Texting is the most direct way to reach the people who keep a nonprofit running. Volunteers see a shift reminder in minutes, donors read a thank-you instead of filing it with their email, and supporters act when a cleanup, vigil or appeal is happening today. Getting set up is not hard, but there is a process, because US carriers now review every organization that texts from a business number.
Here is the whole path, in order.
1. Check what you need
- An EIN and your exact legal name as the IRS has it. Carriers match both against public records.
- A website with a privacy policy that says you do not sell or share mobile numbers or opt-in data with third parties for marketing.
- A way for people to opt in: a sign-up form, a paper form at events, or a keyword people text to you.
- 501(c)(3) status is optional for texting itself. It does let you register under the dedicated charity use case, and it usually unlocks nonprofit pricing.
2. Choose the right kind of number
Most nonprofits start with a local 10DLC number: it looks familiar, supports two-way conversation and is the cheapest to run. A toll-free number works well for steady, support-style traffic. A short code (a 5–6 digit number) is built for very large lists and text-to-give campaigns, but it costs much more and takes the longest to approve. We compare all three in toll-free vs 10DLC vs short code.
3. Get your sign-up page right
This is where most rejections come from. Your opt-in page should:
- Say which kinds of texts people will get (volunteer shifts, event reminders, donation receipts, updates) and roughly how often.
- Use a consent checkbox that is unchecked by default and optional. Texting cannot be a condition of donating or volunteering.
- Include “Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help.” and links to your privacy policy and terms.
Our SMS opt-in guide has wording you can copy.
4. Write your sample messages
Registration asks for two to five messages that look like what you will really send. Start each with your organization’s name, keep them on your stated purpose, and end with opt-out language. These samples matter after approval too: carriers expect your real texts to stay close to them. New topics, promotions you did not register, or links to other websites can get messages blocked and a number suspended.
5. Register and wait for approval
Your organization is registered first (the brand), then what you will send (the campaign). Brand checks are usually quick. Campaign review is done by people on the carrier side and typically takes from a few days to about three weeks, longer if they send it back with questions. A good texting service handles this for you and fixes whatever the reviewer flags. If yours comes back rejected, see why 10DLC campaigns get rejected.
6. Start texting the right way
- Put people into lists by how they signed up (volunteers, donors, event guests) so each person only gets texts they asked for.
- Send during reasonable hours, between 8 AM and 9 PM in the recipient’s time zone.
- Honor STOP immediately, everywhere, and keep a record of when and how each person agreed.
- Read and answer replies. Two-way texting is where the relationship happens.
What it costs
There are two kinds of costs. Carrier and registry fees (a one-time registration, a small monthly campaign or number fee) are the same whichever service you use. On top of that, services charge per text. At MyCleanText, texts start at about 3.5¢ each, 501(c)(3)s pay 20% less, replies are free, monthly carrier and number fees are passed through at cost, and it is prepaid with no contract.
What to look for in a nonprofit texting service
- They handle registration and respond to carrier feedback for you.
- Two-way replies in one inbox, not just one-way blasts.
- Consent records for every contact: when, where and the exact wording they agreed to.
- Automatic opt-out handling and clear unsubscribe numbers per campaign.
- Guardrails that keep texts inside what your number was approved for, so a well-meant message does not get your number blocked.
- Simple, published pricing with a nonprofit discount and no long contract.