By Evan Johnson, Content Manager at Mobile Commons – a mobile messaging platform purpose-built for nonprofits to spread their message and engage with supporters.

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Mobile messaging has evolved significantly over the past decade, especially within the nonprofit sector. While organizations have mainly used basic SMS for communications and fundraising, the explosion of smartphone technology and the proliferation of messaging apps have to diversify their approach to supporter engagement.

Today, text messaging platforms enable instant, direct interaction with wider audiences, facilitating greater fundraising, awareness campaigns, volunteer coordination, and real-time updates during crises. The open rate for text message marketing is a staggering 98%, which means almost every message you send out will be seen.

The integration of multimedia capabilities, such as video and photo sharing, has further enriched these interactions. Additionally, AI and chatbots have been increasingly employed for automated responses and personalized communication, helping nonprofits engage with supporters more efficiently.

We’ve also seen a shift towards data-driven strategies. More nonprofit organizations are investing in data analytics to tailor their strategies, campaigns, and messages for better engagement and increased impact. This evolution reflects a broader digital transformation in the nonprofit world, underlining the importance of adaptability and innovation in communication.

Advances in text messaging platforms continue to emerge, presenting continued engagement opportunities. Yet the cascade of innovations, updates, and upgrades can be overwhelming for even the most savvy nonprofit strategist. Here are five key trends to follow and adopt this fall.

1) The AI advantage

After decades of development, Artificial intelligence went mainstream in 2023—presenting clear marketing opportunities across all business sectors. Nonprofits can gain greater advantages thanks to AI’s efficiencies and scalability. Areas where AI can strengthen nonprofit mobile messaging include:

Advanced personalization through machine learning: AI-driven algorithms can analyze vast amounts of supporter behavior and preference data, enabling organizations to send hyper-personalized messages. By analyzing past interactions and patterns, AI can help tailor messages that resonate personally with each supporter, increasing the likelihood of engagement and donations.

Natural Language Processing (NLP) and chatbots: NLP allows AI to understand, interpret, and respond to human language naturally and engagingly—to create a more responsive and interactive experience. Nonprofits can use AI-powered chatbots in mobile messaging platforms to interact with supporters, answer questions, provide information, and even facilitate donations.

Predictive analytics for targeted campaigns: AI can predict future supporter behaviors by analyzing past actions. This predictive capability can help organizations identify supporters most likely to engage with content, respond to specific calls to action, or make donations. By tailoring campaigns to these supporters, nonprofits can deliver more effective mobile messaging.

Sentiment analysis for enhanced communication: Advanced AI tools can also evaluate the tone and mood of messages and responses—providing valuable insights into audience emotions and how they perceive content. Nonprofits can then adjust their messaging tone and strategy to align with their supporters’ sentiments, communicate more effectively, and build stronger relationships.

2) Easier, more efficient donations

Advancements in fintech are transforming commerce and accelerating fundraising. In the last year, donations made via mobile giving surged by 205%. Digital transactions are commonplace at retailers across the country now, so nonprofits can tap into this convenient method as people have become comfortable with it.

Organizations can strengthen their mobile messaging and outreach strategies by understanding emerging trends and adopting the right technology. By making the donation process more accessible, engaging, and secure for donors, they create greater donor engagement and higher fundraising levels.

Contactless and mobile payments: The rise of contactless payments, including NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, has made it easier for donors to give through mobile devices. This includes mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, which can be integrated into mobile donation platforms. By incorporating these platforms into mobile messaging campaigns, organizations can make the donation process as easy as a tap on the phone.

Social media integration: Although the platforms have changed over time, social media is a trend that hasn’t faded in popularity since the early days of MySpace and Friendster. Donation platforms are continuing to integrate more seamlessly with these channels. Features like donation stickers on Instagram or Facebook’s donation tool allow donors to give directly through social media apps. Mentioning or linking these options in mobile messages can capitalize on the impulse to donate while supporters engage with social media content.

Enhanced security with biometric verification: As mobile payments become more popular and seamless, ensuring security is paramount. Biometric verification methods like fingerprint and facial recognition are now integrated into mobile donation platforms to ensure secure transactions. This protects donors’ information and builds trust in the donation process—thus growing trust in the organization’s brand.

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In the ever-changing world of nonprofit fundraising, engaging with supporters and donors in meaningful ways is key. This guide is your roadmap to using mobile messaging to drive fundraising, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out. Using SMS for Nonprofit Fundraising walk you through everything from setting goals and crafting messages to activating your data and executing campaigns with precision.

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3) Effective, sustainable community-building

Nonprofit strategists know effective community-building is crucial for sustaining long-term support and engagement. New trends in community-building can significantly strengthen mobile messaging practices and help build stronger, more engaged communities.

Leveraging social media for engagement: There’s no question social media is a dominant force in community-building. Beyond broadcasting their messages, organizations are using these platforms to foster interactive communities—and integrating mobile messaging with social channels can enhance this. For example, sharing exclusive content, behind-the-scenes stories, or live updates via text messages can drive followers to a nonprofit’s social media pages, creating a more engaged online community.

Interactive and collaborative experiences: Creating interactive experiences through mobile messaging is another growing trend. This can include real-time Q&A sessions, polls, quizzes, and user-generated content initiatives. Such interactive elements not only engage supporters but also give them a voice, making them active participants in the community rather than passive receivers of information.

Storytelling and emotional connection: Effective storytelling remains a powerful tool for community-building. Nonprofits increasingly use mobile messaging to share impactful stories that connect supporters emotionally to the cause. These stories can be about the people they help, the progress they’ve made, or the challenges they face. Such narratives create a sense of shared purpose and deepen the emotional bonds within the community.

4) Using your CRM as an election prep tool

Integrating your CRM (Customer Relationship Management) platform with your mobile messaging strategy is crucial for effective communication and engagement—especially if you’ll be running campaigns around the 2024 election. The synergy between CRM and text messaging streamlines outreach efforts and enhances the ability to engage and mobilize supporters efficiently.

Segmentation for targeted messaging: CRM systems enable sophisticated segmentation of supporter databases. Organizations can leverage this to send targeted messages to specific groups. For example, messages can be customized for first-time voters, long-time supporters, volunteers, or those in key geographic locations. This targeted approach ensures the content is relevant, increasing its effectiveness.

Automation and trigger-based messaging: Integrating your CRM with your mobile platform can allow for automation based on specific triggers or supporter actions. For instance, if a supporter signs up for an event and that data is stored within your CRM, mobile subscribers could automatically receive a text message with event details or a thank you message post-event. This automation saves time and resources while ensuring timely and relevant communication.

Real-time engagement and feedback loop: Modern CRM systems can track and record interactions from text messages, allowing for real-time engagement tracking. This feature is particularly important during election campaigns, where understanding supporter sentiment and reactions quickly can be crucial. Organizations can use this immediate feedback to adjust their strategies, respond to questions or concerns, and keep the conversation going.

5) RCS: The new frontier of rich messaging

It’s not often that news breaks in the mobile messaging industry like this: Apple has announced it will support Rich Communication Services (RCS) this fall. Android has supported RCS since 2015, so Apple’s adoption means that it will eventually be able to replace SMS. RCS is the next frontier of mobile messaging, by providing benefits through advanced messaging features for the phones of today.

Better supporter experience: It’s important to provide supporters with the best experience possible, which includes giving them peace of mind that they’re really talking to your organization. One of the strongest features of RCS is verified sender, as it helps build trust between your org and your audience. Your message will appear as sent from your nonprofit, rather than an unknown phone number. Additionally, read receipts, typing indicators, and better sharing of weblinks will all provide a better supporter experience than was previously available via SMS.

Next-level audience engagement: The possibilities of rich media like high-resolution images, video, GIFs, and QR codes will be a game changer for nonprofits wanting to grab their audience’s attention. For example, receive more zero-party data than ever before by sending an interactive poll or boost donations by including a fun 15-second video from your CEO. The possibilities are endless!

The Platform is Everything

Taking advantage of messaging trends and technology requires the right resources. Without the appropriate tools, the opportunities we’ve outlined become more difficult to realize. A strong mobile platform empowers organizations to reach their supporters where they are and engage these audiences in the moment