Summary: This comprehensive guide explains how to send individual and group text messages, schedule future messages, and manage your texting settings. It covers usage limits, international texting, and compliance rules to ensure effective communication with your congregation.
Before You Begin
Subscription Requirement: To qualify for the 250 free text messages per month, you must have a paid Tithely ChMS or Tithely All Access subscription. A "Free People" account does not qualify for this feature.
Location Requirement: Please note that SMS is not currently available in South Africa. Please find a list of countries that we service, here.
Text Limits: Qualifying organizations receive 250 complimentary text messages per month. Free texts reset on the 1st of each month. Unlimited Texts take effect after the 250 and are billed at 1.9 cents per text.
Communication Type: The texting tool uses a dedicated short code (874-47) for one-way communication. Users cannot reply to these texts.
Character Count: The industry standard is 140 characters per SMS. Tithely automatically segments longer messages across multiple texts.
Permissions: You need People > Action > Text permissions to send, and History permissions to view text history.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Send an Individual Text
Navigate to People and select a specific person.
Click on the person's mobile phone number to open the compose window.
Compose your message and Click Send Text Message.
Send a Group Text
Navigate to People and use filters (e.g., tags or advanced search) to create your list.
Click Text People in the Action Panel on the right.
Compose your message and Click Send Text Message.
Schedule a Text for the Future
Compose your message as usual.
Click the arrow next to the 'Send Text Message' button instead of sending immediately.
Select your desired date and time for the message to go out.
Enable Unlimited Texting
Note: Without this setting, texts exceeding the 250-message limit (including volunteer texts) will not send.
Click the Church Management Settings icon (cog wheel) and select Organization Logs.
Select General Settings.
Check the box for Unlimited Texting.
Click Save Changes.
View and Manage Text History
Navigate to Account Settings (cog icon) and select User Activity.
Click Text on the left-hand menu.
Select a message to modify it, or click Unschedule & Remove to cancel a scheduled text. Note: Timestamps are in your local timezone. You can only view texts you sent.
Send Links or Attachments
Upload your file (PDF, image, etc.) to a cloud tool like Google Drive and copy the shareable link.
Shorten the link using a tool like TinyURL.com (recommended to save characters).
Paste the shortened URL into your text message body.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Why don't I have free texts? To qualify for texting features and the 250 free texts per month, your church must be on a paid Tithely ChMS or Tithely All Access (AA) subscription. The "Free People" account tier does not include texting capabilities.
How are we billed for texts? If you are on a qualifying plan, your first 250 texts per month are free. Usage beyond that is billed monthly on your Tithely subscription invoice. You can track remaining texts by opening the text compose box.
What is the "Confirmation Lead Message"? When you text a number for the first time, a free confirmation message is sent automatically. It includes the name "Tithely" and opt-out instructions. This message does not count against your monthly limit.
-
How do donors Opt-In or Opt-Out? * Opt-Out: Recipients can reply STOP to unsubscribe, or an admin can mark a profile's mobile number as 'Do Not Text'.
Resubscribe: A recipient must text START to 874-47 in the same message thread to receive messages again.
-
Can I send texts internationally? Lead messages are only available in the US and Canada. For international texting, use the +[country code] format (e.g., +44 for UK). Avoid using "www.facebook.com" or generic sites as website inputs in international texts.
United States: +1
Canada: +1
United Kingdom: +44
Australia: +61
South Africa +27