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Managing a church community comes with its unique challenges, especially when it comes to facilitating donations. That's where text to give platforms can make a difference. These tools offer a straightforward way for your congregation to contribute, using AI to enhance user experience and efficiency.

In my experience, the right platform can significantly ease your workload. AI capabilities in these tools help automate processes, provide insights, and improve donor engagement. I'll share my top picks, focusing on their AI features and how they can aid your team.

Expect a thorough, unbiased review that considers your needs as a church manager. Let's explore how these platforms can support your mission and make giving simpler for everyone involved.

Best Text to Give Platforms Summary

This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top text to give platform selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.

Best Text to Give Platform Reviews

Below are my detailed summaries of the best text to give platforms that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a detailed look at the key features, pros & cons, integrations, and ideal use cases of each tool to help you find the best one for you.

Best AI-driven donor insights

  • Free demo available
  • From $40/month (billed annually)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.7/5

Bloomerang is a nonprofit software solution designed for fundraising, CRM, and volunteer management. Its main user base includes nonprofits looking to increase donor engagement and improve fundraising strategies, supported by AI-driven insights.

Why I picked Bloomerang: Bloomerang's AI features offer unique insights into donor behavior, helping you understand and engage with your supporters. The platform's AI-driven reports provide a deep analysis of donor retention rates, allowing you to make informed decisions. Bloomerang's AI-powered tools can diversify your donor base and increase average gift sizes. 

Standout features & integrations:

Features include donor retention insights, reporting, and volunteer management tools for your nonprofit operations. The platform's marketing tools allow you to create targeted campaigns to engage your audience. Additionally, Bloomerang offers donation forms that are customizable to fit your organization's needs.

Integrations include QuickBooks, Mailchimp, Eventbrite, Zapier, Classy, Constant Contact, Google Workspace, PayPal, Shopify, and WordPress.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Reporting features
  • Customizable donation forms
  • AI-driven donor insights

Cons:

  • Initial setup can be complex
  • Limited customization options

Best for auction fundraising

  • Free demo available
  • From $1,396/event
Visit Website
Rating: 4.7/5

HandBid is an auction software platform designed for nonprofits and charities, focusing on mobile bidding and event management. Its primary users include event organizers and fundraisers looking to have auction experiences with AI-driven insights and engagement tools.

Why I picked HandBid: HandBid's AI capabilities help you analyze bidder behavior, providing insights for your fundraising strategies. The platform offers AI-driven analytics for auction timing and promoting items. With AI-powered notifications, you can keep bidders engaged and informed throughout the event. 

Standout features & integrations:

Features include mobile bidding that allows participants to bid from anywhere, increasing engagement. The platform provides detailed auction analytics to help you assess event performance. Additionally, HandBid offers customizable event pages to showcase your auction items creatively.

Integrations include Salesforce, Greater Giving, NeonCRM, Blackbaud, Classy, Eventbrite, GiveSmart, DonorPerfect, Qgiv, and Stripe.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Customizable event pages
  • Detailed auction analytics
  • Mobile bidding increases participation

Cons:

  • Credit processing fee on top of the price per event
  • Pricepoint can be high for small auctions

Best for church donations

  • Free plan available
  • From $72/month
Visit Website
Rating: 3/5

Tithe.ly is a digital platform specifically designed for churches, providing tools for online, mobile, and text giving. It serves church communities by offering features like church management, custom app development, and website creation, with AI capabilities for user engagement.

Why I picked Tithe.ly: Tithe.ly's AI-driven features help you manage donations and engage your congregation. The platform's donation management tools use AI to provide insights into giving patterns, which aids in planning and decision-making. Tithe.ly's AI capabilities also extend to personalized communication with donors. 

Standout features & integrations:

Features include unlimited donation options, pledge campaigns, and member tracking capabilities for managing your church's needs. The custom app development feature allows you to create a tailored app for your congregation. Additionally, Tithe.ly offers an event planning tool to organize church activities.

Integrations include QuickBooks, Planning Center, Mailchimp, Church Community Builder, Breeze, Elvanto, Rock RMS, EasyTithe, Pushpay, and FellowshipOne.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Event planning tools
  • Custom app development
  • AI-driven donation insights

Cons:

  • No text to member option with free plan
  • Limited customization in some features

Best for free fundraising tools

  • Free demo available
  • Free

GiveLively is a fundraising platform offering free tools for nonprofits to manage donations and campaigns. Its main users are nonprofit organizations seeking cost-effective solutions, with AI features for donor engagement and campaign management.

Why I picked GiveLively: GiveLively provides AI-driven tools that help you with your fundraising strategies without any cost. The platform's AI features include donor insights that help you tailor your outreach efforts. With AI-powered analytics, you can track campaign performance and make informed decisions. These capabilities make GiveLively a good choice for nonprofits looking for free fundraising tools.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include customizable donation pages that allow you to create a unique experience for donors. The platform offers peer-to-peer fundraising tools to expand your reach. Additionally, GiveLively provides event ticketing features to manage fundraising events.

Integrations include Salesforce, Stripe, Mailchimp, Double the Donation, Google Analytics, Facebook, Eventbrite, Zapier, Constant Contact, and Fundraise Up.


Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Customizable donation pages
  • AI-driven donor insights
  • Free fundraising tools

Cons:

  • Third-party transaction fees
  • Limited advanced features

Best for event fundraising

  • Free demo available
  • Pricing upon request

OneCause is a fundraising software tailored for nonprofits, focusing on event management and mobile bidding. Its features include text-to-give services, with customizable campaigns, CTAs, and fundraising progress scoreboards.

Why I picked OneCause: OneCause Text2Give® makes it easy to launch engaging fundraising campaigns that boost participation and revenue by giving supporters a fast, user-friendly fundraising method right from their mobile devices. You can create a unique custom keyword, promote it across your marketing channels, and guide donors to make one-time or recurring gifts through an intuitive, branded donation page that you can link to on social media, add to your homepage for online giving, or send out through their phone numbers. 

Standout features & integrations:

Features include mobile donations that allow participants to engage from anywhere, increasing event reach. The platform’s mobile-first interface lets you quickly manage campaigns, customize donation amounts, display real-time fundraising progress with an interactive Scoreboard, and collect donor information with automated email receipts. Donors enjoy convenient payment methods and options like custom gift amounts, digital wallet payments, ACH, credit card, and DAF contributions, while your team benefits from immediate deposits, easy reconciliation, exportable activity data, and full PCI compliance. With built-in tools to thank donors and encourage continued support, Text2Give® helps organizations drive deeper engagement and reach their fundraising goals.

Integrations include Salesforce, Blackbaud, Greater Giving, Classy, Eventbrite, DonorPerfect, NeonCRM, QuickBooks, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Mobile bidding increases engagement
  • AI-driven donor insights
  • Event management tools

Cons:

  • Limited customization options
  • Onboarding complexity for some new users

Best for matching gift programs

  • Free demo available
  • From $300/year

DoubleTheDonation is a software platform specializing in fundraising through matching gift programs. Its main users are nonprofits looking to increase donations by leveraging employer gift matching, with AI tools for donor engagement and process.

Why I picked DoubleTheDonation: DoubleTheDonation offers AI-driven solutions that help you identify matching gift opportunities. The platform's AI features work with the matching gift process by automating donor outreach and follow-ups. With AI-powered analytics, you can track the success of your matching gift campaigns and strategies. These capabilities make DoubleTheDonation a good choice for nonprofits focused on matching gift contributions.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include an automated matching gift identification system that helps you find eligible donations. The platform provides detailed analytics to assess the performance of your campaigns. Additionally, DoubleTheDonation offers customizable donor communications for engagement.

Integrations include Blackbaud, Salesforce, NeonCRM, Classy, DonorPerfect, Raiser's Edge, Bloomerang, Funraise, GiveGab, and Fundly.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Detailed campaign performance analytics
  • AI-driven donor engagement tools
  • Matching gift identification

Cons:

  • Requires setup for optimal use
  • Donation amounts are tiered to pricing

Best for mobile fundraising campaigns

  • Free demo available
  • Pricing upon request

MobileCause is a fundraising platform designed for nonprofits, focusing on mobile and online donation campaigns. Its main users are nonprofit organizations seeking to increase donor engagement through mobile channels, with AI tools for campaign performance and donor interactions.

Why I picked MobileCause: MobileCause provides AI-driven insights that help you tailor your fundraising campaigns to reach donors. The platform’s AI features allow personalized communication for donor experience. With AI analytics, you can track campaign success and make informed adjustments. These capabilities make MobileCause a good choice for mobile fundraising campaigns, offering tools for engagement.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include mobile-friendly donation pages that increase accessibility for donors. The platform offers real-time reporting to keep you updated on campaign progress. Additionally, MobileCause provides event management tools to coordinate fundraising events.

Integrations include Salesforce, Blackbaud, PayPal, QuickBooks, Eventbrite, Mailchimp, Google Analytics, Facebook, Twitter, and Constant Contact.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Real-time reporting features
  • AI-driven campaign analytics
  • Mobile fundraising tools

Cons:

  • Requires initial setup time
  • Higher cost for small nonprofits

Best for corporate partnerships

  • Free

Pledge is a fundraising platform that focuses on integrating charitable giving into corporate and consumer activities. Its main users are businesses and nonprofits looking to build partnerships and increase their social impact, with AI tools for donation processes and engagement.

Why I picked Pledge: Pledge's AI features help you manage corporate partnerships, providing insights into donation trends and impact. The platform uses AI-driven tools to facilitate integration of charities into corporate events and activities. With AI-powered analytics, you can measure the success of these partnerships and adjust strategies accordingly. These capabilities make Pledge a good choice for organizations seeking to develop their corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include customizable donation widgets that allow businesses to integrate giving into their platforms. The platform offers impact reporting to help you understand the outcomes of your initiatives. Additionally, Pledge provides easy setup for fundraising campaigns to engage donors.

Integrations include Shopify, Salesforce, Eventbrite, Zoom, Squarespace, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Slack, Mailchimp, and QuickBooks.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Customizable donation widgets
  • AI-driven impact analytics
  • Good for corporate partnerships

Cons:

  • Requires integration setup
  • $5/month disbursement fee

Best for multi-campus churches

  • Free demo available
  • from $149/month

SecureGive is a donation platform tailored for multi-campus churches, offering tools for online, mobile, and kiosk giving. Its main users are church administrators who need a centralized solution to manage donations across multiple locations, with AI donor engagement and management.

Why I picked SecureGive: SecureGive's AI capabilities help you analyze donation trends across various campuses to make data-driven decisions. The platform’s AI tools offer personalized communication with donors for engagement. SecureGive's kiosk feature integrates with AI to provide a smooth donation experience at physical locations. 

Standout features & integrations:

Features include customizable donation options that fit the unique needs of each campus. The platform provides detailed reporting that helps you track and analyze giving patterns. Additionally, SecureGive offers event management tools to coordinate church activities.

Integrations include Planning Center, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, FellowshipOne, ACS Technologies, Shelby Systems, Pushpay, QuickBooks, PayPal, and Stripe.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Detailed reporting features
  • Customizable donation options
  • Centralized donation management

Cons:

  • Limited mobile app functionality
  • Setup can be time-consuming

Best for SMS marketing campaigns

  • Free demo available
  • Pricing upon request

Tatango is an SMS marketing platform focused on helping businesses create and manage text message campaigns. Its main users are marketers seeking to enhance customer engagement, with AI capabilities providing insights into campaign performance and optimization.

Why I picked Tatango: Tatango's AI features help you analyze user interactions and plan message timing for better engagement with your text-to-give campaign. The platform uses AI-driven analytics to provide insights into campaign effectiveness, allowing for data-driven adjustments. With AI-powered segmentation, you can target specific audience groups more accurately. These capabilities make Tatango good for SMS marketing campaigns, offering insights and targeting.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include message scheduling that allows you to plan campaigns in advance, ensuring timely delivery. The platform offers detailed reporting to help you understand campaign performance and make data-driven decisions. It offers text-to-donate features directly through short codes, as well as other give tools like an online donation form, and recurring giving subscriptions. Additionally, Tatango provides compliance tools to ensure your messages meet industry regulations.

Integrations include Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, Mailchimp, Constant Contact, Zapier, Shopify, Google Analytics, Facebook, and Twitter.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Advanced audience segmentation
  • Detailed performance reporting
  • AI-driven campaign insights

Cons:

  • Requires technical setup for integration
  • Higher cost for small businesses

Other Text to Give Platforms

Here are some additional text to give platforms options that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:

  1. Snowball Fundraising

    For simple donation setup

  2. Donorbox

    For recurring donations

  3. SimpleTexting

    For SMS-based engagement

  4. Givecloud

    For personalized donor experiences

  5. Kila

    For data-driven fundraising

  6. GiveWP

    For WordPress integration

  7. Bonterra

    For scalable nonprofit solutions

Text to Give Platform Selection Criteria

When selecting the best text to give platforms to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like ease of setup and donor engagement. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair: 

Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:

  • Collect donations via text
  • Provide donor receipts
  • Support recurring donations
  • Track donation history
  • Integrate with CRM systems

Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:

  • AI-driven donor insights
  • Personalized donor communication
  • Multi-channel donation options
  • Advanced analytics and reporting
  • Customizable donation forms

Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:

  • Intuitive user interface
  • Easy navigation
  • Minimal learning curve
  • Consistent design aesthetic
  • Accessible support resources

Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:

  • Availability of training videos
  • Interactive product tours
  • Comprehensive setup guides
  • Access to webinars
  • Supportive chatbots

Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:

  • 24/7 support availability
  • Responsive live chat
  • Comprehensive help center
  • Email support
  • Phone support options

Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:

  • Competitive pricing
  • Transparent pricing structure
  • Scalability of plans
  • Features included in base plans
  • Discounts for nonprofits

Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:

  • Overall satisfaction ratings
  • Feedback on ease of use
  • Comments on feature effectiveness
  • Reports on customer support experience
  • Value perception among users

How to Choose Text to Give Platforms

It’s easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here’s a checklist of factors to keep in mind:

FactorWhat to Consider
ScalabilityWill the platform grow with your church's donation needs? Consider if it's suitable for both small and large-scale fundraising events.
IntegrationsDoes it easily connect with your existing CRM or accounting software? Look for seamless data transfer to avoid manual entry.
CustomizabilityCan you tailor donation forms and communication to fit your church's branding? Ensure flexibility in design and messaging.
Ease of useIs the platform intuitive for both your team and donors? Test the user interface to ensure it's straightforward and accessible.
Implementation and onboardingHow long does it take to get up and running? Evaluate the availability of training materials and support during the initial setup phase.
CostDoes the pricing fit your budget? Check for hidden fees and compare plans to find the best value for your church's needs.
Security safeguardsAre donor data and transactions secure? Verify encryption standards and compliance with data protection regulations.
Support availabilityIs help accessible when you need it? Consider the availability of customer support through various channels like chat, email, or phone.

What Are Text to Give Platforms?

Text to give platforms are digital tools that enable donors to contribute to causes via text messaging. These tools are commonly used by nonprofit professionals and church managers to facilitate quick and easy donations, enhancing donor engagement and fundraising efforts. AI capabilities like donor behavior analysis, personalized communication, and automated reminders help with improving donation efficiency and engagement. Overall, these platforms simplify the donation process and boost fundraising success.

Features

When selecting text to give platforms, keep an eye out for the following key features:

  • AI-driven donor insights: Analyzes donor behavior to improve engagement and retention.
  • Personalized communication: Sends tailored messages to donors, enhancing their experience.
  • Automated reminders: Keeps donors informed and engaged with scheduled notifications.
  • Real-time reporting: Provides instant updates on fundraising progress and donor activity.
  • Customizable donation forms: Allows adaptation to match your organization's branding and needs.
  • Recurring donation support: Facilitates ongoing contributions for sustained fundraising.
  • Multi-channel donation options: Offers flexibility with text, online, and mobile giving.
  • Data integration capabilities: Ensures seamless connection with existing CRM and accounting tools.
  • Security safeguards: Protects donor data with encryption and compliance with data regulations.
  • Event management tools: Assists in organizing and managing fundraising events efficiently.

Benefits

Implementing text to give platforms provides several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:

  • Increased donor engagement: AI-driven insights help tailor communication, making donors feel valued.
  • Simplified donation process: Text-based giving makes contributing quick and easy for donors.
  • Enhanced fundraising efficiency: Automated reminders and real-time reporting keep campaigns on track.
  • Improved donor retention: Personalized communication and recurring donation support foster long-term relationships.
  • Flexible donation options: Multi-channel capabilities offer donors more ways to contribute.
  • Data-driven decision making: Real-time analytics provide valuable insights for optimizing fundraising strategies.
  • Secure transactions: Advanced security safeguards protect donor information and build trust.

Costs and Pricing of Text to Give Platforms

Selecting text to give platforms requires an understanding of the various pricing models and plans available. Costs vary based on features, team size, add-ons, and more. The table below summarizes common plans, their average prices, and typical features included in text to give platforms solutions:

Plan Comparison Table for Text to Give Platforms

Plan TypeAverage PriceCommon Features
Free Plan$0Basic donation collection, limited customization, and basic reporting.
Personal Plan$10-$30/monthEnhanced customization, recurring donations, and basic analytics.
Business Plan$50-$100/monthAdvanced analytics, multi-channel support, and personalized communication.
Enterprise Plan$150-$300/monthAI-driven insights, full integration options, and dedicated support services.

Text to Give Platforms FAQs

Here are some answers to common questions about text to give platforms:

How secure are text to give platforms?

Yes, text to give platforms is generally secure. They use encryption to protect donor data and transactions. Look for platforms that comply with data protection regulations like GDPR or CCPA. Always check if the platform provides secure payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe. It’s essential to ensure your donors’ information stays safe and builds trust with your organization.

Can text to give platforms integrate with existing CRM systems?

Yes, many text to give platforms offer integrations with popular CRM systems. This integration helps you keep track of donor data and manage relationships efficiently. Before choosing a platform, confirm that it supports seamless integration with your existing tools, like Salesforce or Blackbaud, to streamline your workflow.

Are there options for customizing donor communications?

Yes, most platforms allow you to customize donor communications. This feature lets you tailor messages to fit your organization’s branding and tone. You can personalize thank-you notes, donation receipts, and campaign updates to enhance donor engagement. Check if the platform supports automated messaging for efficiency.

How do text to give platforms handle recurring donations?

Text to give platforms often support recurring donations. This feature allows donors to set up regular contributions, ensuring steady funding for your organization. Platforms typically offer options for monthly, quarterly, or annual donations. Make sure to choose a platform that simplifies the process for both you and your donors.

What kind of analytics do text-to-give fundraising platforms provide?

Text to give platforms typically offer analytics to track campaign performance. You can view metrics like total donations, donor retention rates, and engagement levels. These insights help you make informed decisions and optimize your fundraising strategies. Look for platforms with real-time reporting for up-to-date data.

What’s Next:

If you're in the process of researching text to give platforms, connect with a SoftwareSelect advisor for free recommendations.

You fill out a form and have a quick chat where they get into the specifics of your needs. Then you'll get a shortlist of software to review. They'll even support you through the entire buying process, including price negotiations.

Joshua Gordon
By Joshua Gordon

Joshua Gordon is a lay-pastor, author, and senior editor of TheLeadPastor.com. Over the last two decades, Josh has worked closely with pastors and other christian leaders, helping them to sharpen and elevate their messages. Today, Joshua pastors at New Life Fellowship, a thriving church he helped plant in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.