Your Rally Point Episode 19: Text Message ROI for Nonprofits: How to Prove Revenue, Not Just Clicks

Nonprofits need quick wins. You’re already overworked and overwhelmed, and you don’t have time to wait six months for results. So let’s take something you’re already doing and make it better in the next 30 days.

On this episode of Your Rally Point Podcast, hosts James Martin and Jack Bobin break down the question nonprofit leaders keep asking: How do we prove text messaging is actually working? Not with “opens” or vanity metrics—but with hard-dollar ROI you can take to your board.

You’ll hear why click-through rate (CTR) is a strong starting point, why “the donation page experience” can make or break results, and how integrations + automation finally let you attribute revenue to specific campaigns—without spreadsheets and guesswork.

What You’ll Learn

• Why CTR matters more than open rates when evaluating mobile campaigns
• The simplest definition of nonprofit text ROI: spend $1, make $7 (and how to model it)
• How poor donation forms (too many fields, no digital wallet, bad mobile UX) can sabotage performance
• Why integrations unlock true attribution: matching campaigns to donors and donation amounts
• How automation improves ROI by following up with people who click but don’t complete a gift
• The “100 people / $5 test” you can run to validate text ROI quickly and cheaply
• Why measuring “one meaningful thing” is the fastest way to improve outcomes
• How to think about mobile messaging like a fundraiser: attention → engagement → conversion

Resources

• Book a Rally demo: https://www.rallycorp.com/demo
• Suggested internal resources to pair with this episode:
  • Campaign ROI calculator (simple: cost per message × list size → revenue target)
  • Donation page optimization checklist (mobile-first: fewer fields, digital wallets, friction removal)
  • Integration guide (Virtuous, Classy/GoFundMe Pro, Fundraise Up, Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.)

Quotables

• “How do we take something they’re already doing and make it better in 30 days?”
• “What gets measured gets managed.”
• “Just please, for the love of God, make sure that we’re at least measuring clicks.”
• “Facts and data set you free.”
• “If you don’t have the data, you’re lost. You’re on a map with no compass.”
• “Text messaging is 2025. If you’re not, you should.”
• “I could care less about texting. I care everything about results.”
• “The one resource that’s not renewable is your time.”
• “Integrate and automate. No import/exports.”
• “Send a text to 100 people for $5—why wouldn’t you do that?”

Skip to What You Want to Hear

00:00 — Intro and catching up
A quick check-in, fishing stories, and setting the stage for a practical episode.

02:02 — Why mobile matters (your donors are on their phones)
Meeting people where they are—and why text is the fastest way to earn attention.

03:28 — What counts as “success” in nonprofit texting
Why opens don’t matter as much as meaningful actions—especially link clicks.

05:18 — Beyond click-through: measuring ROI in real dollars
Why ROI is the metric leaders actually need—and why it’s historically been hard to prove.

06:37 — The truth about donation pages and broken attribution
Great texts can’t overcome a terrible mobile donation experience.

09:32 — Why fundraisers feel stuck with email ROI
Email looks “cheap,” but the ceiling is low—and the measurement is often misleading.

12:24 — The three shifts that make ROI measurable now
Integrations, automation, and AI-driven insight (plus better data access from donor platforms).

17:12 — What “integrations” really do (simple explanation)
How systems translate and share data so you can attribute gifts accurately.

19:24 — Text vs direct mail economics (and visibility)
The cost comparison and why attribution is easier on mobile.

22:18 — ROI math you can explain to your board
Spend $5 to message 100 people, and model conversion and return.

22:32 — The “coffee cup” ROI story (simple mental model)
How a small conversion rate creates outsized returns when distribution costs are low.

25:15 — Rally’s ROI guarantee and real campaign samples
How the guarantee works, what results look like, and why conservative benchmarks matter.

28:13 — Closing: outcomes over gimmicks
Measure what matters, improve what you measure, and prioritize results over tools.

Subscribe

Subscribe to Your Rally Point Podcast for practical, nonprofit-ready strategies to mobilize supporters and drive measurable results.

When you’re ready to improve your mobile fundraising performance and track ROI with confidence, book a demo at:
https://www.rallycorp.com/demo