Set Up Automated Text Messages

Automated text messages let you reach donors by SMS the moment something happens — a gift comes in, an event registration completes, a recurring payment fails, and so on. Instead of sending texts manually, you can attach a text message to a trigger so WeGive sends it automatically whenever that event occurs.

This article walks through setting up an automated (triggered) text message in Dashboard v2.

Before you start

A few things need to be in place before automated texts will send:

Your organization must have a phone number to send from. SMS goes out from a phone number owned by your organization. If your account doesn't have a number provisioned yet, your texts will not send. You can set up your phone numbers under Settings > Phone Numbers in your dashboard.

Donors must be opted in to receive texts. WeGive only sends an automated text to donors who have SMS notifications enabled and who are not marked "do not SMS." Donors who reply STOP (or otherwise opt out) are automatically flagged and will stop receiving texts going forward. Keep this in mind when you look at why a given donor didn't receive a message. WeGive recommends using a different phone number for marketing texts than verification codes, so your donors don't opt out of verification codes.

You need a trigger to attach the message to. A trigger is the event that causes the message to send (for example, a donation being made or an email engagement event). The automated text is created in the context of a trigger.

Step 1: Open the trigger

Navigate to Triggers in Dashboard v2 and open the trigger you want to send a text for. The trigger represents the event that will set the message off.

Step 2: Create a new message on the trigger

From the trigger's detail page, choose Create Message. This opens the message editor with the message already categorized as triggered and linked to the trigger you came from, so you don't have to reselect it.

Step 3: Choose Text as the delivery method

In the message editor, set the delivery method to Text (rather than Email).

Choosing Text tells WeGive to send the message as an SMS from your organization's phone number. (If you choose Email instead, you'll be asked to pick a send-from email address — that path is for email automations, not texts.)

Step 4: Write your message content

Enter the text your donors will receive. A few things to keep in mind for SMS:

• Keep it short. Texts are best kept concise, and longer messages may be split or rejected by carriers. Write only what the donor needs.

• Personalization variables are supported. You can insert merge variables (such as the donor's first name) so each text is personalized. Set fallback values where it makes sense, so the message still reads well if a donor is missing that piece of information.

• Formatting is stripped. SMS is plain text, so any rich formatting is converted to plain text before sending.

Step 5: Set the audience filters (optional)

By default the message can go to everyone the trigger fires for. If you only want a subset of donors to receive it, add audience filters to narrow the recipients — for example, only donors in a particular segment or with certain attributes.

You can also add trigger filters to control which specific events qualify (for example, only donations above a certain amount). Some trigger types require a filter to be set before the message can be saved; if that applies, the editor will prompt you.

Step 6: Set the timing

Choose when the text should go out relative to the trigger:

• Immediately — send as soon as the trigger fires.

• Delayed — wait a set amount of time after the trigger before sending (useful for follow-ups, reminders, or thank-yous that shouldn't land instantly).

If you choose a delay, enter the delay amount. Leaving the delay value empty is treated as no delay.

Step 7: Save as a draft

Save the message. While it's a draft, it is attached to the trigger but will not send automatically yet. This gives you a chance to review the content, audience, and timing before anything goes out to real donors.

Step 8: Review and send a test

Before going live, review the message and, where possible, send yourself a test so you can see exactly how the text will read on a phone — including how personalization variables fill in. Confirm the from-number, content, audience, and timing all look right.

Step 9: Set the message live

When you're confident, change the message status from Draft to Live. Once it's live, WeGive will automatically send the text to qualifying, opted-in donors every time the trigger fires.

Managing and editing automated texts

You can return to the trigger at any time to view the messages attached to it, preview what was sent, edit content or audience, and pause a message by setting it back to draft. Editing a live message updates it going forward — it does not resend to donors who already received it.

Compliance and opt-outs

WeGive respects SMS opt-outs automatically. If a donor replies STOP or is otherwise opted out, they're flagged as "do not SMS" and excluded from future automated texts — you don't have to manage that list manually. You're responsible for making sure the donors you text have consented to receive SMS from your organization, in line with your messaging program's terms and applicable regulations.

Troubleshooting

A donor didn't get the text. Check whether the donor has SMS notifications enabled, has a valid mobile number on file, and isn't flagged as "do not SMS." Also confirm the message is set to Live (not draft) and that the donor actually matched the trigger and audience filters.

No texts are sending at all. Confirm your organization has an SMS phone number provisioned. Without a sending number, SMS cannot go out. Contact WeGive Support if you need help setting up your number.

The message looks different than I formatted it. SMS is plain text only; rich formatting is removed before sending. Preview with a test send to see the final result.