5 Text Messages to Make Your Run/Walk/Ride Event a Success

Text messaging can be a powerful tool for nonprofit organizations looking to raise awareness and donations for their cause through a run, walk, or ride event. By sending targeted and relevant text messages to your supporters, you can effectively promote your event, encourage participation, and increase donations.

Run/walk/ride events combine fundraising with community engagement, but they have a lot of moving parts: registration, participant recruitment, fundraising pages, day-of logistics, and post-event stewardship. Text messaging helps you manage all of it — fast, personal, and direct to every participant’s phone.

These events are also among the most popular fundraising formats in the nonprofit sector. According to the Nonprofit Times, peer-to-peer fundraising events — including runs, walks, and rides — generate billions in annual revenue for U.S. charities. The format works because it transforms donors into active participants and gives them a personal stake in the outcome. Text messaging amplifies that dynamic by keeping participants connected, motivated, and fundraising throughout the entire event lifecycle.

What messages should I send for my run/walk/ride event?

Here are five types of text messages that nonprofit organizations can send for a run/walk/ride event to raise awareness and donations for their cause.

1. Event promotion and registration

One of the most important uses of text messaging for a run/walk/ride event is to promote the event itself. Start texting your subscriber list 4–6 weeks before the event. Send text messages with information about the event, including the date, time, location, registration link, and any other relevant details.

Use your messages to promote the cause or issue that the event is supporting and to explain why it matters and how the funds raised will be used. MMS messages with an event graphic or photo from a previous year can help build excitement and increase registration rates.

“Our 5K for Clean Water is back! Join us on [date] at [location]. Register now and start your fundraising page: [link]”

Building a promotion timeline: The most successful event promotion campaigns follow a structured cadence. Here's a proven timeline for SMS promotion leading up to a run/walk/ride:

• 6 weeks out: Announcement text with early-bird registration link. Create urgency with a discounted registration fee or VIP perk for early sign-ups.
• 4 weeks out: Progress update — "50 runners registered so far! Join them." Social proof drives registration in ways that a generic reminder cannot.
• 2 weeks out: Fundraising page reminder — "You're registered! Set up your fundraising page and start sharing: [link]." Many participants register but never create their personal page; this nudge closes that gap.
• 1 week out: Last-chance registration and logistics preview — "One week until race day. Registration closes Friday: [link]."

Each message should include a single, clear call to action. Don't ask people to register, set up a fundraising page, and share with friends all in one text. One message, one ask.

2. Fundraising campaigns

Text messaging is a great way to promote fundraising campaigns related to your run/walk/ride event. You can send text messages to encourage supporters to set up their own fundraising pages or to make donations directly to your organization.

By providing clear instructions on how to donate and explaining the impact of their contributions, you can increase the chances of getting a response. Use urgency and progress updates to motivate action — messages like “We’re $2,000 from our goal!” create a sense of momentum.

“Our runners are on the course and we’re 80% to our fundraising goal! Help us cross the finish line: [link]”

For more urgency-driven fundraising tactics, see Giving Tuesday text messages.

Coaching participants to fundraise more: The biggest untapped revenue opportunity in most run/walk/ride events isn't attracting more participants — it's helping existing participants raise more from their personal networks. Research from the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum has consistently shown that the top 10% of peer-to-peer fundraisers generate the majority of total event revenue. Closing the gap between top performers and average participants can dramatically increase your event's total.

Text messaging is ideal for this coaching role because it's immediate, personal, and easy to act on. Consider sending participants:

• Fundraising tips: "Quick tip: Donors are 3x more likely to give when you share a personal story about why this cause matters to you. Update your page today: [link]"
• Milestone celebrations: "Amazing — you just hit $250 raised! You're in the top 20% of our fundraisers. Can you reach $300 by Friday?"
• Social sharing prompts: "Share your fundraising page on social media today — most peer-to-peer gifts come from personal networks. Here's your link: [link]"
• Matching gift alerts: "Every gift to your page is DOUBLED today thanks to a generous sponsor. Share now while the match lasts: [link]"

3. Participant recruitment and team building

Text messaging is an effective way to recruit participants for your run/walk/ride event. Whether you’re looking for volunteers, sponsors, or actual runners and walkers, text messaging can help you reach a large audience in a short amount of time.

Encourage registered participants to recruit teammates and invite friends. Text messaging’s share-friendly format makes this easy — supporters can forward the message or share the registration link directly. Send text messages to encourage people to sign up for the event and to provide information about how they can get involved.

“[Name], you’re registered for the 5K! Now build your team — share this link with friends and family to join you: [link]”

For organizations with peer-to-peer texting capabilities, you can also reach out individually to past participants and top fundraisers to bring them back for another year.

The power of team-based recruitment: Participants who join as part of a team raise significantly more than solo participants. Team members hold each other accountable, share fundraising tips, and create friendly competition that drives everyone's totals higher. Your SMS recruitment strategy should lean into this dynamic:

• Send team captains a special recruitment text with a shareable team registration link.
• Create team leaderboards and text updates: "Team Sunrise is leading with $3,200 raised! Can your team catch them?"
• Celebrate team milestones: "Your team just hit 10 members — you're one of our biggest crews this year!"

The combination of personal outreach (SMS) and social dynamics (teams) creates a recruitment flywheel that's hard to replicate with email alone.

4. Reminders and logistics

Text messaging is a great way to send reminders and alerts to your supporters about your run/walk/ride event. This can include reminders about important deadlines, such as registration or fundraising deadlines, or alerts about any updates or changes to the event.

In the final week before the event, send logistics texts: start time, parking information, what to bring, and any last-minute changes. On event day, send a morning-of reminder with the course map or check-in instructions. By sending timely reminders and alerts, you can help keep your supporters engaged and on track to participate.

“Tomorrow’s the day! Check-in starts at 7:30 AM at [location]. Here’s everything you need to know: [link]”

Day-of messaging strategy: Event day is where SMS truly outshines every other channel. Participants are on the move, their phones are in their hands, and timely information can make the difference between a smooth experience and a frustrating one. Plan at least three event-day messages:

• Morning reminder (2 hours before start): "Good morning! Check-in is open. Enter through the north gate, bib pickup is at Tent B. See you at the start line!"
• Mid-event update: "Runners are on the course! We're at $42,000 raised — help us hit $50K before the finish line. Donate now: [link]"
• Post-finish celebration: "You did it! Head to the festival area for food, music, and results. Awards at 11 AM. Thank you for running for [cause]!"

These real-time messages create a sense of energy and community that extends beyond the physical event. Supporters who couldn't attend in person can follow along and donate in real time, effectively expanding your event's reach beyond those physically present.

5. Post-event follow-up and stewardship

After your run/walk/ride event has taken place, it’s important to follow up with your supporters to thank them for their participation and support. Text messaging is a great way to send thank-you messages and to share any updates or results from the event.

Within 24 hours of the event, send a thank-you text with results: total raised, number of participants, and a photo from the day. This closes the loop and sets up your next engagement touchpoint. You can also use text messages to encourage your supporters to continue supporting your organization and its cause in the future.

“You did it! Together, 400 runners raised $52,000 for clean water. Thank you for being part of it. See photos and results: [link]”

The post-event stewardship window: The 48 hours after your event represent the highest-engagement moment in your relationship with participants. They're proud of what they accomplished, emotionally connected to the cause, and highly receptive to follow-up communication. Don't waste this window with a single thank-you text and silence.

A strong post-event SMS sequence looks like this:

• Same day (within 2 hours of event end): Thank you + results. "400 runners, $52,000 raised, one incredible community. Thank you!"
• Day 2: Impact connection. "Because of Saturday's 5K, 1,200 families will have access to clean water this year. You made that happen."
• Day 5–7: Photo/video share. "Event photos are live! Find yours and share your favorite: [link]" — this extends the event's social media reach organically.
• Day 14: Next engagement invitation. "Loved the 5K? Our volunteer cleanup day is next month — and we'd love to have you there: [link]"

According to research from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, donor retention rates improve significantly when organizations follow up with impact reporting within two weeks of a gift. The same principle applies to event participants — closing the loop with results and impact reinforces their decision to participate and sets up the next engagement.

How can texting benefit my nonprofit?

Text messaging can be a powerful tool for nonprofit organizations looking to raise awareness and donations for their cause through a run/walk/ride event. By sending text messages to promote the event, promote fundraising campaigns, recruit participants, send reminders and alerts, and follow up post-event, you can effectively engage with your supporters and encourage them to get involved with your cause.

By using text messaging as part of your run/walk/ride event marketing strategy, you can reach a larger audience, reduce costs, and build relationships with your supporters, all while supporting a worthy cause.

Measuring your event's SMS performance: To improve your text strategy from event to event, track these key metrics:

• Opt-in rate: What percentage of registrants opted into your text list? If it's below 50%, your opt-in process needs attention.
• Click-through rate per message: Which of your messages drove the most action? This tells you which message types and timing slots to prioritize next year.
• Fundraising attribution: How much revenue came from gifts linked to SMS clicks vs. email clicks vs. direct? This helps you allocate staff time and budget across channels.
• Opt-out rate: If more than 2–3% of your list opted out during the event campaign, you may be sending too frequently or the content may not feel relevant.

Run your next event campaign with momoGood

Run/walk/ride events are time-sensitive, community-driven, and logistically demanding — exactly the kind of campaign where momoGood Messaging delivers the biggest impact. From pre-event promotion to post-race stewardship, momoGood gives your team the tools to manage every phase from a single platform.

• Mass SMS and MMS: Promote registration, send day-of logistics, and share post-event photos to your full participant list with messages delivered at 2,000+ messages per second via dedicated short codes.
• Peer-to-peer texting: Reach out individually to past participants and top fundraisers to recruit them for the next event — personal outreach that scales.
• Smart Send Times: AI-optimized delivery ensures registration reminders and fundraising nudges arrive when each participant is most likely to engage.
• AI Message Composer: Draft event messages in minutes — promotion, coaching tips, logistics updates, and thank-yous — without starting from a blank screen.
• Event and auction tools: Running a gala or auction alongside your event? momoGood also powers live and silent auctions, mobile bidding, and paddle raise for a seamless fundraising experience.
• Built-in compliance: TCPA, 10DLC, and SOC 2 compliance handled automatically so your team can focus on the event, not regulations.

Ready to plan your next event campaign? Book a demo or explore the momoGood Messaging platform.