10DLC Overview for Non-Profits (501(c)s) and Non-Political customers

What is 10DLC?

10DLC (10 digit long code) stands for a phone number with a local area code like 347-999-9999 that has been approved for sending texts at scale. Registration is required to access a 10DLC phone number. Please note that registrations can take upwards of 3-5 business days to be approved.

illustration of a certificate for 10DLC compliance

To register for 10DLC, non-profits (charities, advocacy groups, unions) and other non-political entities will need to provide:

Legal organization name

EIN / Tax ID

Physical address

Explanation of why you’re texting – i.e. fundraising, event recruitment

Explanation of how people sign up for texts – i.e. by entering a phone number into a website or signing up at in-person events

Two sample text scripts

Note: 501(c) non-profits may be asked to submit additional documentation to verify the status of the organization, such as a letter of determination or an 8976 form.

Registration is easy - simply fill out our 10DLC form.

Here’s a guide to getting registered

When will I register for 10DLC?

You can register for 10DLC whenever you’re ready by filling out this form.

Additionally, you can view a guide on how to register with Scale to Win by clicking here.

Are there limits to what I can send on 10DLC?

10DLC numbers come with daily sending limits for nonprofits and private entities (but not for government entities or political committees). Read more about these limits here.

Do I have to register for 10DLC?

We strongly recommend registering for 10DLC if your organization is a government entity or 501(c) nonprofit. Nonprofits may also wish to send texts from toll-free numbers.

Private entities may be better suited to toll-free numbers. Reach out to us to discuss your use case.

Are there any costs associated with 10DLC?

Scale to Win doesn’t charge fees for 10DLC registration. That means you’ll only pay for the texts you send.

What if I can’t register for 10DLC?

If you’re a group without an EIN or otherwise cannot register for 10DLC, our Quick Start option may be for you. Reach out to us to discuss the best approach for your use case.

What if I am texting with multiple legal entities?

Our tool was intentionally designed to make it easy to register multiple entities from one account. After you complete your Scale to Win contract, be sure to let our team know you’ll need to register multiple legal entities and we’ll be happy to walk you through the process. You can also read more here.

What if I’m a consultant who provides texting for my customers?

Scale to Win also makes this process easy. If you have multiple customers, you’ll need to register each of them individually. After you complete your Scale to Win contract, be sure to let our team know you’ll need to register multiple customers and we’ll be happy to walk you through the process. You can also read more here.

What about toll-free texting?

Texting with a toll-free number means that instead of texting with a local area code, you’ll text from phone numbers with area codes like 833, 844, or 866 (you won’t ever be texting with a 800 number). These phone numbers otherwise look identical to an ordinary ten-digit phone number with a local area code.

Registration is required to access a toll-free number. At present, it takes around 5 business days for toll-free registrations to be approved. You can read more about toll-free texting here.