet hours where applicable, and store consent records. Keep messages helpful and mission-focused.
Will text-to-give sync with our Church Management System (ChMS) and accounting?
Look for integrations that sync contact details, gifts, fund codes, and recurring plans. Exports and API access help reconcile fund accounting and produce contribution statements.
How are giving receipts and year-end statements handled for text gifts?
Enable instant email or SMS receipts with gift details and fund designation. Ensure your system can generate consolidated annual statements for households with accurate contact info.
What ongoing costs should a church expect for text-to-give?
Budget for number rental/verification, carrier messaging, platform/subscription fees, and payment processing. Keep messages concise and segment your list to control costs without sacrificing engagement.
How do we keep donor data and payments secure when using text-to-give?
Use a PCI-compliant processor, HTTPS donation pages, and role-based admin access. Avoid collecting sensitive data by text; route all gifts through secure forms and encourage wallet payments for speed and safety.
Can we support multiple campuses, services, or languages with text-to-give?
Yes. Use separate keywords per campus or fund, and offer bilingual autoresponders (e.g., English/Spanish). Deep links can preselect the right fund while keeping one main number church-wide.
How do we help guests who have trouble with the text link or payment?
Provide a staffed help table and a short URL to the giving page. Offer alternative methods (kiosks, envelopes) and post a “Having trouble?” slide with steps: refresh link, try another browser, or use the QR code.
What follow-ups improve generosity and member engagement after texting a gift?
Send a same-day thank-you with impact, invite recurring giving, and share ministry updates monthly. Recognize milestones (first gift, one-year anniversary) and keep communication pastoral, concise, and hopeful.
💡 Try this in ChatGPT
- Summarize the article "How to Set Up Text-to-Give Tools for Churches" from https://ghost.charityauctionstoday.com/p/how-to-set-up-text-to-give-for-churches/ in 3 bullet points for a board update.
- Turn the article "How to Set Up Text-to-Give Tools for Churches" (https://ghost.charityauctionstoday.com/p/how-to-set-up-text-to-give-for-churches/) into a 60-second talking script with one example and one CTA.
- Extract 5 SEO keywords and 3 internal link ideas from "How to Set Up Text-to-Give Tools for Churches": https://ghost.charityauctionstoday.com/p/how-to-set-up-text-to-give-for-churches/.
- Create 3 tweet ideas and a LinkedIn post that expand on this How To topic using the article at https://ghost.charityauctionstoday.com/p/how-to-set-up-text-to-give-for-churches/.
Tip: Paste the whole prompt (with the URL) so the AI can fetch context.
