Category: Popular

Our popular content written to help you understand how charity contactless donation terminals can boost fundraising efforts for your charity.

See the most popular questions answered and how others have experienced the enhanced average donation increase and the ease of use. Various stand options mean more choice and the terminals can be adapted to your situation and location.

Popular Technology

Unlock the Power of Mobile Giving

Post author By Miranda Aldridge
Post date 3rd June 2025

pop uo shops with mobile donation machines

Unlock the Power of Offline and Mobile Giving

April 2025

Boost Donations and Impact with Modern Technology

In today’s fast-paced world, cash is becoming harder to come by and convenience is king! That’s especially true when it comes to charitable giving. We are thrilled to announce that our offline donation machines now have contactless capabilities as well as Chip and PIN.

Fed up with struggling with unreliable internet connections? Our terminals are engineered to make fundraising effortless, efficient, and accessible, no matter your environment.

Embrace True Freedom: The Power of Offline Donations

One of the most common headaches for event organisers is the unpredictable nature of Wi-Fi connectivity, especially at outdoor venues or in remote locations. Many of the charities we support – from ancient stone churches to remote tourist attractions – are situated in rural environments. Our donation terminals solve this challenge! Built for true portability and independence, Dona donation machines continue to accept card, contactless and phone donations, even when there’s no internet connection or 4G signal

Imagine the possibilities:

Summer Festivals & Outdoor Events: From bustling food festivals and vibrant music events to charity boat races and lively summer fêtes. Our terminals allow you to set up donation points anywhere, without having to worry about signal drops or bandwidth issues.
Sporting Challenges & Running Events: Whether it’s a marathon finish line, a charity walk starting point, or a cycling sportive through the forest, our terminals are perfect for collecting donations where connectivity is often limited.
Pop-Up Stalls & Mobile Fundraising: Take your fundraising directly to the crowds! Our lightweight terminals are perfect to pass around, allowing volunteers to move through queues or mingle with attendees, capturing donations on the spot.
Long-Lasting Power for All-Day Giving: With an impressive battery life of up to 10 hours, our terminals are designed to last through even the longest event days. No need to constantly hunt for power outlets – simply charge them overnight, and they’re ready for a full day of impactful fundraising.

Here’s why our contactless donation terminals are the ultimate solution for your next fundraising drive:

Self-Service Simplicity & Zero Training: Our terminals are incredibly intuitive and self-service, making the donation process quick and easy for your supporters. No complex training is required for your staff or volunteers – simply present the terminal, and donors can tap their card or device to contribute in seconds. This streamlines your operations and enhances the donor experience.
Versatility for Every Cause: Whether you’re a bustling tourist attraction, a sacred religious establishment, a vibrant educational institution, or organising a local village fête, our terminals are designed to fit your needs. Their sleek design allows them to be stand-mounted for a prominent display (by entrances and exits for maximum visibility) or easily carried amongst crowds.
Security & Compliance You Can Trust: Peace of mind is paramount. Our contactless donation terminals are built with robust security features to protect both your organisation and your donors’ data. Rest assured, all transactions are secure and fully compliant with industry standards, giving you complete confidence in every tap.
Effortless Management & HMRC Ready: Say goodbye to manual reconciliation headaches! Our intuitive online management portal provides you with a range of detailed reports that give you a clear overview of your donations. For our UK charities, the system is designed to be HMRC ready, making your accounting,Gift Aid declarations and other financial reporting incredibly easy and efficient.
Customisation That Connects: Make the terminals truly yours! You can customise them with eye-catching screensavers that reflect your branding and message. Even better, set up to 20 different funds for donors to choose from, allowing them to direct their contribution to a specific project or cause that resonates most with them. Set up suggested giving amounts, alongside the option for the donor to choose their own donation. This level of customisation helps you connect with your donors on a deeper level and demonstrate the impact of their generosity.

If you still have questions please connect.

Our UK based sales team is on hand to answer your queries.

Call: 0203 488 5038

Complete our enquiry form

Message on our social channels –

Find out more....

Our friendly team will be in touch to answer any questions you may have.

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Tags card donations, charity donations, contactless, dona donations, donation kiosk, fundraising offline, mobile charity event, mobile donations, mobile fundraising, mobile giving, tap and go

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Fundraising tips for charity shops

Post author By Miranda Aldridge
Post date 10th April 2025

Fundraising Tips for Charity Shops

April 2025

Fundraising Tips for Charity Shops: Boost Donations and Impact with Modern Technology

With a decline in cash donations and changing donor habits, it is vital to take every opportunity to provide quick and easy options for donors to donate whenever possible. Since Covid times, the landscape has been changing for the retail charity sector. Charity shop running costs are increasing with a decline in volunteers and therefore increase in paid staff. Adding extra donations to the pot is vital to continue making the charity shop a viable and valuable fundraising source.

This article provides a selection of our top fundraising tips for charity shops of all types, sizes and layout.

The three types of visitors to a charity shop, and therefore potential donors, would be:

Those donating goods

Those purchasing goods

Those just browsing

Understanding the Modern Donor

Cash usage has dropped by a huge amount over the last few years, particularly since the pandemic identified cash as unhygienic and hard to access. The use of digital payment methods has seen a massive upsurge across all areas of day-to-day life, with charity donations not excluded from this change in spending habits.

Donors now expect contactless giving options to be available, so providing this facility within a charity shop is essential. Contactless donation terminals are quick, safe and secure means of giving, with donors already in the mood for spending money on donated goods, therefore, more likely to donate, especially if they do not find anything to purchase on the day of their visit. Those arriving to donate items are in the mindset of giving and can also take advantage of the opportunity to donate whilst in the shop.

Every visitor is a potential donor.

Strategic Placement of Dona Donation Terminals in Your Charity Shop

Donation terminals can be placed on a range of standard or custom donation stands – free standing stands, wall mounted or countertop. You could have a donation zone – where you highlight current campaigns with a donation terminal and signage.

The store can then highlight the various campaigns or funds they are fundraising for, show how money is being spent and build further engagement with their donors.

With Dona card terminals, you can add up to 20 individual campaigns to the machines for donors to choose from.

Our Top Charity Shop Card Donation Machine Placement Tips:

High-Traffic Areas:
- Near the till
- At entrances and exits
- In prominent display areas with popular items
- In the window: create a display in the window of the charity shop when the charity shop is closed, and activate Dona’s tap and go feature so people can donate as they walk past.
Donation machines are also ideal for mobile events and pop-up shops with great offline capabilities.

Top 10 Features of a Contactless Donation Terminal for Your Charity Shop

safe and secure way for donors to give, building trust.
Design your own branded or custom homescreen and attract donors to support your most impactful causes.
Have multiple terminals at key locations in your shop.
Set your own suggested donation amounts to enable quick donations.
Allow the choice of a custom amount to cater for all donation amount preferences.
Collect Gift Aid with the simple sign up option.
Battery life of up to 10 hours in offline mode.
Use the Keep in Touch feature to capture GDPR-compliant donor loyalty.
Choose your thank you messages after a donation has been sent.
Real-time donation tracking in the management portal with HMRC ready reports.

Once a donation has been made they will receive a thank you message and email. This gives the charity an opportunity to further engage with donors that would otherwise have left the shop with no interaction or further follow up.

If you would like to see our management portal in action, or run through the benefits and features of our latest donation card machines, our UK sales team would be delighted to assist. Please choose your contact method below…

Call: 0203 488 5038

Complete our enquiry form

Message on our social channels –

Find out more....

Our friendly team will be in touch to answer any questions you may have.

Enquire

Tags charity donations, charity fundraising. shop donations, charity shop fundraising. shop fundraising, contactless charity shop, dona donations charity shop, shop and donate, tap and go, tips for fundraising, window donations

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Fundraising over Easter – Is your Church ready?

Post author By Miranda Aldridge
Post date 1st April 2025

Easter fundraising in a church with Dona donations

Fundraising Over Easter - Is Your Church Ready?

April 2025

Churches using Dona raise 75% more donations during Easter week than the rest of the year.

At Dona, we see a significant spike in donations gifted through our digital donation machines and online webpages throughout the Christian period of Lent, and especially over the busy Easter week. Churches that are well prepared for the increase in visitors receive a significant proportion of their annual donation income during this important season.

Easter is one of the most spiritually significant times of the Christian year, drawing people to church to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. With increased attendance—both in-person and online—churches have a unique opportunity to engage with congregations, new visitors, and even lapsed attendees, in a meaningful way.

The Easter season’s themes of renewal, sacrifice, and generosity naturally inspire giving, making it an ideal time to encourage donations for church ministries, outreach programmes, and community support efforts. Many people are more open to giving during Easter as an expression of gratitude and faith, and churches can use this momentum to fund important initiatives that will impact lives long after the holiday is over.

Advanced preparation is the key to successful fundraising over Easter

This is both to ensure you have the right infrastructure in place to empower visitors wishing to support your church, and to inspire generosity through carefully considered campaigns.

Here are some key strategies to leverage digital donation technology, storytelling, and engagement to make the most of this important fundraising period for your church.

1. Install Enough Donation Machines for Your Expected Visitors

With fewer people carrying cash, it’s essential that your church is ready to collect donations via card, contactless and phone.
Digital collection plates, such as Dona’s portable donation machines, can be passed around during the service to give congregations the option to pay by card.
Install donation terminals on stands at entrances and exits, and by key points of interest around the church. Votive candles, side chapels and significant relics, works of art or by stained glass windows can all be inspiring places to prompt generosity from visitors.
People don’t like to queue to donate during busy times, so it is essential that you have enough machines to catch the flow of visitors. Dona data shows that one donation terminal per 50 donors present is the optimum ratio.
Dona organisations with two donation machines fundraised 263% more than organisations with only one machine in 2024

2. Collect Gift Aid

Make sure your digital and online giving technology is set up to collect Gift Aid, increasing donations by 25%.
With Dona donation terminals, donors only need to register for Gift Aid the first time they give. Subsequent donations using the same card will automatically have Gift Aid applied.
On average, 40% of donations gifted using Dona are given with Gift Aid, although some churches collect up to 80% of donations with added Gift Aid!
Sharing clear instructions with your congregation about the benefits of registering, and encouraging repeat donations through the Dona system can all help to boost your church’s income.

3. Optimise Online Giving

Ensure your church’s website has a clear, easy-to-use donation page with multiple giving options to empower people to pay with credit or debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
At Dona, we supply a free online donation webpage to every charitable organisation that uses Dona donation machines.
Customise your donation webpage with a range of Easter-themed campaigns, to inspire greater engagement and generosity.

4. Add Seasonal Campaigns to Your Donation Machines

Programme your donation machines with Lent and Easter-themed campaigns and challenges to inspire giving.

Try a “7-Day Easter Challenge” to encourage members to donate a small amount daily throughout Holy Week.
Encourage congregations to think differently about how they approach their Lenten sacrifices with a “40 Days of Giving” challenge.
Other Easter-themed donation campaigns might include ideas such as “In the Sprit of Resurrection”, “Give in Honour of Christ’s Sacrifice,” or a “From Cross to Community” fundraiser to draw attention to causes your church is supporting more widely.
Boost your overall donations with a matching gifts challenge, encouraging your donors or local business groups to match contributions up to a certain amount.
Dona donation terminals can be programmed with up to 20 separate campaigns.

5. Update Your Donation Machines with Easter Branding

Create eye catching Easter-themed screensavers for your donation terminals to inspire engagement with your most important seasonal campaigns.
Add your church’s logo and branding, pictures relating to your causes, or celebrate your church team to highlight all the hard work they do.
Each Dona donation terminal can be easily customised with up to 5 screensavers. Using different displays on different donation terminals can be a great way to drive engagement for specific causes.

6. Use QR Codes on Posters and Pamphlets

Place QR codes in newsletter or email bulletins, pew cards, or on screens during services, leading directly to your online giving page or Dona donation webpage.
Dona’s free donation webpages all come with a free QR code that you can print out and place around your church to give people a quick way to access your online giving options

7. Increase Average Donations

Customise the “Suggested Donations” feature on Dona donation terminals and your church’s online donation webpage to encourage generosity. By raising suggested donation amounts, donors can be inspired to donate more than they would usually give in cash.
The average donation given on Dona donation terminals in 2024 was over £12, while the average donation given via Dona donation webpages in the same year was over £41!
Consider suggesting higher amounts on your donation webpage, where people can be inspired through in-depth messaging to donate more impactfully to your most important causes.

8. Leverage Social Media and Email Marketing

Share your Lent and Easter fundraising campaigns through social media and email newsletters to your community.
Compelling stories shared via video testimonials from beneficiaries or church members can be particularly impactful.
Provide links to your online giving page, or Dona donation webpage, so that your community can support your campaigns more easily.
Post engaging live-streamed messages, devotionals, and fundraisers on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram to update your followers on the success of your campaigns, and motivate them to help you reach your targets.

9. Celebrate Your Impact Through Reports and Thank You Messages

Show how past donations have made a difference through infographics, testimonials, and videos.
Host a “Behind-the-Scenes” livestream showing how donations support outreach, missions, or church activities.
Send a personalised thank-you email to donors to reinforce gratitude and encourage future generosity. Dona donation terminals and online webpages allow you to send automated thank you messages to keep your audience engaged.
Use Dona’s “Keep in Touch” feature to allow donors to opt in to marketing messages for updates on how your campaigns are progressing.

Prepare for the busiest church attendance days during the Lent and Easter period, which typically include:

1. Ash Wednesday (Start of Lent)

Marks the beginning of Lent, a season of fasting and repentance.
Many churches hold services where worshippers receive ashes on their foreheads as a sign of humility and reflection.

2. Palm Sunday (Sunday Before Easter)

Commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
Often features special processions and the distribution of palm branches.
Marks the start of Holy Week, drawing higher attendance.

3. Maundy Thursday (Thursday Before Easter)

Commemorates the Last Supper and Jesus’ command to love one another.
Some churches hold foot-washing ceremonies and Holy Communion services.

4. Good Friday (Friday Before Easter)

A solemn day remembering Jesus’ crucifixion and sacrifice.
Many churches host special services, Stations of the Cross, or meditative worship.
Often a high-attendance day, especially for Catholic and liturgical churches.

5. Easter Sunday (Resurrection Sunday)

The biggest church attendance day of the year for most churches.
Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus with joyful services, baptisms, and special music.
Attracts both regular attendees and those who visit church only a few times a year (e.g., “Christmas and Easter Christians”).

Other Notable Days in Lent

Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil): In some traditions (especially Catholic and Orthodox), this night is a time of deep reflection and celebration of new life through baptisms.

Sundays in Lent: While not as busy as Easter, these Sundays often see a small uptake in attendance as people engage in Lenten commitments.

Dona Donations can help Christian groups, charities and organisations collect donations from the Easter period with secure, compliant and easy-to-use contactless donation terminals. Dona’s online management portal offers a host of HMRC-friendly reports, analytics and tools to customise your donors’ experience.

To find out more, complete our enquiry form or call us today on 0203 488 5038.

Find out more....

Our friendly team will be in touch to answer any questions you may have.

Enquire

Tags church contactless donations, church events, church fundraising, church giving, contactless donation easter, dona donations easter, donate for easter, easter donations, easter events, Easter fundraising, electronic giving, giving at easter, religious fundraising, religious giving

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Fundraising Events and Managing Donations

Post author By Miranda Aldridge
Post date 12th March 2025

Fundraising Events and Managing Donations

March 2025

Charities and Organisations raise a staggering amount of money each year by hosting a variety of events.

Famous Charity Fundraising Events in History

Live Aid raised a staggering £30 million back in 1985.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life is the biggest mass participation charity fundraising event – the UK’s largest mass-participation charity fundraising event, raising £31.3 million in 2023, making it the highest-grossing event of the year.

The London Marathon, in 2024, broke the world record for the biggest one-day fundraising event. Over £67m was raised as more than 53,000 people took part in the 26.2-mile race through the city. The total surpasses the record of £66.4m, set by the same race in 2019.

If you are looking to run an event to raise funds for your charity or organisation, your first point of call would be to look at the fundraising regulator guidelines for events – https://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/code/specific-fundraising-methods/events

Types of fundraising charity events

Charity Sporting Events

Sporting events such as half marathons, fun runs, park runs, assault courses, 10km and 5km races are among the biggest sources of funds for charities. Walking events also feature highly. Collections can be made both at the event itself through portable contactless donation devices, as well as with funds being raised before the event through sponsorship and online donations through systems like Dona’s online donation webpages.

Community Fundraising Events

Car boot sales: collecting entry fees with a portable contactless donation device can save time and increase fundraising income. Donations can also be collected by moving from pitch to pitch with a mobile Dona device.
Dog or horse shows: if your attendees are mobile then you can be too, take donations ringside.
Fêtes and shows: village fêtes, street parties, county shows and agricultural shows can be really successful ways for communities to fundraise. Station volunteers outside of marquees or around areas where visitors may congregate to collect more donations.
Indoor events: fun, interactive examples of indoor events that can be successful fundraising drives include live auctions, bingo nights, cake sales, and games or quiz nights. Card donation machines can be passed around the room for donors to simply ‘tap to donate’.
Gala events: local businesses can donate to sponsor tables through Dona’s online webpages, while Dona donation machines can be stationed at entrances and exits, or passed from table to table for collecting donations from guests.

Fundraising Festivals

Festivals can be a wonderful way to fundraise, attracting large numbers of visitors and raising awareness of your cause. Entrances and exits are great spots for donation terminals as well as on stands, take donations where people are flowing through.

Types of festival include:

Music festivals
Food and drink festivals
Film festivals
Theatre fringe festivals
Arts festivals and open studios events
Literary or educational festivals

Benefits of using a card donation machine at your next event

Allows more people to donate that do not carry cash.
More hygienic than handling cash for volunteers, staff and donors.
Safer for volunteers and staff to carry a handheld donation machine than cash – minimises the risk of theft.
Traceable donation trail making reporting with HMRC reports easy.
Quicker donations with digital donations as no cash handling, no change needed thus reduces queues and preparation.
Means more donor contact information is collected for future marketing, with donor consent.
More data means better analysis of donor behaviour and trends for future campaigns.
Gift Aid is easier to obtain and has been shown to boost donations amounts.
Average donation value is much higher than with cash.
No staff needed for self-service donation machine stands.

Key preparation for your event

Setting up a webpage: Dona provides a free webpage where you can promote up to 20 different campaigns or projects that you might be collecting for.
Add a link to the webpage in your email campaigns and on ticket sale sites.
Add your event to Facebook and other social media, and include your webpage link.
Post your QR code on your socials ahead of, during and after the event.
Add your QR code to your event flyers, posters and newsletters.
Create signs to show clearly where donation terminals are located.
Ask event hosts to mention where attendees can donate.
Add your donation card machine locations to event guides.

Helpful Features for Your Events: How Dona Donation Card Machines Can Help

Offline mode for outdoor areas with no Wi-Fi or poor connectivity: essential for those ‘in the middle of nowhere’ type of events and dips, black zones where a Wi-Fi connection is not possible.
Long battery life: Up to 10 hours of battery, when used offline, to ensure your donation terminal is up to the job throughout your event.
Tap and Go: For faster set-amount donations, this function makes donating quick and easy, meaning no more queues and digging around for change, just select your donation amount and tap your card.
Pause your donation terminal until your next event saving your charity money: if you only run events quarterly or seasonally, our terminals can be paused until your next event, meaning you save money but still have access to this fundraising boost when you need it most.

Talk to the team at Dona Donations to see how our card donation machines can help boost your fundraising and help you achieve your targets.

Call our UK sales team – 020 8038 0820

Find out more....

Our friendly team will be in touch to answer any questions you may have.

Enquire

Tags card donation event, card donation machine, card donations, collect donations, donations at events, event fundraising, events, fundraising events, mobile donations, offline donations, outdoor event donations, tap and go

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Fundraising during Ramadan – Ramadan Kareem

Post author By Miranda Aldridge
Post date 13th February 2025

Lanterns full colour at a Ramadan festival

Fundraising during Ramadan - Ramadan Kareem

February 2025

Fundraising before, during and after Ramadan can be a really rewarding experience, but there are some important factors to keep in mind to make sure you’re being respectful and effective. Here are some of the key considerations:

Ramadan

Understanding Ramadan:

- Timing: Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims, marked by fasting from dawn to sunset for a month. A day of fasting can last for as long as 17 hours, depending on where you are located during the fast. As a consequence, people’s routines and energy levels will change quite considerably. Be mindful of this when planning events or asking for donations.
- Spiritual Significance: Ramadan is a time for reflection, prayer, and increased charity. Emphasise the spiritual benefits of giving during this time, such as increased rewards and blessings.
- Zakat: Zakat is a mandatory form of charity giving for Muslims who meet a certain wealth threshold. It’s often given annually during Ramadan. It pays to be aware of the specific rules and guidelines around Zakat, and if you’re collecting Zakat, make sure you’re able to show how those funds will be used to enhance trust and transparency, particularly if your campaign is for a project that will benefit the community or promote Islam.

Sadaqah: Sadaqah is the term for sincere, voluntary giving in Islam, with nothing expected in return. This could be acts of kindness, sharing knowledge, praying for someone or a monetary donation.

Cultural Sensitivity:

Language: Using Arabic phrases like “Ramadan Kareem” (may Ramadan be generous to you) or “Eid Mubarak” (blessed festival) in your fundraising materials can show respect and make your campaign more appealing to Muslim donors.
Imagery: Use images that are relevant to Ramadan, such as Mosques, lanterns, or dates.
Modesty: When organising events or using images of people, be mindful of modesty in dress and behaviour as well as ensuring you have the usual consent required.

Practical Considerations:

Iftar: Iftar is the evening meal that breaks the fast. Consider hosting an Iftar event as a fundraising opportunity. It’s a great way to bring people together and share a meal while raising money for a good cause. Use a local venue and create a sense of community.
Target Audience: Tailor your fundraising efforts to your target audience. If you’re fundraising within the Muslim community, you might focus on Zakat (obligatory giving) and Sadaqah (voluntary giving). If you’re fundraising for a wider audience, you might focus on the general spirit of giving during Ramadan.

Fundraising ahead of Ramadan

When Muslims are preparing for Ramadan there are opportunities to fundraise that can help to boost your charity income. Always consider how best to do this in a respectful way.

Planning ahead is key. Build campaigns that resonate with the spirit of Ramadan and have clear goals.
Online donations. Make use of digital platforms with a dedicated fundraising page. At Dona we offer a FREE webpage when you purchase a donation terminal.
Email marketing is a great way to keep in touch with your donors and supporters. Sending the details of your campaign and links to your fundraising webpage is a great way to promote your event or fund. Dona donation webpages can be linked via a QR code to include in your email or on printed materials, so donors can scan the code and donate quickly and easily from anywhere.

Contactless donation terminals placed around your event in high-traffic areas can really boost in-person donations. Dona’s contactless donation terminals are self-service and simple to use, and have been shown to substantially increase overall charitable fundraising. Donation machines can be mounted on stands by the different entrances for men and women, and mosques often choose to have an additional terminal that can be passed around for supporters to donate while at an event or after prayers.
Partner with other Muslim influencers, communities and events to increase the reach and effect of your campaign. Encourage your social media followers to share the campaign too.
Organise a sale of Ramada- related items such as food, spices, clothing or religious items (prayer mats, Islamic books, Quran stands).

Post Ramadan:

After the fundraising is complete it is essential to let your donors know how important their donations have been and to demonstrate the ways that their contributions will help those around them, the wider community and the promotion of Islam.

You may wish to split your fundraising into the two main campaigns for Zakat and Sadaqah. This would make reporting back to your supporters much easier. With Dona you can programme your donation terminal to collect for up to 20 different campaigns. The Dona management portal makes it quick and easy to see the totals raised for each campaign.

Dona Donations can help Muslim groups, charities and organisations collect donations from supporters before, during and after Ramadan with secure, compliant and easy-to-use contactless donation terminals. Dona’s online management portal offers a host of HMRC-friendly reports, analytics and tools to customise your donors’ experience.

To find out more, complete our enquiry form or call us today on 0203 488 5038.

Find out more....

Our friendly team will be in touch to answer any questions you may have.

Enquire

Tags Collection for Ramadan, dona donations, donation terminal, donations for Ramadan, fundraising for Ramadan, mosque card terminal, mosque donations, mosque terminal, Ramadan, Ramadan Kareem, Sadaqah card donation, Sadaqah donations, Zakat Donations, Zakat reporting

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How can Funeral Directors collect contactless donations?

Post author By Miranda Aldridge
Post date 3rd February 2025

Funeral service long candles at a church

How can Funeral Directors collect contactless donations on behalf of their mourners?

January 2025

Many people like to leave a legacy to local or national charities or organisations close to their heart when they pass. One thing they might also share is the desire to have donations instead of floral gifts at their funeral. For the family, it is a time when they would generally like the process to be easy and hassle free.

At Dona we offer a service for Funeral Directors so they can accommodate the families’ needs in a professional way, with a service that they can provide to ease the burden at a difficult time.

Having card donation machines available at a funeral mass, burial, cremation or wake, either near the entrance or in the room used to congregate, can be a useful way for mourners to give.

Dona donation machines empower funeral directors to allocate donations directly to the charity chosen by the deceased, so that the family can be confident their last wishes are being honoured.

Features

Total of donations raised will be available and shared with the family
A QR code can be included to the order of service and on a dedicated webpage so that mourners can use their phone to scan and donate.
Funeral Directors can provide this service as an extra feature.
Donations can be taken by debit or credit card.
A list of donors and the gifted amounts can be made available after the service to be sent to the family.

Benefits for Funeral Directors and Attendees:

Convenience: Contactless payments are quick and easy, meaning no cash handling needed.
Choice: The family or deceased can choose the charity that they wish donations to be made to.
Efficiency: The terminal streamlines the donation process, reducing wait times and improving the overall experience.
Security: Contactless payments are secure, minimising the risk of theft or fraud.
Trust: Donors can clearly see exactly where their donation is going and will be updated after with the amount donated.

Additional Considerations:

Accessibility: Ensure the terminal is accessible to people with disabilities by using Dona’s height-adjustable stand.
Staff Training: Train staff to assist attendees with the donation process if needed.
Marketing: Promote the availability of contactless donations on the funeral home’s website, social media, and other communication channels.
Data Privacy: The management portal already adheres to data protection regulations when handling donor information.

Gift Aid: Donations can be amplified with the use of Gift Aid forms on the terminals and the donation website page.

By implementing contactless donation terminals, funeral directors can provide a modern and convenient way for attendees to honor the deceased and support charitable causes.

How Contactless Donation Terminals Work:

Setup:

- Choose Charities: Select the charity relevant to the deceased or the family’s wishes.
- Configure Terminal: Program the terminal with the chosen charity set up as an individual fund for each funeral for the coming day.
- Choose set donation amounts ahead of time for ease of donating. Custom options will also be available.

2. Placement:

- - Visible Location: Place the terminal in a prominent location, such as near the exit, entrance or reception area. Sometimes it is a good idea to have the terminal in the area where refreshments are served.
  - Clear Signage: Use clear signage to direct attendees to the donation terminal and explain its purpose.
  - In the Order of Service. Print clear instructions in the Order of Service on where to find the terminals.
  - Mentioned briefly during the service introduction.

QR Code: Add this to the Order of Service to enable mourners to donate at their leisure when they return home. This can also be shared on the funeral home webpages (sometimes offered as part of the funeral package), or on the deceased or family’s Facebook page so donations can be made by those unable to attend on the day.

Funeral Directors’ Considerations

Funeral Directors are required to keep donation records for 7 years. The Dona Donations management portal is set up to comply with all HMRC data reporting needs.

The portal can also provide a list of names and total donation amounts.

A general guide for best practice management of donations for funeral directors can be found here

If we can help in any other way please contact our Sales team with any new terminal enquiries on 0203 488 5038

Alternatively please do complete our enquiry from to request a copy of our latest brochure.

Find out more....

Our friendly team will be in touch to answer any questions you may have.

Enquire

Tags card donations, charity fundraising, charity tips, christmas fundraising, digital collection plate, digital fundraising, donation terminal, festive event, festive fundraising, fundraising webpage, Online fundraising, self service terminals, speedy donations

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Digital Collection Plate Festive Fundraising Checklist:

Post author By Miranda Aldridge
Post date 13th December 2024

Digital Collection Plate Festive Fundraising Checklist:

December 2024

During the festive season, around large religious festivals and celebratory events, there are a few steps you can take that can help make fundraising run smoothly for you and your donors.

Speed up donations using Tap and Go on your V3 donation terminal

Dona’s newest V3 donation terminals come with a new Tap and Go functionality, allowing you to set one suggested donation amount that people can give with a fast, simple tap and go. This can help reduce queues and encourage more people to donate that otherwise might not stop if they are subject to a lengthy wait.

This is particularly useful during big events and busy seasonal gatherings, or for leaving in a shop window so passers-by can gift overnight

Tap and Go will speed up donations, but won’t ask new donors to register for Gift Aid. You can encourage donors to preregister for Gift Aid, as this only needs to be done once. Mention this to your congregation in person or in a newsletter to help secure Gift Aid donations ahead of time.

Increase your number of terminals

The cost of employing an extra terminal can be quickly recuperated during the festive season and at busy events, and your organisation will then be set up to capture additional donations for the rest of the season and well into the new year. Contact our sales team to add a terminal to your account quickly and easily.

Self-service stands

To enhance donation accessibility, Dona donation terminals are all self-service. Self-service terminals, placed in strategic high-footfall locations, empower donors to make contributions independently. This can significantly boost donations, especially during peak periods when staff or volunteers may be limited. Our flexible stands can be configured to suit various environments, including counter-top, freestanding, and adjustable styles.

Let people know you accept card donations

If you are holding an event or gathering, ensure you let people know before and during the event so they can feel inspired to donate at any point. This will reduce queues and give you the opportunity to let them know about how important their support is and the difference it can make.

Make the most of Christmas Fundraising for your organisation. Sending regular updates and newsletters electronically to your donors means they can really get behind your fundraising goals and be part of the journey to success with helping to hit your targets.

Be sure to also have your Dona donation webpage set up for those unable to attend in person who might like to show their support. Contact our support team today if you have any questions about how to do this.

Is your account verified?

If you are a new customer, financial regulations mean you will need to complete a verification process with the card payment processor. This avoids limits to the donation amounts and totals that you can receive.

If you have any questions about the information required by Stripe to verify your account for financial verification please follow this link: https://support.stripe.com/questions/business-information-requirements-to-use-stripe?locale=en-GB

Do you need to top-up your 4G data?

If you are using 4G data SIMs or a 4G dongle with your Digital collection plates, we recommend topping-up your data ahead of busy

periods. This will ensure that your DCPs are usable at all times.

If you would prefer you can upgrade to a WiFi +4G terminal that will allow you to take donations with or without an internet connection. See our new DCPv3

Further help and resources:

If we can help in any other way please contact our Sales team with any new terminal enquiries on 0203 488 5038

Or our support team on 0203 488 8095 who are available up until the 25th December and from the 2nd January.

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Tags card donations, charity fundraising, charity tips, christmas fundraising, digital collection plate, digital fundraising, donation terminal, festive event, festive fundraising, fundraising webpage, Online fundraising, self service terminals, speedy donations

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Black Friday and the Alternatives – Green, Big, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday

Post author By Miranda Aldridge
Post date 19th November 2024

Black Friday and the Alternatives - Green, Big, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday

November 2024

Black Friday – love it or hate it, the term has become a familiar event in the winter calendar, bringing to mind tempting online deals and queues in the shops. For some it’s an exciting time to grab a bargain and get in the festive spirit. For others, the drive towards increased spending and over-consumption can feel at odds with environmental and community values.

Due to these conflicting connotations, a number of alternative names for Black Friday have emerged over the years, including:

Giving Tuesday
Green Friday
Give Back Friday
Big Friday
Cyber Monday

Giving Tuesday

At Dona Donations we choose to celebrate Giving Tuesday, instead of Black Friday.

The third sector, including charities and not-for-profit organisations have, since 2012, embraced Giving Tuesday as an option for those wishing to give in a different way, or in addition to giving gifts to friends, family and loved ones over the festive season. Whether by contributing financially, donating time, or supporting a cause on social media, Giving Tuesday inspires individuals to take action and make a difference.

Some incredible stats showing how effective Giving Tuesday has been –

£20.2 million – Donations on Giving Tuesday 2020, equivalent to almost £14,000 a minute and a 43% increase from Giving Tuesday 2019 (Visa UK data)
Over 360m – Impressions on Twitter alone, trending on Twitter all day
World Record – Giving Tuesday holds the world record for the most money raised online for charity in 24-hours!

Dona Donations celebrates Giving Tuesday instead of Black Friday to reflect our mission and ethos of charitable giving, and as another great way for us to help spread awareness and support the charitable organisations we support. Giving Tuesday welcomes all denominations and beliefs, and captures the spirit of our company values.

Giving Tuesday takes place on 3rd December in 2024, and at Dona we’re celebrating by offering a special discount on our newest DCPv3 contactless donation terminals, with £100 off each unit between the 25th November and the 6th December 2024.

There is no limit to the number of terminals that can be purchased. Find out more about our Giving Tuesday offer

How your charity can boost fundraising on Giving Tuesday

Raise awareness of Giving Tuesday and share your Dona fundraising web page to capture donations from your social media channels.
Include your Dona fundraising web page in your regular newsletter.
Encourage your regular donors to use Giving Tuesday as an alternative to Black Friday and support your cause.
Run specific Giving Tuesday campaigns that align with your charity missions.
Hold an event, maybe a table sale with sponsored tables, or an auction of promises, so local business can also benefit.
Host a coffee morning, cake sale or festive meal. Take along your contactless donation terminal to give people an easy way to make donations.
Have additional contactless terminals available to avoid queues at fundraising events and promote their position in your venue.
Encourage volunteers to join you and give their time and skills as well as donations to bolster your team and achieve your charity goals more quickly and efficiently.

If you would like to find out more about how our contactless donations could help boost your fundraising campaigns for the Giving Tuesday period or the festive season please give us a call or enquire now: https:/giving-tuesday-offer/

Remember we have our special Giving Tuesday deal with £100 off per terminal – just mention ‘Giving Tuesday’ when you enquire.

Why is Black Friday called ‘Black Friday’?

The day after Thanksgiving became known as Black Friday in the US, as all those who joined families for Thanksgiving then turned to Christmas shopping the following day. Many retailers were said to be in the red before this day and then, with the massive shopping frenzy on the Friday, they turned to profit and were very happy to be in the black – hence the name Black Friday.

Other Alternative Names for Black Friday:

Big Friday

Some police forces also coined the term “Black Friday” as the crazy shoppers became rather unruly which resulted in a very busy day for them. Therefore ‘Big Friday’ became popular as a replacement name for a while, as retailers tried to shake off the negative vibes.

As the last pay day before Christmas approaches it has become increasingly popular for retailers around the world to enjoy the boost to winter sales. They market Black Friday offers, and online ecommerce businesses follow suit with their Cyber Monday deals to secure gift sales ahead of competitors.

Green Friday

Green Friday was encouraged by environmentalists and eco-friendly retailers a few years ago with the aim of doing good and shopping with brands that were environmentally friendly.

Many businesses use Green Friday as an alternative to Black Friday to promote their recycling, reusing or sustainability campaigns.

Give Back Friday

Give Back Friday is another alternative to the traditional Black Friday shopping frenzy, encouraging individuals to dedicate time and resources to charity and community causes. Instead of focusing on consumerism, this movement promotes volunteering, donating, and supporting local initiatives. It’s an opportunity to use the holiday season to make a positive difference, helping those in need and fostering a spirit of generosity.

Cyber Monday

The name ‘Cyber Monday’ was coined by Ellen Davis and Scott Silverman of the National Retail Federation (NRF) in a press release in 2005. The term was created to describe the surge in online shopping that occurred on the Monday following Thanksgiving, when people returned to work after the holiday weekend. The idea was that many consumers, after spending time with family and Black Friday shopping in stores, would take advantage of online deals from their computers at work or at home. The word ‘cyber’ referred to the internet and online commerce, while ‘Monday’ marked the day it took place, as a contrast to Black Friday.

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Tags alternative black friday, alternative cyber monday, big friday, black friday, charity campaign, Charity giving, charity values, cyber monday, donation machine deal, donation machine offer, donation terminal offer, fundraising event, give back tuesday, giving, green friday, Online fundraising, volunteering

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Making the Most of Christmas Fundraising

Post author By Miranda Aldridge
Post date 8th November 2024

Christmas fundraising event at a church with tress and lights

Making the Most of Christmas Fundraising for your Organisation

November 2024

The Christmas season is a time for generosity and community that extends beyond just giving gifts to friends and family. At Dona we see a huge spike in donations from late autumn through to New Year, as a host of different festivals – from the Christian celebrations of Advent, Christmas, St Nicholas Day and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, to Hannukah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birthday, Bodhi day and the Winter Solstice – foster a spirit of goodwill and generosity in communities across the United Kingdom.

For charities, religious organisations, cultural sites and community groups, it’s important to be ready to make the most of the additional opportunities for fundraising during this busy period. Preparation is key to making the most of your time, resources and opportunities for boosting funds when donors are at their most generous.

Preparing for a busy period

Taking a look at how your charity has previously performed during the winter season can be a great indicator of future success. You might be able to spot opportunities for additional fundraising campaigns as well as expand on those that generated high donation values in the past.

Anticipate the Surge:

Run a review of past data: Analyse your previous year’s donation trends to estimate the potential increase compared to a usual month. In your Dona Donations management portal you can use the reporting function for this. The average donation value across all Dona customers in Dec 2023 alone was £13.
Get Gift Aid ready: encourage repeat supporters and congregation members to sign up for Gift Aid in advance by making early donations or sharing a link to your online giving page via newsletter. Donors only need to register once with Dona, and all their future offerings will then be automatically Gift Aided, giving your charity an extra 25% on each donation.
Look at your staffing and resources: Ensure your team is prepared to handle a higher volume of donations. Consider temporary staff or volunteers to assist with processing and enquiries, ensuring you have sufficient time to train and prepare them too. Alternatively, use additional self-service terminals.

Custom donation terminal stand in wood with clear background

Technology: Make sure your donation processing systems are equipped to handle increased traffic. Sign up with Dona for a robust system where terminals are easily added. Additional terminals decrease queues and increase donation volumes at busy times.

Have Clear Donation Processes:

Streamlined Online Giving: Ensure your online donation platform is user-friendly and secure. The Dona Donations contactless donation terminal, DCPv3, is GDPR and PCI DSS compliant to ensure donor and card data is protected.
Efficient Offline Processing: Have clear guidelines for processing cash, and other offline donations. Ensure you’re not missing out on digital donations by using a system like Dona which also captures offline transactions.
Acknowledgment System: Implement a system to acknowledge donations promptly, either through automated emails or personalised thank-you notes. Dona terminals do this automatically and you can customise your message too.

Encouraging Extra Donations

Christmas fundraising funds screen on a donation terminal

Compelling Campaigns:

- Emotional Appeal: Create campaigns that evoke empathy and highlight the real-world impact of donations. With Dona you can advertise a range of different campaigns on each donation terminal, so people can choose which specific fund they want to give to, which can inspire people to give more generously.
- Specific Goals: Set clear, achievable goals for the campaign to motivate donors.
- Limited-Time Offers: Use urgency to encourage immediate donations, such as matching gift campaigns or time-limited offers.
- Send regular newsletters to existing donors, members of your congregation and followers so they know how they can help or support during the Christmas period.
- Send a press release about your seasonal campaigns or events to your local community magazines and newspapers.
- Innovative Fundraising Ideas: Seasonal Events: Organise festive events like Christmas dinners, carol services, holiday bazaars, or celebrations that resonate with causes your community cares about.
- Gift-Giving Campaigns: Encourage donors to give gifts in the name of loved ones to the charity.
- Social Media Campaigns: Utilise social media platforms to engage with donors, share heartwarming stories, and run fundraising challenges. Encourage your followers to share their stories and experiences.

Managing the Extra Donations

Christmas fundraising event at a church with tree and lights

Financial Management:

Budgeting: Adjust your budget to accommodate the increased income. It might be the perfect time to launch your ‘new roof’ campaign or a new initiative for your community.
Financial Planning: Develop a plan for how the extra funds will be allocated, ensuring they are used effectively and efficiently with good feedback for your donors. With the Dona Management portal it is easy to see how much has been donated to each campaign – giving you the opportunity to update donors regularly.

Donor Relations:

- - Personalised Thank-You Notes: Send heartfelt thank-you notes to donors, expressing gratitude for their support. This is automated through Dona Donations as standard.
  - Donor Updates: Keep donors informed about the impact of their donations through regular updates and newsletters.

To find out more about how Dona Donations contactless terminals could boost your fundraising this winter please enquire today.

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Tags charity christmas fundraising, christmas campaigns, christmas fundraising, contactless fundraising, donation terminals, festive fundraising, fundriasing ideas for christmas, seasonal fundraising, winter fundraising, xmas fundraising

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How can councils leverage contactless technology?

Post author By Miranda Aldridge
Post date 31st October 2024

How can councils leverage contactless technology for the good of the community?

November 2024

Councils in the UK receive funding from a range of places, including:

Council tax, grants, business rates and fees and charges.

Many councils find these funds do not fully cover the full spectrum of projects they would like to support within the communities they serve. Hence, there is a need to raise additional resources. With contactless technology, these projects can be given a boost with self-service terminals that do not require a huge initial outlay, extra staff or extensive training.

Which projects can councils use contactless donation terminals for?

Here are some great examples of fundraising projects that can be supported with contactless donation terminals.

Fundraising for Specific Projects:

Community Centres: Support the construction or renovation of community centres for various activities.
Parks and Recreation: Fund new playgrounds, walking trails, or sports facilities.
Libraries: Contribute to the purchase of books, computers, or educational resources.
Cultural Events: Help with costs to organise local festivals, concerts, or art exhibitions.

Supporting Community Services:

Food Banks: Provide funds for food purchases, storage, and distribution.
Homelessness Shelters: Contribute to operating costs and essential services.

A great example from Cambridge City Council who have utilised contactless technology on the streets – with the public making small donations in a fight to tackle homelessness. For as little as £3 – the price of a cup of coffee.

https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/news/2024/10/07/street-aid-week-real-change-for-the-price-of-a-coffee

Elderly Care: Support programs that assist with transportation or meals.
Youth Programs: Fund after-school activities, mentoring, or vocational training.

Addressing Environmental Concerns:

Conservation Efforts: Contribute to habitat preservation, wildlife conservation, or pollution reduction initiatives.
Renewable Energy: Support the installation of solar panels or wind turbines in public spaces.
Recycling Programs: Fund additional recycling facilities or educational campaigns.

Improving Infrastructure:

Road Maintenance: Contribute to road repairs, pothole filling, or traffic calming measures.
Public Transportation: Support improvements to bus or train services.
Accessibility: Fund projects to make public spaces more accessible for people with disabilities.

Enhancing Community Well-being:

Mental Health Services: Support counselling, support groups, or crisis intervention programs.
Substance Abuse Treatment: Fund rehabilitation centres or prevention programs.
Health Promotion: Support health education campaigns or community health clinics.

Where is the best place to position contactless donation terminals?

Placing self-service donation terminals in areas with high footfall is a great way to raise funds. It is quick and easy for donors to ‘tap and go’ as regularly as they like. Providers like Dona donations make it easy for charities to collect Gift Aid too, enhancing each eligible donation value by 25%.

The local library, leisure centre or shopping mall are all places that could raise much needed funds. Each terminal can have location specific funds that users can donate to making them more likely to give to a fund that would personally benefit them or their community.

Councils often run local events, such as firework displays or carnivals. Contactless terminals are perfect for placing at these events where a large part of the community will be gathering and enjoying local entertainment.

Choosing a contactless fundraising provider for your council.

Dona Donations are an excellent choice of partner for contactless fundraising terminals and provide a custom solution for councils. See how the features and benefits below can help to boost local campaigns:

Transparency – the Dona Management Portal allows councils to view donations in real-time and allocate to charity projects in a timely manner.
Funds – many councils support multiple charity projects throughout the year. With the Funds feature (max of 20 funds), they can display the various projects and causes the community can contribute to, to motivate and inform about what they are doing to give back.
Revenue Boosting – The average donation made using Dona is £12-£14, typically much higher than cash donations. And with market-leading transaction rates, more funds go directly to the projects you care about.
Screensavers – allow the council to customise and update their branding and messaging throughout the year so the donation terminals reflect current brand standards and messaging.
Celebration – the Dona Management Portal allows the council to view donation totals and celebrate fundraising milestones easily.
Raising Awareness – many people don’t realise that councils support local charities and help with the start-up and ongoing operational needs of local community projects. Donors who register for Gift Aid or ‘Keep In Touch’, will receive email communications to spread awareness of initiatives they can engage with.
Flexible, simple and fast – councils having the ability to financially support charitable projects via self-service donation terminals. It is mutually beneficial as they don’t need to have staff at every event but can still deploy the portable donation terminals quickly to help fund the activities at short notice or at remote events.

If you would like to see more, please contact us for a demo today

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Tags contactless for councils, contactless technology, council donations, council fundraising, councils, dona donations, donation technology, donation terminals, library funding, local donations, local funding