Giving Tuesday has grown into the world’s largest day of generosity, uniting millions of people across the globe. In 2024, Giving Tuesday generated record-breaking results, with $3.6 billion donated in the U.S. alone—and text messaging played a central role in helping nonprofits cut through the noise, mobilize donors, and drive urgent gifts.
In this guide, you’ll find 25+ examples of Giving Tuesday text messages to inspire your next campaign, plus insights from Tatango case studies to show how leading nonprofits get results with SMS. Here’s what we’ll cover:
Jump to any section if you’re looking for specific inspiration, or explore the full guide to learn about all the ways text messages can strengthen your Giving Tuesday strategy.
Why Send Text Messages on Giving Tuesday?
Text messaging is one of the most powerful Giving Tuesday fundraising channels available. It allows you to deliver personal messages almost instantly, cut through the noise of cluttered email inboxes and social media feeds, and ensure that supporters read your calls to action. Texts are short and sweet, so they don’t take up too much of your donors’ time—leading to faster action and more donations.
SMS has been proven to drive better fundraising results for urgent campaigns like Giving Tuesday. In Tatango’s 2024 Texting Insights Report, we found that:
- 90% of texts are opened within 3 minutes.
- Texts sent on Giving Tuesday saw 84% higher conversion rates than emails.
- Nonprofits using SMS alongside email and social campaigns saw double-digit revenue lifts compared to single-channel strategies.
Ultimately, SMS belongs at the center of your Giving Tuesday strategy because of these core benefits:
Speed & Urgency
Giving Tuesday is a 24-hour sprint, and SMS is the fastest way to get your message in front of donors. Texting allows you to reach opted-in supporters instantly with time-sensitive appeals, reminders to give before the deadline, and announcements about donation matches. With direct links to your donation page, text recipients can give in just a few clicks.
99% Open Rates
No other channel guarantees visibility like text messaging. While emails may linger unopened or go straight to recipients’ trash, texts are almost always seen. You can rest assured that supporters will open your messages and see your urgent appeals before midnight.
Cost-Effectiveness
Compared to direct mail or paid ads, SMS costs are low. For a fraction of the cost, you can reach many more supporters in a short time—with a mass texting service, you can send thousands of messages in seconds.
Ease of Mobile Giving
By using text-to-give and including links to mobile-friendly donation forms, you can make donating as frictionless as possible for supporters. All they have to do is click the link and fill out your streamlined donation form to make their mark on your campaign.
25+ Giving Tuesday Text Messages That Work
The following text message examples cover different stages of Giving Tuesday communication—before, during, and after. Feel free to adapt them to fit your nonprofit’s mission, tone, and branding, or just use them as inspiration.
Texts to Send Before Giving Tuesday
Leading up to your campaign, use text messages to build anticipation, secure early pledges, and confirm your donors know about Giving Tuesday. Share the date, and emphasize the importance of this campaign for meeting your year-end fundraising goals and furthering your mission.
In the weeks before Giving Tuesday, you might send the following texts:
- “Giving Tuesday is almost here! Mark your calendar for Nov 25 and help us reach more families in need.”
- “This Giving Tuesday (Nov 25!), your gift will be doubled thanks to a generous $50K match! Will you join us?”
- “Want to be the first to make your mark on Giving Tuesday? Reply YES and we’ll send you an early access link.”
- “Your generosity powers our mission. Giving Tuesday is just 5 days away—get ready to make a difference in the fight for clean water.”
- “Ready to be a part of a global generosity movement? Follow us on Instagram to gear up for Giving Tuesday, coming Nov 25!”
Day-Of Giving Tuesday Messages
These are the most important texts of your campaign—the ones that drive real-time donations. Keep day-of Giving Tuesday text messages short, urgent, and clear. Include abbreviated links to your donation page, and don’t be afraid to get creative with multimedia to draw more attention to your messages.
Day-of text messages might look like:
- “Today is Giving Tuesday! Every $1 helps provide 3 meals for Clayton County kids in need. Donate now to help us reach our goal: https://www.tatango.com/blog/giving-tuesday-text-messages/”
- “It’s here: a day of global generosity with 24 hours to give. Help us unlock a $25K match by donating to Wildlife Warriors before midnight! https://www.tatango.com/blog/giving-tuesday-text-messages/”
- “Generosity starts with you. Join our Giving Tuesday campaign today and double your impact for children in need: https://www.tatango.com/blog/giving-tuesday-text-messages/”
- “We’re 75% of the way to our fundraising goal! Can you help us cross the finish line by midnight? Donate here: https://www.tatango.com/blog/giving-tuesday-text-messages/”
- “This Giving Tuesday, we’ve received 720 donations and counting! Give $10, $30, or $50 here https://www.tatango.com/blog/giving-tuesday-text-messages/ to help us hit 1000 gifts!”
These example messages are just a snapshot of what the content you can send on Giving Tuesday. To see how one successful nonprofit approaches Giving Tuesday texts, check out our real-life example from Boys Town:
In this example, Boys Town used emojis, bolded texts, personalization, and links to get supporters’ attention for their time-sensitive campaign. They emphasized that if supporters give by the deadline, they can receive a match and double their impact. Plus, they included a photo of a beneficiary, highlighting the change donors make when they contribute.
By the end of their campaign, Boys Town increased mobile donations by 46% and achieved a 59% donation form conversion rate.
Countdown Texts
Countdowns, fundraising thermometers, and other reminders create urgency and motivate last-minute giving. Use text messages like the examples below to encourage enough donations before your Giving Tuesday deadline:
- “⏰ Only 3 hours left to give on Giving Tuesday! Help us reach our $20,000 goal—give here before midnight! https://www.tatango.com/blog/giving-tuesday-text-messages/”
- “1 HOUR LEFT! There’s still time to get your gift matched and make 2x the impact! Give now before time runs out: https://www.tatango.com/blog/giving-tuesday-text-messages/”
- “Midnight is almost here. Be part of something bigger and help us improve our community—it’s your last chance to give today! https://www.tatango.com/blog/giving-tuesday-text-messages/”
- “We’re halfway through Giving Tuesday and still $5,000 away from our goal. Can you help us close the gap before midnight? Donate here: https://www.tatango.com/blog/giving-tuesday-text-messages/”
- “Final reminder: Giving Tuesday ends in 30 minutes! Donate to the Miracle Worker Collective to give hope now: https://www.tatango.com/blog/giving-tuesday-text-messages/”
For extra momentum, include a countdown GIF or graphic like our example Giving Tuesday appeal below:
Story-Driven Giving Tuesday Text Messages
Storytelling makes your appeals more engaging and personal by evoking positive emotions. Even though nonprofit texts are short, you can still use storytelling strategies to pull on donors’ heartstrings. Include names, faces, data, and short impact statements like these example messages:
- “Meet Maria. Last year, she found safe housing through your support. This Giving Tuesday, help another family find the life-changing security that Maria has: https://www.tatango.com/blog/giving-tuesday-text-messages/”
- “Your generosity and the gifts of donors like you gave James his first scholarship. Imagine what you can do today with our 2x Giving Tuesday match: https://www.tatango.com/blog/giving-tuesday-text-messages/”
- “Every child deserves a healthy start to their day. Make a gift before midnight today and be a part of a movement that changes futures: https://www.tatango.com/blog/giving-tuesday-text-messages/”
- “Pictures say it all—see how your Giving Tuesday gift brings smiles to children in need: [MMS image]”
- “One donor’s story: ‘I give because I know it works.’ Read Linda’s story and join us in making a difference today: https://www.tatango.com/blog/giving-tuesday-text-messages/”
Giving Tuesday Thank-You Texts
Don’t stop when the clock strikes midnight. Thanking donors quickly after Giving Tuesday ends builds loyalty and sets the stage for more year-end giving. Try sending donor recognition text messages like:
- “You did it! Thanks to you, we raised $100K on Giving Tuesday to build a more sustainable future. Together, we’re unstoppable.”
- “Delilah, your generosity yesterday helped 500 kids get warm meals. Thank you for being part of this movement. ❤️”
- “From all of us: thank you for giving on #GivingTuesday. We couldn’t do it without you! Stay tuned for stories of the lives you’ve changed.”
- “Great news, Deborah. Yesterday, we soared past our fundraising goal and raised $50,780! Thank you for making Giving Tuesday a record success.”
- “Your kindness inspires us every day. It’s thanks to donors like you that we can continue to fight for climate justice. Thank you for standing with us this Giving Tuesday.”
Send Mass Giving Tuesday Text Appeals with Tatango
Executing a successful Giving Tuesday SMS campaign requires more than compelling copy. You need an efficient, trusted way to send text messages quickly and track their performance.
With Tatango’s texting service and easy-to-use platform, nonprofits get:
- Dedicated short codes to send texts at scale.
- AI-driven segmentation to personalize messages and improve deliverability.
- Power Segments that ensure iOS updates don’t block your messages.
- Full compliance support for TCPA, HIPAA, and SOC 2 Type 2.
- Analytics dashboards to track donations and message performance in real-time.
From building out your contact list to analyzing successful campaigns, Tatango supports your SMS campaigns end-to-end. We’re the #1 texting solution for nonprofits, with over $600,000 raised through our platform.
Contact our team to make the most of text messages—not just on Giving Tuesday, but throughout all your fundraising campaigns year-round.
Achieving Your Fundraising Goals with Giving Tuesday Messages
Giving Tuesday is a one-day giving movement, but the impact lasts all year. SMS helps your nonprofit capture attention, inspire generosity, and build donor loyalty. By pairing powerful Giving Tuesday text messages with Tatango’s platform, you’ll unlock the potential to maximize donations and build a sustainable, multi-channel fundraising strategy.
Ready to power your Giving Tuesday with SMS? Check out these resources from the Tatango team to learn more:
Mike Snusz, Director of Nonprofit Customer Experience
Mike Snusz brings nearly two decades of digital fundraising expertise to his role as Director of Nonprofit Customer Experience at Tatango, the industry’s leading text messaging platform for nonprofits. A recognized thought leader in SMS fundraising, Mike regularly speaks at national conferences and contributes insights to resources like the Texting Insights Report and other nonprofit publications.
Before joining Tatango, Mike spent 15 years at Blackbaud, where he led a team of digital consultants helping nonprofits optimize their online giving, email marketing, peer-to-peer fundraising, and monthly giving programs.
He began his nonprofit career in Buffalo, NY, managing the Ride For Roswell from 2003 to 2005—an experience that continues to shape his commitment to helping mission-driven organizations thrive in a digital world.