All Articles By James Martin

Maximize Impact with Nonprofit Texting: A Guide for Effective Outreach

Discover how nonprofit texting can boost engagement, fundraising, and event promotion. This guide covers benefits, strategies, and best practices for using SMS

James Martin

May 15, 2025

Your Rally Point Episode 12: Nonprofit Lessons From Consumer Businesses

Consumer businesses leverage text messaging to convert buyers, and nonprofits can do the same thing to connect with donors.

James Martin

May 14, 2025

Your Rally Point Episode 11: Moving From Contact to Conversion

Grants are drying up and nonprofits need to ramp up fundraising. Make sure you’re moving people from initial contact to eventual conversion.

James Martin

April 23, 2025

Your Rally Point Episode 10: Timing Is Good, Hitting Send Is Better

Send your message when it’s most likely to be received well—but real, authentic, human messages you actually send are better than sweating the timing.

James Martin

April 9, 2025

Your Rally Point Episode 9: RCS Explained: New Mobile Feature and What It Means for Nonprofits

What the heck is RCS? It’s rich communication services, a new tech that turns your text messaging app into a sort of mini browser. It could be a game changer.

James Martin

April 2, 2025

Your Rally Point Episode 8: Widgets Powering Nonprofit Engagement

Handy widgets give you multiple ways to engage with people and add them to your subscriber list. It’s all about increasing those touchpoints to engage.

James Martin

March 26, 2025

Your Rally Point Episode 7: Text to Give and Text to Donate

We explore the two approaches to text message donations and explain how text-to-donate offers security, higher donation amounts, and donor data for follow up.

James Martin

March 19, 2025

Your Rally Point Episode 6: Best Practices for Text Messaging

Let’s talk about the best text messages that work. Personalize, write like a human, use emojis, tell stories, make a direct ask with a clear call to action.

James Martin

March 12, 2025

The Best Strategies for a Successful Text a Thon Fundraiser

Discover effective strategies to maximize your Text a Thon fundraiser's success. Learn practical tips to engage donors and boost contributions. Read more!

James Martin

February 21, 2025

Mastering Smart Texting: Tips for Effective Mobile Communication

Enhance your mobile communication skills with practical tips for effective texting. Improve clarity and connection—read the article to master smart texting!

James Martin

February 7, 2025

Enhancing Political Campaigns with Data: Insights from the 2024 Post-Election Survey

Learn key insights from the 2024 Post-Election Survey & how Rally Corp's DaaS delivers accurate, updated voter data for better campaigns. Book a consult today!

James Martin

February 19, 2025

Your Rally Point Episode 5: The Four Types of Text Message

What text messages should your nonprofit send? You know what a good message feels like. It’s personal and human. People want to help, you just have to ask.

James Martin

March 5, 2025

Your Rally Point Episode 4: Texting the Right Way Because Consent Matters

You need permission to text people. Opt-in consent is important. How to get it, why it matters, what to do with an old list, the red face test, and more.

James Martin

February 26, 2025

Your Rally Point Episode 3: How to Offer a Personal Touch

Text messaging is effective because it’s personal. We explore segmentation, follow-ups, and the right stats to boost engagement.

James Martin

February 19, 2025

Smart Data, Smarter Outreach: Live Demo & Strategy Session

Join us for a live demo and strategy session showcasing how Rally’s Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) can help you reach the right people with the right message...

James Martin

February 5, 2025

Your Rally Point Episode 2: Demystifying Mobile Messaging

Text messaging is not witchcraft! But hitting that send button can be scary. We’re here to demystify text messaging for your nonprofit.

James Martin

February 12, 2025

Your Rally Point Episode 1: The Power of Messaging

The inaugural episode of Your Rally Point talks text messaging to mobilize (pun intended). Plus phones on the toilet, in the moment, and humanizing technology.

James Martin

February 5, 2025

A Comprehensive Guide to Frequently Asked Questions About Text Messaging

A mass texting service can help your nonprofit engage volunteers, connect with donors, and meet fundraising goals. We cover common questions about texting.

James Martin

April 18, 2024

7 Ways Text Messaging With Rally Helps You Connect

Do you want to connect more deeply with the people who drive your mission forward? See how these seven features can help your nonprofit boost engagement.

James Martin

September 27, 2023

Exploring the Advantages of Peer-to-Peer Texting for Nonprofits

This article delves into the myriad benefits of peer-to-peer texting, demystifying its concept, examining its merits, showcasing real-world success stories...

James Martin

August 14, 2023

Unlock the Benefits of Ringless Voicemail for Nonprofits

In a world where traditional fundraising methods are becoming less effective, ringless voicemail technology has emerged as a powerful tool for reaching donors.

James Martin

May 1, 2023

Top 10 Fundraising Apps & Alternatives For Nonprofits In 2023

The internet is well and truly a part of everyone’s lives. And with mobile access granted to the majority of the world’s population, apps have become...

James Martin

January 20, 2023

10 Tasteful & Fun Valentine's Day Fundraiser Ideas For Nonprofits

Valentine’s Day spending reached around $23.9 billion in the US in 2022. That’s just over 2.5% of total holiday spending for the year. As a nonprofit...

James Martin

January 31, 2023

Why you Should Host a Reverse Raffle Event and How to do It

You might have heard of a reverse draw/raffle - it plays off the traditional theme but does things a little differently. This is a format that’s proving...

James Martin

January 13, 2023

How to Optimize Your Nonprofit's Website Content Like an SEO Pro

For nonprofit marketers, search engine optimization strategy often feels elusive: you may have it on your to-do list, but where do you start?

James Martin

January 6, 2023

How To Say Thank You To Donors And Show Your Appreciation

Donor retention relies on effective recognition and gratitude. So what's the best way for a nonprofit to express sincere thanks for a donor's generous gift?

James Martin

December 2, 2022

What Is a Donor Pyramid, How to Make One & Top Alternatives

A donor pyramid is a visual representation of your donors, segmented by the level they’ve been given based on their donations. But there are limitations you...

James Martin

November 25, 2022

How & Why You Should Host A Wine Pull Raffle For Fundraising

Raffles are a powerful tool in fundraising, and one great way to stimulate a room full of donors is to introduce some wine to the situation. Here are...

James Martin

November 18, 2022

10 Exciting Fundraising Event Ideas For Nonprofits On A Mission

A good event can inspire deeper loyalty to your cause, create a lasting memory, promote engagement, and reach out to new demographics and audiences. In this...

James Martin

November 11, 2022

Top 10 Tips & Examples For Giving Tuesday Social Media Posts

Giving Tuesday posts on your social media should follow a dynamic routine that leverages different strengths of each platform. Here are 10 examples and tips.

James Martin

November 4, 2022

Must Have Envelope Fundraiser Guide and Ideas for Nonprofits

So, what would an envelope fundraising event look like for your nonprofit, and how would you go about setting one up? Here are some ideas!

James Martin

October 28, 2022

Clever Donor Recognition Wall Ideas for the Modern Nonprofit

If you’re wondering how a donor recognition wall might help you, what the process is, or even if one is really still relevant at all, this post is for you.

James Martin

October 21, 2022

Sponsorship vs. Donation: Which is better for your organization?

Donation vs. Sponsorship: what’s the difference, and is a sponsorship a donation of sorts? In this article, we’re going to look at...

James Martin

October 14, 2022

What Is the Fundraising Cycle and How to Convert More Donors

With so many nonprofits competing for attention, donors have their pick of whom to contribute to, and the organization with the closest alignment to their...

James Martin

October 7, 2022

How to Calculate Donor Lifetime Value for Your Nonprofit in 2022

The simple definition of a lifetime value is the amount of money that comes in from a donor over the course of their lifetime. This needs to be...

James Martin

September 30, 2022

PPC For Charities: How To Use Pay-Per-Click To Benefit Your Cause

PPC ads offer an easy entry into ads for charities and can come with no-risk grants for eligible organizations. We’re going to take a look at some of these...

James Martin

September 23, 2022

Tried-and-tested Nonprofit Hashtags To Grow Your Audience

Using hashtags for your nonprofit social media can result in a 70% increase in likes. In this article, we'll show you how to make the best use of hashtags.

James Martin

September 16, 2022

Plan Your Visit Church Page: Tips, Tricks, and Examples

If your church is looking to bring in more members and spread awareness of your church, a “plan your visit” church page is one of the most important pages on...

James Martin

June 13, 2022

How to Setup a Fundraiser Event Check-in Procedure With Texting on Rally

This playbook will give you steps to create a simple check-in and check-out procedure using the Rally Platform for your next fundraiser event.

James Martin

August 26, 2022

19 Hilarious Fundraising and Nonprofit Memes to Make You Laugh

The last quarter is almost upon us, which means fundraising season is on the way! Have a look through our top fundraising memes to get you in the right ...

James Martin

August 12, 2022

A Step-By-Step Guide To Digital Connect Cards For Churches

A digital connect card is essentially an online form, designed in a similar format as the physical equivalent but accessible from the church app or website.

James Martin

August 5, 2022

Responsive Nonprofit Summit

The Responsive Nonprofit Summit is a free, virtual event to help you build better systems and strategies to grow your organization.

James Martin

April 15, 2022

Video Tools With Rally & the Wall of Love

We’re rolling out new video tools to make it easier to connect. Check out our video resources, create a video, and we'll help share it on our Wall of Love.

James Martin

April 13, 2022

So, Where Did the Name Rally Come from?

Every superhero has an origin story -- And while we feel the actual superheroes in our story are our customers, we thought we'd share ours too 😊

James Martin

April 8, 2022

The Nonprofit Marketing Summit: MOMENTUM + VIP Pass Giveaway

The Nonprofit Marketing Summit is completely free and 100% virtual, and we are giving away 4 VIP All-Access Passes if you signup in the next two weeks.

James Martin

February 10, 2022

How to Text Donors and Not Be Intrusive

It is understandably terrifying the first time you send a text message to your supporters. Join us for this webinar to learn...

James Martin

January 11, 2022

How to Use Mobile to Raise More Money with Your Golf Fundraiser

Hear why golf is a great way to raise money for your cause and attract high-capacity donors and how technology makes planning easy and efficient. Join us for...

James Martin

January 10, 2022

7 Fundraising Ideas for Giving Tuesday 2021

GivingTuesday is just around the corner. Here are 7 ideas to make the most of this year's big day and capture more hearts, minds, and donations.

James Martin

October 27, 2021

How to Successfully Implement Nonprofit Communications Software

Come to one of our sessions and tell us what you want to address, what goals you have, and we'll help you build and implement a plan to get there.

James Martin

October 27, 2021

[Resource] The Text Messaging (SMS) ROI Calculator for Nonprofits™

To help you determine if texting is right for your nonprofit, we have put together this simple calculator to back into the numbers you'll need to get.

James Martin

October 22, 2021

How to Maximize Revenue with Mobile Giving

Join us for this webinar with Fundraise Up as we explore strategies to drive revenue with mobile giving and optimized fundraising pages.

James Martin

October 13, 2021

3 Steps to Become an Irresistibly Attractive Nonprofit

Join us for this workshop with Beeline Marketing as we explore strategies to build and develop a vibrant email and SMS list to drive recurring donations.

James Martin

October 6, 2021

[Resource] The 10x Campaign Planner for Nonprofits™

We have built a simple little tool to help you plan your next fundraising campaign. Here are some of the things we use internally to make sure we hit our goals.

James Martin

October 1, 2021

How to Use Texting to Drive Year-End Fundraising for Your Nonprofit

Are you wondering how you can use texting to drive mobile fundraising for your nonprofit? Learn more about how it works here.

James Martin

October 5, 2021

#TextGen Episode 10 Interview Adam Bratton

In this episode, Adam Bratton with The Nonprofit Partnership joins us to share his story, What he’s learned in his various management roles, and ...

James Martin

June 8, 2021

[Infographic] 9 Must-Know Text Message Marketing Stats for Nonprofits

When it comes to text message marketing, many organizations are yet to catch on. In fact, statistics show that many users prefer text messaging, yet very few

James Martin

August 17, 2021

#TextGen Episode 9 Interview Bruce Burtch

In this episode, Bruce Burtch joins us and shares his wisdom and vast experiences in Cause Marketing. For over 30 years, Bruce has helped nonprofits...

James Martin

May 25, 2021

#TextGen Episode 8 Interview with Laura Cieslukowski

In this episode, Laura Cieslukowski with We See You San Diego joins us to share what she has learned in her journey to launch a nonprofit with her husband...

James Martin

May 11, 2021

#TextGen Episode 7 Interview with Cliff Simon

In this episode, Cliff Simon with the Carabiner Group joins us to share what he's learned helping nonprofits implement Salesforce and processes that reduce...

James Martin

April 20, 2021

#TextGen Episode 6 Interview with Nikki Speer

In this episode, we visit with Nikki Speer of Redefined Courage. Nikki shares the promise she made to her mother and what she's learning as a strong...

James Martin

April 6, 2021

#TextGen Episode 4 Interview with Stacy Buono

In this episode, we visit with Stacy Buono of RWJBarnabas Health, a network of independent healthcare providers in New Jersey. She shares her story and ...

James Martin

March 16, 2021

#TextGen Episode 3 Interview with Claire Axelrad

In this episode, Claire Axelrad, the founder of clairification.com and the Clairification School, shares with us her journey and insights over her impressive...

James Martin

March 2, 2021

#TextGen Episode 2 Interview with Darryl Carnley

In our second episode, I interview Darryl Carnley, the founder of My360Project.com.

James Martin

February 16, 2021

#TextGen Episode 1 Interview with Will Montgomery

In our first episode, I interview Will Montgomery, the Director of Growth @ Rally. He shares his story, why he does what he does, and what he has learned along

James Martin

February 2, 2021

Nonprofit Marketing Summit + Rally Corp | VIP Pass Giveaway

The Nonprofit Marketing Summit is completely free and 100% virtual, and we are giving away 5 VIP All-Access Passes if you signup this week.

James Martin

July 12, 2021

We're Sponsoring the Collaborative: Virtual Sessions

This year, Rally Corp is proud to be a Solution sponsor at the 2021 Collaborative: Virtual Sessions. Join us as we...

James Martin

May 6, 2021

Fundraise for Your Christian Mission Using Text to Donate

In this webinar, we will look at ways to capture consent to text people and share best practices like Text to Donate with conversational texting to build...

James Martin

April 8, 2021

At Look Back at Giving Tuesday 2020 #whew

Millions of people are isolated and struggling. That is the one truth that we have all experienced this year together, yet alone. People are looking for...

James Martin

January 15, 2021

The Market and Product Sweet Spot

When a baseball player connects with the ball in the perfect location on the bat, the momentum of the bat and the ball come together to get the perfect hit...

James Martin

February 26, 2017

Finding your Voice of Customer (VOC)

Remember the popular children’s book, Where’s Waldo? In the book, readers are given a call to action: To find the distinctively dressed Waldo-wearing a...

James Martin

October 15, 2017

3 Essential Elements to Boost Engagement

Only 23% of businesses are successfully measuring customer experience when researching a product A 2016 study conducted by Temkin Group on Customer...

James Martin

March 16, 2019

Is Your Customer Feedback Stuck in an Echo Chamber?

Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a valuable tool used to rank customer satisfaction and feedback. But when concerns arise, that score doesn’t always offer...

James Martin

April 15, 2019

How a Member Association Drives Engagement

Rally Corp helps nonprofits and associations serve their donors and members, by providing another touchpoint to engage and develop relationships.

James Martin

February 15, 2019

Before You Hit Send Please Consider...

I had two experiences recently that reinforced our product development direction at Rally. So much so in fact, I made it a point to talk about it with our team.

James Martin

June 15, 2019

How to Connect Your Church in the Moment

At Rally, we’re on a mission to help churches reach their city. This is because we ourselves are church planters and leaders who use tech get the Word out.

James Martin

July 15, 2019

3 Ways Move Your Audience to Action

Have you ever wanted to get an audience listening to your presentation to take some sort of action? Well now you can with Rally. Here's how.

James Martin

August 15, 2019

How an Influencer Uses Rally to Connect and Grow

I recently had a chance to sit down with one of our advisors and early Rally users named Erik Birkfeld. Erik is a well-respected tech leader and CTO.

James Martin

September 15, 2019

How to Run a Simple Survey with a Text Message

Create forms and simple surveys to be completed entirely by your audience or customers texting. Share a simple shortcode, and your custom keyword or phrase...

James Martin

October 15, 2019

How to Make RSVPing for an Event Stupid Simple

Event RSVP via texting improves participation. Responding to your event is as simple as sending a text. The Rally Platform can automatically send reminders...

James Martin

November 15, 2019

[Virtual Session] Giving Tuesday 2020 Planning

Giving Tuesday is just a few weeks away — it’s coming fast! So here’s what we’re going to do. We’ve talked to a number of our clients, and they have agreed...

James Martin

October 15, 2020

Marketing Funnels and Donor Conversion in a Time of Crisis

We have the honor of participating in Classy’s 2020 Collaborative, presenting on Marketing Funnels and Donor Conversion in a Time of Crisis. Here is a short...

James Martin

April 15, 2020

7 Ways to Use Texting at Your Next Outdoor Fundraiser

Engage your charity participants in the moment and keep them connected to your cause long after the event. Make it easy for people to connect and sign up for...

James Martin

May 15, 2020