How to maximise text donations

Pick the right code

Settle on a code that either reflects your campaign (e.g. SWIM10) or charity name (e.g. KIDZ10) so that donors find it easy to recall.

Build a campaign

Is there something that you want any funds raised to go to in particular? A church roof that needs fixing, a mini bus that needs funding, a hospital machine that needs financing. Settle on a campaign so that donors have something to aspire to when donating by text.

Market your code

Make sure you download and apply for the marketing materials available to all JustTextGiving charities at www.justtextgiving.co.uk 

Included, is the chance to have a pre made banner with your text code that can be hung outside a school or tied to the outside of your building. Include the code in all your marketing efforts. When you are sending materials to your fundraisers, include details on your code or better still encourage fundraisers to set up their own fundraising SMS codes so that they can receive text donations direct to their own JustGiving pages.

Be different!

We've already seen some interesting ways in which JustTextGiving has inspired spontaneous giving. The church that has replaced their collection plate with an SMS code, the local radio station that advertises the code on an hourly basis, the charity that tweeted their code to their followers. Use your JustTextGiving code at a local quiz, replace the pub collection box with a call to "text" or use a number of your codes as a means of for voting in an X-Factor style performance!  

Leverage local PR

Newspapers and media outlets are always on the look out for organisations who do things differently. Get in touch and encourage them to advertise your code. You could even set up a special one for them (e.g. NEWS10)

Inspiring examples

A few examples of messages on twitter to promote text giving.

StDavidsHospice: "What have you done today to make you feel proud?" Please text HAND11 £5 to 70070 to donate to our #HelpingHandsAppeal

unicef_uk: It's so simple. Pick up your phone, text DROUGHT to 70007, and see £5 go to help the children affected by the East Africa drought. Thank you