3 effortless ways to personalize text messaging for your nonprofit audience

September 20, 2023

Let’s face it: We all love a little personal attention.

This also applies to your donors, volunteers, and staff in your nonprofit organization. With the never-ending stream of emails and texts they receive, a personalized message can make your organization stand out.

So why should you personalize your nonprofit’s text messages, and how do you go about it? Let’s dive in.

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Personalization isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a powerful tool that can increase engagement in nonprofit text messaging.

Here’s why:

• Increased responses: Personalized texts help capture people’s attention, which can lead to more responses.
• Relevancy: Make your audience feel valued by addressing their interests.
• Build relationships: Show your contacts that you remember little details about them to forge a deeper connection.

If SMS personalization sounds like a hassle, I can promise you that it’s not. It’s actually simple if you have the right tools.

All you have to do is:

Using first names in your texts creates a personal connection. If you don’t have their names on file, our Data Collection tool can help you gather that information.

Plus, you can use it to collect more details about your audience periodically, like their preferred area of volunteer work or the types of events they are interested in.

Avoid lumping your audience into one general group. Instead, tailor your messages based on their specific interests.

For instance, if you have a mix of donors, volunteers, and staff, create distinct contact lists that cater to each group’s needs.

But how do you achieve this without asking each person individually what messages they want to receive?

The solution is simple: Text-to-join keywords. These are unique words or phrases that your audience can text to opt in to specific types of messages.

Example: You might create the SMS keywords HELPKIDS for volunteers interested in children-related programs or DONATE2KIDS for supporters who want donation reminders.

Small gestures like an anniversary or birthday acknowledgment can go a long way in strengthening your relationship with your organization’s contacts.

Our platform also offers a feature like Automated Birthday Texts that tracks important dates and sends automated messages.

Example: When someone joins your texting list, use the Automated Birthday Text campaign feature to ask them for their birthday. Then, on that day, wish them a happy birthday and invite them to create a Facebook birthday fundraiser for your organization.

A sprinkle of personalization in your texting strategy might be the secret sauce to nurture deeper relationships in your non-profit organization.

If you’re still on the lookout for a text messaging service tailored to nonprofit needs, why not give SimpleTexting a spin? Sign up today to enjoy our free 14-day trial and send your first personalized message.

📌 For more pro tips on leveraging texting in your non-profit, do check out our How to Start guide.