Are You Realizing The Power Of Texting?

Peer-to-peer fundraising programs are blessed with many highly committed supporters, but even getting through to them with important messages can be extremely difficult. (On average only one out of four commercial emails from nonprofits were opened in 2020 according to Campaign Monitor.)

Text message campaigns, on the other hand, are said to enjoy open rates exceeding 95%. Those kinds of performance statistics have many program leaders interested in exploring text messaging.

To help peer-to-peer fundraising professionals better understand text messaging as a communications channel, Hustle recently published a white paper entitled “Leveraging Personalized Text Messaging To Enhance Peer-To-Peer Fundraising” produced in partnership with the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum.

The white paper suggests five ways in which nonprofits can strengthen their peer-to-peer fundraising efforts such as recruiting past participants, promoting rewards and incentives, coaching team captains, and incorporating video.

In the past, bulk text messaging services relied on technology that blasted text announcements and fundraising appeals sent from five-digit, short-code numbers rather than traditional phone numbers. While these platforms could help nonprofits reach large numbers of supporters, they also had some major drawbacks. Short-code numbers were often ignored by those receiving the messages, many of whom thought they were receiving spam. In addition, platforms didn’t offer the opportunity to engage in true two-way conversations.

Such barriers can be struck down thanks to the rise of peer-to-peer texting tools like Hustle.

Texting platforms enable users to message hundreds or even thousands of recipients from more recognizable, long-code phone numbers. Recipients can reply to the texts and have individual conversations with senders. This ability to have real-time conversations offers a personalized experience that, in turn, provides valuable insights to organizations managing campaigns.

The Alzheimer’s Association has used personalized texting to recruit past participants to great effect. “It’s been really enlightening to see the information that people share through text,” remarked Noel Beebe, the association's senior director for digital fundraising and constituent events. “You get a lot of personal insights that can be really helpful as you try to build a relationship.”

Click here to download a free copy of “Leveraging Personalized Text Messaging to Enhance Peer-to-Peer Fundraising.”