How to Use Text-to-Give in Panorama

Text-to-Give is a powerful fundraising tool that enables donors to support their favorite organization with just a text—no need to enter a URL. This simple and convenient approach taps into the everyday use of mobile phones, allowing supporters to donate quickly, anytime and anywhere.

With Panorama, organizations can boost engagement and drive donations directly to their campaign forms using the effortless Text-to-Give method.

Let’s learn:

• How it works
• Enable text-to-give for a donation form or campaign
• Reassign text-to-give keywords to other donation forms or campaigns
• Report on donations captured through text-to-give

Terms to know:

Text-to-Give: A seamless way for supporters to contribute directly through their mobile devices. With just a text, donors are guided to a secure online platform where they can easily complete their donation. It’s a quick and convenient method that empowers individuals to support the cause anytime, anywhere.

Keyword: The magic word that makes giving easy. A keyword is a unique term or phrase that donors text to a specified number to initiate their donation. It’s the key to simplifying the donation process, ensuring a fast and straightforward experience for supporters.

Text-to-Give Messaging: The message that makes a difference. When a donor texts the keyword, they instantly receive an automated reply with a brief, compelling message and a direct link to the donation form or campaign page. It’s the perfect way to keep the momentum going and guide donors to complete their contributions effortlessly.

How it works

Supporters simply text 202-999-3805 along with the organization’s unique keyword. In response, they’ll instantly receive a customized message tailored to the campaign, complete with a direct link to the donation page where they can finalize their contribution effortlessly.

Check out this article for creative ways to incorporate text-to-give into the promotion plan, helping to attract new donors and effortlessly engage existing supporters.

Enable Text-to-Give to a donation form or campaign  

Create the keyword under the Text-to-Give menu of the Donation form/Campaign. A menu option will appear on the left-hand side of the screen for any of the organization's active or new donation or campaign pages: 

Choose “Text-to-Give" to configure the keyword. The next screen provides the option to update the keyword and Text-to-Give messaging, along with clear instructions on testing the message.

Type the Keyword in the box and choose the check mark to save. If the keyword is already in use, the user will receive the following error message:

If the keyword isn’t in use the user will see the following and the word will save and update: 

Keyword Tips:

• Keywords must be unique across all Panorama Customers. Once you have successfully secured a keyword, you can re-use it for other donation forms or campaigns in the future.  
• Keywords can include letters, numbers, and hyphens, with a maximum of 16 characters and no spaces. Since keywords are visible to a broad audience, choose them carefully—avoid any derogatory or inappropriate language.

Easily customize the text response donors receive after texting the keyword. To personalize the default message, simply click the pencil icon.

Once the response has been edited or a new message is typed in, click the check mark next to the text box to save it (as shown below). The message can be up to 200 characters, and the URL for the donation form or campaign will be automatically included at the end.

After saving the message, click Preview to see the message as it will appear when someone texts your Keyword.

Text Response Tip: For best results, always test your keyword from your own mobile device to ensure the response looks exactly as intended.

Reassigning a Keyword to a different Donation Form or Campaign

Reusing a keyword for new campaigns or donation forms can be highly effective. After a campaign ends, ensure that supporters who text the keyword from your promotional materials still have the opportunity to contribute by redirecting the keyword to your main donation form. This approach is also ideal for annual appeals and recurring events, such as Giving Tuesday or awareness days, where using the same keyword year after year keeps your messaging consistent and streamlined.

To do this, go to the Accounts Menu then select Keywords. 

A list of all of your Keywords will appear with their assigned projects. To re-assign a Keyword, Click on the Keyword in the list. A modal will appear on the right-hand side of the screen. 

Select Edit to make any changes to the project the keyword points to. 

From here, you’re able to change the project the Keyword points to. 

Click Save to update any changes made on this page.

Tip: After re-assigning the keyword to a different donation form or campaign, you will want to Edit the Text response in that project.

Report on donations captured through text-to-give

Option 1: Within a Campaign Project or Donation Form

To see which donations came from your text-to-give promotions, click Donations on the left-hand menu of your project. There is a dedicated column indicating if the donation came from your text-to-give keyword:

Option 2: Within Donor Management

There can also be a Payment SmartList created. Please follow these steps in the Donor Management Tool:

• Select SmartLists.
• Click on Create a SmartList.
• Choose Blank to start from scratch.
• Select Donations & Payments.
• Click on Edit Columns.
• Add the following columns: (Note: You can add more columns based on the data you want to view.
• Display Name
• Amount Received
• Appeal

To filter the data so that it only displays donations made through Text-to-Give:

• Select Filter Data
• Add Filter Set
• On the Dropdown, select Appeal
• Select “is in”
• Select “Tex-to-Give"
• Click on Apply Changes

Tip: Make sure to name the SmartList before saving. 

Option 3: Donor Record

To understand which donations someone has made via Text-to-Give in donor management, select Gifts from the Donor Management Menu.

Find Constituent and then navigate to the Payment Screen. On the payment screen the user will see that Text-to-Give underneath the appeal Drop down list (shown below).