Givebutter's commitment to free fundraising tools: Why texting moved to Givebutter Plus

At Givebutter, our mission has always been to empower nonprofits and fundraisers with the best tools possible, while maintaining a commitment to offering core features for free. We understand that recent changes—specifically the move of our texting feature from the free plan to Givebutter Plus—have raised concerns among some of our users. We want to be transparent about why this change was necessary and reaffirm our dedication to providing free fundraising tools.

Why did we move texting to Givebutter Plus?

The decision to move texting to Givebutter Plus was not made lightly. Texting has become a vital tool for many fundraisers, but over the past year, there have been significant changes in carrier regulations and the costs associated with sending SMS and MMS messages.

Carrier policy changes

In 2023, major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile implemented new policies through the A2P 10DLC (Application-to-Person 10-digit long code) framework. This system requires organizations to register their messaging campaigns to comply with anti-spam regulations. The new rules involve additional fees, including a one-time registration fee (ranging from $4–$10) and ongoing monthly fees for campaign approval, typically $3-10 per campaign. Additionally, carriers have introduced surcharges for each message sent, ranging from $0.003 to $0.01 per SMS depending on the carrier.

MMS costs

For campaigns that use multimedia messaging (MMS), the costs are even higher. MMS messages, which include images, can cost anywhere from $0.02 to $0.05 per message. While MMS is a powerful way to engage supporters, the significantly higher costs make it particularly challenging to maintain as a free offering, given the volume of messages sent by nonprofits on our platform.

Increased costs

Between registration fees, surcharges, and per-message fees, texting campaigns have become significantly more expensive. For example, sending 1,000 SMS messages can now cost between $30 and $60, while 1,000 MMS messages could cost as much as $50 to $100, depending on the carrier distribution and message type. When scaled across thousands of organizations, these fees become unsustainable to cover under the free plan without impacting our ability to offer other free services.

The benefits of upgrading to Givebutter Plus

While the move of texting to Givebutter Plus reflects the increased costs of SMS and MMS, it also comes with a host of other benefits for your fundraising efforts. By upgrading to Givebutter Plus, you gain access to a suite of advanced features designed to help you raise more, engage more, and save time:

• Automated workflows: Automate repetitive tasks with pre-built and custom workflows, saving time and ensuring consistency in your communications.
• Task management: Manage all your tasks in one place, link associated data, and automate reminders to stay on top of your fundraising activities.
• Advanced email editor: Impress your supporters with a drag-and-drop email editor and a library of beautiful templates that make every email campaign stand out.
• Discounted direct mail: Launch direct mail campaigns at a reduced rate, straight from your dashboard, providing another powerful way to reach donors.
• Custom reports: Track your performance with automated reporting delivered directly to your inbox, keeping you informed on your campaign’s impact.
• Expanded data visualizations: Get a clear view of your fundraising efforts over time with dynamic, customizable visualizations that help you make data-driven decisions.
• Data hygiene: Ensure your donor information is always accurate with address verification, error detection, and other data hygiene tools.
• File uploads: Store essential documents like waivers, sponsorship forms, and participant content directly on contact profiles for easy access and organization.

Givebutter Plus is designed to offer a higher level of control and customization for organizations that are looking to scale their impact, and the transition of texting to this tier aligns with that goal.

A grace period for current users

We understand that some of our users have already incorporated texting as a crucial part of their fundraising strategy. To help with this transition, we are offering 12 months of free access to our texting feature for all current users of the free plan who have actively used texting in their campaigns.

This grace period will allow you to continue benefiting from the feature while you explore the best plan that meets your needs moving forward. Our goal is to make this shift as smooth as possible while maintaining the high level of service you expect from Givebutter.

Our ongoing commitment to free tools

It’s important to emphasize that Givebutter remains fully committed to providing free and powerful fundraising tools. Our platform offers a wide range of free features—such as donation forms, fundraising pages, peer-to-peer campaigns, and more—that will always be available at no cost. We believe that everyone should have access to the tools they need to raise money for their cause, regardless of their budget.

Moving texting to Givebutter Plus allows us to continue innovating and improving our platform without compromising the quality of service we offer for free. We will not be making any broad, sweeping changes to our free plan, and we’re constantly working to ensure that nonprofits and fundraisers can succeed without barriers.

Looking forward

We know that fundraising is hard work, and we want to make it easier for you, not harder. While we recognize that change can be challenging, we hope you understand that this decision allows us to provide the best possible tools and service for all our users. As always, we value your feedback, and we’re here to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you for being a part of the Givebutter community. We’re excited to continue growing with you and providing the tools you need to make an impact in the world. 💛