June 1 a New Day for Text2Give
If your church or nonprofit organization uses Text2Give to receive donations, a shift in how messages are sent and received is coming on June 1. The good news? These changes are meant to improve security and reliability. The not-so-good news? You may need to do a little prep to stay compliant and keep your text-to-donate campaigns running smoothly.
Goodbye Shortcodes, Hello Toll-Free Numbers
For years, Text2Give platforms have used shortcodes, those five- or six-digit numbers like “51555” to send and receive donation texts. Mobile carriers are phasing out shortcodes in favor of toll-free numbers like 800-xxx-xxxx, 888-xxx-xxxx, or 877-xxx-xxxx. Why the switch?
Toll-free numbers are more secure, easier to manage, and offer better message delivery rates. They also allow for better tracking and lower the chances that your message will be marked as spam. That’s a big deal when your fundraising relies on texts actually reaching your donors.
What Happens on June 1
Your Text2Give Number May Change. If your current campaigns use a shortcode, you’ll likely be assigned a new toll-free number if you do not have one already. That means you’ll need to update any printed materials, social media posts, or websites that include your old text-to-give instructions.
Keywords Still Work but Messages Must Follow New Rules. While your donation keywords like “GIVE” or “HELP” will still be used, the way messages are structured is changing. Your texts will now need to include explicit opt-in language, donation terms, data rates info, and opt-out instructions such as “Text STOP to cancel.”
All Campaigns Must Be Verified. To reduce spam and fraud, your toll-free number must be verified and registered with carriers before it can send messages. If this step isn’t completed, your messages might get blocked — or never delivered at all.
Don’t Snooze on Compliance
If you haven’t heard from your Text2Give provider yet, talk to your Auxilio Partner Strategist. They’ll help you switch to a toll-free number, adjust your messaging templates, and make sure your campaign is verified and ready to go by June 1.
If you’re not yet an Auxilio client partner, contact us to learn how we can serve your church or faith-based nonprofit and reduce your administrative burden. That’s how we, as we say, “multiply your ministry.”