Can nonprofits send text messages to donors?

Yes, with consent. Autodialed texts to mobile numbers need prior express consent under federal law, carriers expect consent for all texting, and Signilio requires written consent before promotional messages such as donation asks. Name your organization and include how to opt out.

Does the Do Not Call list apply to nonprofits?

FCC rules exclude calls and texts by or on behalf of tax-exempt nonprofits from the definition of telephone solicitation, so the National Do Not Call Registry generally doesn't apply. Consent still does, and anyone who asks you to stop must be removed.

Do nonprofits need to register to solicit donations by text?

Many states require charities to register before soliciting donations from their residents, and a donation ask by text is a solicitation. Check the states you text into.

What's the difference between a nonprofit and a political campaign for texting?

Political campaigns, committees and PACs register under a political use case with a separate political verification. Nonprofits register as nonprofits. If your organization does electoral work for candidates or ballot measures, see the political campaigns guide.

Industry

Texting for Nonprofits: Donors, Volunteers and Events

How nonprofits text donors, volunteers and supporters: consent, fundraising asks, event and volunteer texts, nonprofit 10DLC registration and costs.

Nonprofits text because supporters respond: a volunteer shift gets filled, an event fills its seats, and a year-end ask lands where people actually read. Texting for a charity follows some different rules from business marketing, and nonprofits register differently for 10DLC.

How nonprofit texts differ from business marketing

Telephone solicitation rules. FCC rules exclude calls and texts made by or on behalf of a tax-exempt nonprofit organization from the definition of telephone solicitation, so the federal Do Not Call Registry and the FCC's solicitation calling-hours rule don't apply to them. Some state telemarketing laws may still apply.
Consent still matters. Federal law requires prior express consent for autodialed texts to mobile numbers, nonprofit or not. Carriers expect consent for all texting, and Signilio's Acceptable Use Policy requires express written consent before promotional messages and prohibits messages to purchased or non-consented lists. Get written consent from every supporter.
State charitable solicitation laws. Many states require charities to register before soliciting donations from their residents. Texting a donation ask counts as soliciting, so check where you're registered.

Doing electoral work for a candidate or a ballot measure? Political texting has its own rules; see political campaigns.

Where consent comes from

Donation and volunteer forms, with a text consent box that names your organization and says supporters agree to receive texts.
Text-to-join and text-to-give keywords at events, with your organization's name, what you'll text about, frequency, message and data rates, and STOP and HELP printed beside them.
Event sign-in sheets and RSVPs, with the same disclosures.

Send a confirmation text right after someone joins, and keep your own record of when and how each supporter opted in; Signilio doesn't keep that proof for you. STOP-keyword opt-outs are honored automatically; treat any reply asking you to stop as an opt-out too.

What nonprofits text

Volunteer recruiting and shift reminders, with a reply to confirm.
Event invitations and day-of details.
Fundraising asks on giving days and at year end, linking to your own donation page.
Thank-yous and impact updates after a gift.

Keep texts between 8am and 9pm in the supporter's local time, and text as often as you said you would at sign-up.

10DLC registration for nonprofits

Nonprofits register a brand under the organization's legal name and EIN and a campaign for what they send. Carriers have registration paths for nonprofits, and a registered 501(c)(3) charity may qualify for a charity campaign type. Describe fundraising, volunteer and event texts accurately. Since February 2025, US carriers block unregistered business traffic from local numbers. See 10DLC registration.

What texting costs a nonprofit

On Signilio, plans run from $34.99 a month for 1,000 texts to $189.99 a month for 12,000 texts, with carrier fees included, replies free and every feature on every plan, so staff and volunteers can answer supporters from one shared inbox. See pricing.

None of this is legal advice; have counsel review your program before you send.

Sample texts for nonprofits

Starting points to adapt. Bracketed fields are merge fields or your own details; every marketing text names your business and says how to opt out.

Volunteer shift

Hi [First name], it's [Name] at [Organization name]. We need two more volunteers for Saturday's food drive, 9am to noon. Can you make it? Reply STOP to opt out.

Event reminder

[Organization name]: see you tonight at 6pm for the community dinner, [Location]. Reply STOP to opt out.

Giving day ask

[Organization name]: today is our giving day. A gift of $25 feeds a family for a week: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.

Thank-you

[Organization name]: thank you for your gift today. Your receipt is on its way by email. Reply STOP to opt out.

Common questions

Can nonprofits send text messages to donors?: Yes, with consent. Autodialed texts to mobile numbers need prior express consent under federal law, carriers expect consent for all texting, and Signilio requires written consent before promotional messages such as donation asks. Name your organization and include how to opt out.
Does the Do Not Call list apply to nonprofits?: FCC rules exclude calls and texts by or on behalf of tax-exempt nonprofits from the definition of telephone solicitation, so the National Do Not Call Registry generally doesn't apply. Consent still does, and anyone who asks you to stop must be removed.
How do nonprofits register for 10DLC?: Under the organization's legal name and EIN, as a brand, plus a campaign for what you send. Carriers have registration paths for nonprofits, and a registered 501(c)(3) charity may qualify for a charity campaign type. Signilio registers your brand and campaign during onboarding.
Do nonprofits need to register to solicit donations by text?: Many states require charities to register before soliciting donations from their residents, and a donation ask by text is a solicitation. Check the states you text into.
What's the difference between a nonprofit and a political campaign for texting?: Political campaigns, committees and PACs register under a political use case with a separate political verification. Nonprofits register as nonprofits. If your organization does electoral work for candidates or ballot measures, see the political campaigns guide.