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SMS consent settings control the disclosure supporters see when they provide a phone number during sign-up or checkout. You can show an optional checkbox or disclosure text, and use the same portal settings for texting-list opt-ins and communication preferences. These settings describe and record the supporter’s choice. A supporter’s Do Not SMS preference and their subscriptions to individual communication lists determine whether they can receive your texts. Changing the disclosure mode does not reset existing preferences.

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Choose a disclosure mode

  1. Open Portal Settings → Advanced Settings → Appearance.
  2. Find SMS Consent.
  3. Choose Active — checkbox or Passive.
  4. Review the Supporters see preview.
  5. Click Save Changes and confirm the save.
The default is Passive, with Show passive SMS disclosure off. To start showing a disclosure, choose Active or turn on the passive disclosure toggle. For an existing supporter, the sign-up or checkout checkbox does not overwrite their current texting preference. An existing opt-out remains in place even if they check the box on a later checkout. To change that preference, they use their communication settings.

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Customize the text

WeGive supplies default text that identifies your organization, describes account, authentication, and donation messages, and includes frequency, message-rate, STOP, and HELP information. Disclosure text becomes editable when your organization has SMS numbers and every SMS number uses your own Twilio account. If any number uses WeGive’s Twilio account, the portal uses WeGive’s text. Having a mixture of your own and WeGive-managed numbers does not enable customization. When the field is available:
  • Enter up to 1,000 characters.
  • Include instructions to reply STOP to opt out and HELP for help. Both uppercase words are required to save custom text.
  • Leave the field empty to use WeGive’s default text again.
  • Review the preview after switching modes; the same custom text is used for both modes and for texting-list disclosures. Write it to fit each place you use it.
For a texting-list disclosure, the placeholder {List name} is replaced with that list’s name. If you use custom text, write your organization’s name directly into it; the default text already includes the organization name.

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Set up a communication list that sends texts

  1. Create or edit the list under Communication Lists.
  2. Turn on Sends Text Messages and save.
  3. Configure the portal’s SMS consent mode as described above. If you want the disclosure shown, choose Active or enable Show passive SMS disclosure.
  4. To collect subscriptions in a form, add a Communication List Opt-In/Out question and select the list. Add a separate question for each list.
  5. Preview the form and the donor portal’s communication settings to check the list name and disclosure.
The form’s opt-in control starts unchecked. Submitting it checked subscribes the supporter to that list. Leaving it unchecked does not subscribe a new supporter or unsubscribe someone who already belongs to the list. When disclosures are visible, texting-list opt-ins show list-specific text with Terms and Privacy links. A new subscription records the disclosure the supporter saw. Lists without Sends Text Messages do not collect SMS consent through this list opt-in flow. Passive mode with the disclosure hidden keeps list opt-ins available without displaying or recording an SMS disclosure. If a disclosure should be visible but cannot be loaded, the opt-in is disabled until the disclosure is available. For list visibility, double opt-in, and audience setup, see Creating a Communication List.

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Understand the two preference controls

Subscribing to a texting list does not clear an existing SMS opt-out. Clearing Do Not SMS does not subscribe the supporter to every list. For example, someone can subscribe to your Event Updates list and still have Do Not SMS selected; the list subscription does not authorize sending past that opt-out. To make the SMS preference control available in the donor portal, enable Show Do Not SMS under Appearance → Communication Preferences. Supporters can then update it in their communication settings. When a supporter opts back in with a visible disclosure, WeGive records that acceptance. Use Marketing as the message type for list-based outreach so audience selection also respects list subscriptions and global contact preferences. See Configure Communication Lists & Global Unsubscribe.

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What WeGive records

For supported donor submissions with a visible disclosure, WeGive keeps the displayed text, disclosure mode, acceptance or decline, phone number, time, and source of the interaction. Records also identify the supporter and relevant checkout or communication list when available, along with the request’s IP address and browser information. Changing your disclosure later does not rewrite past consent records. Staff edits to preferences or list membership do not create a record claiming that the supporter accepted a disclosure. A sign-up or checkout submission without a phone number does not create a phone consent record.

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Check your setup

  • No disclosure appears: Check the selected portal and mode. Passive with the disclosure toggle off intentionally shows nothing.
  • The text is not editable: Confirm that every SMS number uses your own Twilio account.
  • Custom text will not save: Check the 1,000-character limit and the STOP and HELP instructions.
  • A subscribed supporter is not receiving texts: Check Do Not SMS, the message’s audience, and the list subscription separately. A consent record alone does not change an existing opt-out.
  • A list opt-in is disabled: If the disclosure is meant to be visible, refresh the page and confirm it loads. Contact support if it remains unavailable.
After saving, preview sign-up, checkout, and any forms that collect texting-list subscriptions. Check both a new supporter’s unchecked option and an existing supporter’s preferences before using the flow broadly.