![[UPDATED] WhatsApp Integration for Text to Donate](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55f62c4ce4b02545cc6ee94f/1561743829456-2XVTOVX16PFVI709BTIW/image-asset.jpeg)
Toll free numbers and keywords are excellent tools for collecting donations by text message. But they do have one limitation: a phone number only works in the country in which it is activated. So, our toll free number, 877-678-1497 , is a U.S. number (because we are a U.S. company). It works for all U.S. mobile carriers, but it does not work for mobile carriers outside the U.S.
In an effort to help all nonprofits raise more funds — even those outside the United States — we have just released our WhatsApp Integration. Now, any organization who works with us can receive text donations through WhatsApp.
For a demo,
Install WhatsApp onto your mobile phone. Android users can download it here, and Apple Users can download it here.
Click here on your mobile device. This will take you into our WhatsApp business application where you can test it out.
Text DONATE back to the WhatsApp conversation. You will get an automatic text message reply and prompt.
How It Works
We’ve tried to keep the WhatsApp text to donate app as simple as possible. Basically it works just like the toll free number: we set up your keyword on our WhatsApp business number. For example, if your keyword was “COMPANION”, It might look like this when a donor texts COMPANION to +1 732 702 1784 (our WhatsApp phone number):
The donor gets your special text message reply, just as if she had texted to 877-678-1487. Only this time she is texting to our WhatsApp business number. She can click the link to donate in the same way, and the app will deliver her to your organization’s custom checkout page:
When you use us as a payment processor, we give your donors the several options to give to your nonprofit:
Debit card
Credit card
ACH bank transfer (i.e., supply her bank account routing and account numbers to give)
Apple Pay
Android Pay
Your donors can also pay by gift card or prepaid cards from Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club. We hope to be able to offer additional payment options, as we realize that many people do not have bank accounts.
Increase in Donation Activity on WhatsApp
JustGiving reported that they’ve seen an increase in donation activity and conversation on WhatsApp, which is now the most-used messaging app in the world. Other mobile fundraising platforms, like Good Exchange, are also integrating WhatsApp into their fundraising services.
With our WhatsApp integration, we can send you a list of donor mobile phone numbers, just like we can with the toll free number. But we can give you even more detail on your donors. Because they have sent through WhatsApp, we can collect more user info than we can through SMS. This gives you greater ability to market to connect with them and market to them later.
And just like with the toll free number, with WhatsApp we can add all your subscribers to a group, so that you can then send text blasts to them all at once.
If you already have an account with us and would like to add WhatsApp integration, simply email us here to request it.