What is 10DLC? A Simple Guide for Nonprofits

What is 10DLC? A Simple Guide for Nonprofits and Mission-Driven Organizations

In today’s digital landscape, SMS and MMS are two of the most effective ways to reach supporters directly. But if your organization is sending messages at scale—whether thank-you texts, event invites, or donation appeals—you’ll need a solution that ensures your messages are delivered quickly, affordably, and legally.

10DLC registration is required to ensure your communication via SMS is compliant with carrier regulations and remains effective for engaging your audience.

That’s where 10DLC comes in.

Short for 10-digit long code, 10DLC is a messaging framework built for organizations that send application-to-person (A2P) messages. It’s designed to meet growing demand for scalable text messaging—without falling into the spam trap or violating carrier regulations. The 10DLC registration process is essential for organizations to legally and reliably send messages at scale.

In this post, we’ll break down:

• What 10DLC is and why it matters
• The benefits of registering your campaigns
• How to get started the smart (and compliant) way

What Is 10DLC?

10DLC stands for 10-digit long code—a local phone number approved by mobile carriers for mass texting. 10DLC numbers use a familiar local area code, which increases trust and recognition among recipients. Unlike toll-free texting, which uses numbers with prefixes like 833, 844, or 866, 10DLC numbers are associated with a local area code, making them appear more personal and community-based. 10DLC numbers are registered through a centralized system (The Campaign Registry) that links your number to your brand and messaging use case. Brand registration involves submitting your organization type and legal information, which helps establish your trust score with carriers.

This verification process gives carriers the confidence to deliver your messages, while giving your audience the trust and transparency they deserve.

Why 10DLC Exists (And What Came Before)

Before 10DLC, businesses and nonprofits had three options:

1. Short Codes — High-volume but expensive and inflexible (can’t receive calls).
2. Toll-Free Numbers — Cheaper and good for two-way texting, but sometimes seen as spammy or impersonal. Toll-free numbers use specific area codes such as 833, 844, or 866, unlike local area codes used by 10DLC numbers.
3. Local Long Codes — Familiar and personal, but not allowed for bulk or automated texting.

In recent years, organizations have also been able to migrate their existing numbers to 10DLC to comply with new messaging regulations.

10DLC fills the gap: local numbers approved for higher-volume A2P messaging with strong deliverability and lower costs than short codes.

Benefits of 10DLC for Nonprofits and Businesses

Improved Deliverability

Carriers prioritize verified 10DLC traffic. That means fewer blocked messages, better inbox placement, and higher click-through rates—especially important for time-sensitive appeals or donation drives.

Lower Costs Than Short Codes

10DLC costs a fraction of what you'd pay to lease a dedicated short code, and there are no six-week waits or heavy maintenance fees. It's built for organizations that want to scale smartly.

Enhanced Compliance and Trust

Spammy messages have led carriers to crack down. If you're sending A2P messages without registration, your texts may get filtered—or worse, your number could get shut down. 10DLC keeps your program permission-based and future-proof.

Phone Call Capable

Unlike short codes, 10DLC numbers can also receive phone calls—ideal for organizations that want a unified, branded number for calls and texts.

Who Needs 10DLC?

You should be using 10DLC if:

• You’re texting from a local number to more than a few dozen contacts a day
• You use automation or templates to send messages
• You run donation appeals, event promotions, or supporter updates via SMS
• You want better insights with tools like link tracking and click analytics

10DLC is essential for a wide range of organizations, including non profit organizations, 501 c organizations (such as 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), and 501(c)(6)), government entities, government organizations, political campaigns, private entities, and businesses that need to communicate with their customers at scale. Proper registration ensures each group can access the appropriate messaging throughput, compliance benefits, and special use case designations tailored to their needs.

Eligibility and Requirements for 10DLC

If your organization is ready to step up its SMS marketing game, understanding 10DLC registration isn't just important—it's essential for your success. Mobile carriers have drawn clear lines in the sand, and they're only letting legitimate organizations send high volumes of text messages through their networks. This means before you can start registering campaigns and sending messages at scale, you need to get your house in order with accurate, up-to-date information about your organization. No shortcuts. No exceptions.

Here's how you make it happen: you'll register your brand and messaging use case with The Campaign Registry—think of it as the central command that carriers use to separate the real players from the spam artists. This process means sharing the real details about your nonprofit, business, or political campaign: your legal name, address, tax ID, website—the works. Once you submit your information, you'll receive a Trust Score that becomes your golden ticket. This score determines your messaging throughput and daily message limits. The higher your Trust Score climbs, the more messages you can send without delays or filtering choking your campaigns.

Here's the reality: if you're planning to send bulk SMS messages—whether you're running a nonprofit, political campaign, or business—you need to register for 10DLC. Period. This isn't just about checking compliance boxes with carrier policies. It's about ensuring your messages actually reach the people who matter to your mission, delivered reliably and efficiently every single time. Registering for 10DLC and obtaining a 10-digit long code phone number is your key to unlocking better deliverability, higher throughput, and a trusted communication channel that actually works for your campaigns.

By following the registration process and keeping your information complete and accurate, your organization can confidently use SMS to reach supporters, donors, and volunteers—without the constant worry of being flagged as spam. Whether you're running a fundraising campaign that needs to hit its goals or mobilizing volunteers for your next big push, 10DLC registration is your ticket to effective, compliant communication that gets results. Because at the end of the day, it's not about sending more messages—it's about sending messages that matter and actually get through.

501(c) Organizations and 10DLC

I'm passionate about helping 501(c) organizations succeed, and that's exactly why I want every nonprofit to know this: you're fully eligible to register for 10DLC and transform your SMS messaging strategy. Too many incredible organizations are still stuck with expensive short codes or unreliable messaging methods when they could be leveraging 10DLC's lower costs and higher messaging throughput. This isn't just about saving money—it's about maximizing your impact without draining resources that should be going directly to your mission.

The registration process I've seen work for countless 501(c) organizations is refreshingly straightforward. You'll provide your tax ID, contact details, and website, along with clear information about how you plan to use messaging—and that's it. Once you submit everything, you'll pay a one-time registration fee and ongoing carrier fees that are dramatically lower than traditional short code costs. Most of the organizations I work with get approved within just a few business days, which means you can start connecting with your supporters almost immediately.

Here's what gets me excited about 10DLC for nonprofits: you can finally send SMS messages to donors, volunteers, and advocates in ways that actually move the needle. Picture this—you're thanking donors for their contributions the moment they give, sharing real-time updates on your campaigns that matter, or rallying your community for that crucial fundraising event. The combination of lower costs, higher throughput, and reliable deliverability doesn't just help you reach your goals—it helps you build the kind of authentic relationships your mission deserves.

If you're a 501(c) organization ready to modernize how you communicate, registering for 10DLC is the simple, effective step that ensures your message reaches the right people—every single time. Your supporters are waiting to hear from you, and now you have the tools to reach them where they are.

How to Register for 10DLC

The process may feel bureaucratic—but it’s required. The onboarding process involves several steps to ensure compliance with carrier and industry regulations. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. A Verified Business/Nonprofit — You’ll need your tax IDs, business type, EIN, website, and address.
2. A Registered Brand — This identifies your organization in the carrier database.
3. A Registered Campaign — This outlines your messaging use case (e.g., donor updates, event alerts).
4. Opt-In & Compliance — You’ll need a clear opt-in process and sample messages.

Organizations managing more than one account or multiple legal entities can streamline the registration process for each, making it easier for consultants or agencies to handle several clients. Political campaigns may need to use Campaign Verify as part of their registration to obtain a token for higher throughput and compliance. For example, a nonprofit or political campaign would complete the registration process by submitting their tax IDs, specifying their business type, and registering their campaign for sms marketing to ensure compliance and message deliverability.

At Rally Corp, we walk our clients through this step by step—and in most cases, we’ll have you registered and approved within 3–5 business days.

Completing the registration process gives organizations access to higher throughput and other benefits, such as improved deliverability and compliance.

10DLC may sound like red tape, but it’s actually your competitive edge. With better deliverability, stronger compliance, and lower costs, you’re able to send messages that reach more people—and raise more support.

If your current provider isn’t talking to you about 10DLC compliance, they’re putting your reputation (and your outreach results) at risk.

Ready to get compliant—and see better results?

We'll handle the paperwork and setup. You handle the mission.

👉 Talk to our team and we'll guide you through the 10DLC approval process.

Best Practices for Nonprofits Using 10DLC

Here's the reality: too many nonprofits are getting their SMS campaigns tangled up in red tape and missed opportunities. It's not that your mission isn't compelling—it's that your approach might be working against you. Supporters want to hear from you, but carriers and platforms have rules that can either make or break your outreach efforts. The good news? Following a few key strategies will help you cut through the noise and actually reach the people who matter most to your cause.

1. Register Every Campaign ClearlyDon't be vague here—carriers can smell generic messaging from a mile away. When you're registering campaigns, get specific about what you're actually doing. Are you rallying donors for an emergency appeal? Mobilizing volunteers for an event? Each campaign deserves its own clear identity. This isn't bureaucratic nonsense—it's how you earn trust with carriers and ensure your messages actually land in supporters' hands instead of getting filtered out.

2. Use Dedicated 10-Digit Long Code Phone NumbersThink of this as your organization's digital handshake. When supporters see a consistent number, they recognize you instantly. No more confusion, no more "who is this?" moments. Assign a unique 10 digit long code phone number to your organization or individual campaigns. It's about building relationships, not just broadcasting messages, and making it easier for supporters to take action.

3. Keep Your Contact Details and Organization Info Up to DateThis one drives me crazy when organizations skip it. Carriers aren't trying to make your life difficult—they're protecting their networks from spam. When your nonprofit's information is outdated or incomplete, you look suspicious. Keep your address, tax ID, website, and everything else current in the registry. It's the difference between being seen as a legitimate organization and getting lumped in with the scammers. Modern tools, such as ringless voicemail for nonprofits, can further enhance your donor communication strategy while maintaining compliance and trust.

4. Maintain Compliance with Carrier RulesI can't stress this enough: respect your supporters' choices. Always include clear opt-out instructions—usually a simple "reply STOP to unsubscribe"—and honor those requests immediately. Never, ever send unsolicited messages. This isn't about following rules for the sake of rules; it's about treating people the way they deserve to be treated.

5. Monitor Campaign Performance and FeedbackPay attention to what's actually happening with your messages. Are delivery rates dropping? Are more people opting out? These aren't just numbers—they're signals. When something's off, dig into your campaign registration and messaging approach. Staying in good standing with carriers means staying responsive to what the data is telling you.

6. Protect Your Supporters' PrivacyThis should be non-negotiable. Handle phone numbers and personal data like the precious resources they are. Only send messages to people who've explicitly said yes, and never—never—share supporter information with anyone else. Your supporters trusted you with their contact information. Don't break that trust.

Here's what I've learned: nonprofits that follow these practices don't just avoid problems—they build stronger connections with their communities. With 10DLC done right, your organization can reach supporters confidently, knowing you're honoring both their trust and industry standards. Your mission is too important to let poor messaging practices get in the way.

Conclusion

Here's the bottom line: 10DLC registration isn't optional anymore—it's the difference between your messages actually reaching people and getting lost in the digital void. If you're sending high volumes of texts to customers, supporters, or donors, this is your method problem solved. By completing the registration process, you unlock better deliverability, lower costs, and higher messaging throughput—giving your nonprofit or 501(c) organization the competitive edge you need when everyone's fighting for attention in today's crowded communication landscape.

The process is refreshingly straightforward: provide accurate and complete information about your brand, messaging use case, and organization details, then obtain your Trust Score. No gimmicks. No shortcuts. No hoping for the best. This not only keeps you compliant with carrier policies but ensures your messages cut through spam filters and actually land where they belong—in front of your intended audience. For nonprofit organizations, including 501(c) entities, 10DLC registration is your proven path to hitting fundraising goals, truly engaging supporters, and communicating in ways that actually work.

Whether you're a business, nonprofit, or government entity, registering for 10DLC is non-negotiable if you want to leverage the real power of text messaging. By staying compliant and following best practices, your organization builds trust, maintains compliance, and delivers messages that genuinely make an impact. Don't let outdated processes or incomplete registration sabotage your efforts—embrace 10DLC and watch your communication channels finally thrive. If your messages aren't getting through, it's not your cause. It's your method.