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When your organization switches to WeGive from another platform, you can bring some of your SMS-related data with you — but not everything carries over. This guide explains what transfers, what starts fresh, and what to expect for text messaging after migration.

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What you can import

Using WeGive’s Import Wizard (a CSV upload), you can bring in the following SMS-related information for your existing supporters:
  • Phone numbers — mobile, office, home, and other phone number fields
  • Opt-out preferences — if a supporter was marked “Do Not Text” on your previous platform, you can carry that preference over by including a do_not_sms column in your CSV (set to 1 for opted out, 0 for opted in)
  • SMS notification preferences — whether a supporter has SMS notifications enabled or disabled
New supporters created through import default to opted in (allowing SMS) unless you explicitly provide opt-out values in your file. For a full walkthrough of the import process, see Importing Existing Supporters.

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What does not transfer

Some types of SMS data cannot be imported and will start fresh in WeGive: WeGive automatically records when and how a supporter consented to receive text messages — including the exact disclosure they saw, the context (registration, checkout, or communication list opt-in), and the date. These records are created in real time as supporters interact with your forms and cannot be backfilled from a previous platform. After migration, new consent records will begin accumulating from the first time each supporter provides their phone number through your WeGive-powered forms.

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Text message history

Historical text messages sent through your previous platform cannot be imported into WeGive. Your SMS conversation history and outbox will start from the first message you send through WeGive.

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Engagement metrics

Delivery confirmations, click tracking, and other engagement data from your previous platform’s text messages do not carry over. WeGive begins tracking SMS engagement from the first message sent on the new platform.

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Text messages are plain text only

WeGive sends text messages as SMS (plain text). Media attachments such as images, video, or other files cannot be included in outbound text messages. If your previous platform supported MMS (multimedia messaging), plan to adjust any messages that relied on image or media attachments to work as plain text. Links included in your text messages are automatically shortened for tracking and to keep messages within carrier length limits.

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Planning your SMS migration

Here is a recommended approach:
  1. Export your contact list from your previous platform with phone numbers and opt-out preferences included.
  2. Prepare your CSV with at least mobile_phone and do_not_sms columns, plus an identifier field (such as email) for matching to existing supporters.
  3. Import using the Update action if your supporters already exist in WeGive (for example, after a recurring-plan migration), or the Create action if you are importing supporters for the first time.
  4. Set up your phone number in WeGive under Settings > Phone Numbers before sending any text messages — see Adding a Phone Number for SMS.
  5. Recreate any automated text messages by attaching them to triggers in WeGive — see Set Up Automated Text Messages.

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Quick reference

Last modified on October 21, 2026