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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.

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Fundraising Events and Managing Donations

People at a fundraising concert making the heart sign

Fundraising Events and Managing Donations

March 2025

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

People at a fundraising concert making the heart sign

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

Running race with runners racing after fundraising for their placeCharity 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.

Black donation terminal with keypad and easy to tap screen

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

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Fundraising during Ramadan – Ramadan Kareem

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:

Mosque with Ramadan service taking donations

Ramadan

  1. 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. 
  1. 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. 
  • Lanterns full colour at a Ramadan festivalModesty: 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. 
  1. 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. 

  1. Planning ahead is key.  Build campaigns that resonate with the spirit of Ramadan and have clear goals.  
  2. 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. 
  3. 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.   

Donation terminal stands for Mosques during Ramadan

  1. 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.  
  2. 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. 
  3. Organise a sale of Ramada- related items such as food, spices, clothing or religious items (prayer mats, Islamic books, Quran stands).

Post Ramadan:

Quran open with beads during RamadanAfter 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.

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How can Funeral Directors collect contactless donations?

Funeral service long candles at a church

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

January 2025

Funeral service long candles at a church

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.

Beautifully decorated white coffin with lots of flowers at a funeral

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.
Black writing of gift aid logo for charity fundraising
  • 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:

  1. 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 on a mobile phone being held by a person

 

  • 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. 

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Digital Collection Plate Festive Fundraising Checklist:

Festive Fundraising

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.

Festive Fundraising

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. Donation terminal stands

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?

Wifi and 4g contactless donation terminal in black

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

Giving Tuesday logo 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:

  1. Giving Tuesday
  2. Green Friday
  3. Give Back Friday
  4. Big Friday
  5. 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.

Giving Tuesday logo 2024

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

  1. Raise awareness of Giving Tuesday and share your Dona fundraising web page to capture donations from your social media channels. 
  2. Include your Dona fundraising web page in your regular newsletter. 
  3. Encourage your regular donors to use Giving Tuesday as an alternative to Black Friday and support your cause. 
  4. Run specific Giving Tuesday campaigns that align with your charity missions. 
  5. Hold an event, maybe a table sale with sponsored tables, or an auction of promises, so local business can also benefit. 
  6. Host a coffee morning, cake sale or festive meal. Take along your contactless donation terminal to give people an easy way to make  donations. 
  7. Have additional contactless terminals available to avoid queues at fundraising events and promote their position in your venue. 
  8. 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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Making the Most of Christmas Fundraising

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.

Christmas Fundraising to boost charity funds

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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How can councils leverage contactless technology?

Council fireworks display

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.

  1. 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.

 

Fundraising at a local library for a council event
  1. 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.

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. 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.
  1. 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.

Council fireworks display

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:

 

  1. Transparency – the Dona Management Portal allows councils to view donations in real-time and allocate to charity projects in a timely manner.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Celebration – the Dona Management Portal allows the council to view donation totals and celebrate fundraising milestones easily.
  6. 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.
  7. 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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Today’s Role of Fundraising in Religious Organisations

Graph showing donations received over time with a contactless donation terminal

Today’s Role of Fundraising in Religious Organisations

October 2024

Fundraising is an ongoing and essential part of running a Religious Organisation.

 

Funds are used to support:

·       Day-to-day operational costs

·       Achieving the mission

·      Buildings, renovations or expansion

The balancing act:

Finances vs Mission – Fundraising efforts need to align with the core values of your organisation and be in line with achieving your overall mission.  An organisation could be criticised for being greedy, not spending wisely or making purchases that do not seem to align with their core mission.

This can be avoided by ethical transparency so donors can clearly see how their donations are being used.  This also applies to reducing costs and making sound business decisions. A donation portal with strong reporting features is key to sharing the valuable contribution made by donors. Reports can be drawn up and the key successes of the marketing campaigns shared with the congregation through email, in person or a physical newsletter. 

Statue in front of scaffolding and building work at a church

Encouraging Regular Donations in Religious Organisations

Communicating the impact is key – tell the story of how the fundraising campaign is going to impact your donors, others in the community and the benefit for the future.

The religious significance of giving – this is not only monetary. It can be acts of service or helping others.

https://www.ministrybrands.com/church-management/type-of-giving/

https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/resources/knowledge-base/charity-in-islam/

Show how previous donations have helped to achieve updated or modernised areas for worship.   Restoring ancient parts of buildings, paintings, stained glass or even hymn books.

Being open and honest about the financial situation to donors is crucial for them to feel part of the congregation. A culture of shared responsibility for maintaining buildings and traditions for the future instils a great sense of belonging.

Keep donors updated on progress – regular updates in person during gathering, email newsletters or parish news magazines are all great ways to show the progress with hitting fundraising targets.

Practicalities:

Recurring donations – offering recurring donations is a great way for donors to show support regularly without the need to keep cash or cards available each time they attend to worship or for an event.

Flexible amounts – Donors circumstances can change, they might be able to give a little and occasionally more, so being flexible in the options is essential.

Lots of ways to give – Contactless donations are a quick and easy way to donate to your Religious Organisation but you might also offer a webpage, direct debit or cash.

Gift Aid – Having contactless donations means it is so much easier to gift aid if your donor is a UK taxpayer meaning their donation is also worth so much more for the recipient.

Black writing of gift aid logo for charity fundraising

How can Religious Organisations make it easier for people to donate?

Donation terminals – Using these by your church or mosque entrance is ideal.  As your congregation arrives or leave, they can use the donation machines as they wish.  There is no need to have staff on hand as the terminals have easy-to-follow instructions, and large fonts mean they are perfect for those with accessibility problems too.

Clear signage – Ensure your card machines are clearly visible and remind donors they are there after each service.   

Full range of card options – sometimes you might use a credit card, another time a debit card, with online contactless donations you can choose your preferred card each time.

How does Dona Donations make it easier for Religious Organisations?

1.Open and transparent costs – easy to understand with no hidden extras. Each organisation has its own unique needs and demographic of donors. At Dona Donations we pride ourselves in working to meet your donors’ needs and show them how quick and easy it is to support your organisation.

2. Easy reconciliation and administration of donations through the online management portal. This saves time, makes charity staff more productive, and reduces the likelihood of theft or fraud.

3.  The Dona Portal has features that allow charities to see graphs showing their total donations, count of donations and average donation by week/month/year. The graph below shows a breakdown of Gift Aided and non-Gift Aided donations. The graphs can also be filtered by device or fund.

Graph showing donations received over time with a contactless donation terminal

4. Charities can see how much donors give to different funds/campaigns. A fund could be “Roof Repair” or “Priest Offering” – any cause the charity may collect for.

 

5. The portal also allows the option to download the full set of donation data to a spreadsheet, where charities can run their own analysis in Excel or import the data into a 3rd party analytics tool.

 

6. The “Donors Report” lists all registered donors (i.e. those who have registered for Gift Aid or registered to “keep in touch”), their emails and opt-in status and how much they have donated. This is useful for carrying out targeted campaigns.

 

7. Long-term relationships are vitally important to Dona Donations. Our Support is offered for the staff and volunteers who are using the terminals or management portal. The support team are UK based, passionate people looking to help raise donations for the organisations using the terminals.

 

Learn more about how Dona Donation can support your missions with contactless card donations for your religious organisation.

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

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Donation collection tin vs contactless card donations

Donation collection tin vs contactless card donations

August 2024

Churches and temples have been using collection tins for centuries. One of the earliest instances recorded was from the High Priest in the Temple of Jerusalem. Fast forwarding to the 50’s and 60’s you may remember Debra? She is an early example of a collection box with a begging girl wearing a calliper. Many collection tins and boxes are now valuable historic items.

Locations

The tins would normally have been on site by the entrance/exit of the church to collect donations
for the upkeep of the building and grounds.
As communities grew, collection tins would be carried around, sometimes with the collector ringing
a bell or shaking the tin for attention.
Later they were placed outside shops or on counter tops.

Designs

There were a few famous ones. The RNLI being one of them – from the weird fish to the rocking lifeboat.  The creative fundraisers produced a whole host of fabulous collection tin, boat and box designs that caught the eye of donors around the UK. One of the first original boxes was wooden and dates back to the 1860’s.

Wooden life boat donation collection tin

Who also remembers Sooty waving on the top of the RNIB charity tins? Or the realistic life-size
labrador by the doorway of many shops to collect donations for Guide dogs for the blind.
Of course, they were not all tins, there were boxes, baskets, hats, or even handmade designs that
still did the job pretty well.

From counter top to free standing, charities would compete to tug at the heart strings of the public
to boost donations with images, messages and gamification.

Rules and ethics

Although there is no law stopping you from rattling your donation tin it is considered very bad practice in the modern fundraising world. Shaking of the collection tin is strongly discouraged as it can cause public annoyance as well as damaging the tin! It can seem pushy and intimidating and therefore it is explicitly forbidden in most charity fundraising regulations.
There is also a high risk of theft, so regular emptying is essential. Additionally, to the nature of cash donations, it is almost impossible to know how many people have donated and how much.


From loose change to meaningful amounts.


We remember as a child being given some coins to pop in the charity box after we had completed our weekly shop. The collection box would whizz the coin around in ever-decreasing circles until it dropped into the tin. We were happy children and our parents gave a little and felt good.


With the development of card machines, the giving of donations has now been added to our totals when we shop on the high street – where we can either accept or refuse the donation – they are rather more thrust in front of us at times with much of the pleasure taken away.


Freestanding contactless terminals give much more privacy and choice with less intimidation. With
the rise in gift aid too, which can amplify our donation.

Dona donation terminal in a church with lots of chairs

Collection tin vs contactless card payment

Contactless card terminals are a great way to collect donations without the need to intimidate your donors.  Using a freestanding or countertop terminal, that is self-service, gives the donor choice and can save charities money. 

  • No staff needed 
  • Easy to reconcile
  • Less risk of theft or fraud
  • Increases average donation amount 

Talk to us about how we can help boost your fundraising with contactless card payment terminals 

Call – 0203 488 3095 

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

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Donors Give Happy: Creating a Seamless Donation Experience

Person making a heart shape with hands on a mountain top to show they love the view

Donors Give Happy: Creating a Seamless Donation Experience

August 2024

Happy Donors = More donations!

Can you increase your fundraising totals by simply making the donor experience really easy?
If you can offer a speedy, hassle-free way to donate will it put donors off, or mean they give more and more frequently?
We all know that we feel great when we are able to help someone or give to a charity that
can help on our behalf. But does the actual process of giving need to be lengthy or be an
effort to make it worthwhile?
Our research indicates that an easy donation process can significantly influence our
willingness to give. Here are our top 5 psychological factors that we believe are at play:

1. That Feel Good Factor:

  • Pleasure and Satisfaction: Easy experiences often evoke positive emotions, creating
    a sense of well-being. People are more inclined to give when they feel good. A
    Harvard Business Review in 2008* stated that the act of giving releases dopamine
    and endorphins which give us that wonderful positive feeling.
  • Gratitude: When we give or receive a gift, we often feel grateful, thereby boosting
    our happiness, health and social bonds.
  • Passion: Remember that your donors are passionate about your charity, this is why
    they have chosen to donate to your cause. By making the process easy, it shows you
    care about their experience and value their support.
Heart in hands means feeling good donate more

2. Chillin:

  • Effortless Engagement: Easy experiences require less brain power. This frees up to
    focus on other aspects, such as the act of giving itself or the effect our giving is
    having on others.
  • Increased Generosity: When we're not mentally taxed, we're more likely to think
    about the needs of others and engage in altruistic deeds.

3. Perceived Value:

  • Enhanced Satisfaction: Easy experiences often lead to higher perceived value and an
    increase in trust. We associate the product or service with positive outcomes,
    making us more willing to support them in the future.
  • Loyalty and Advocacy: Positive experiences foster loyalty, increasing the likelihood
    of repeat donations, more often and with a higher referral rate.

4. Social Sharing:

  • We love to talk: Easy experiences are often shared positively with others. This
    creates a sense of social proof, encouraging others to participate and give too.
  • Giving is Contagious: Positive recommendations build trust in the charity or
    organisation, with a ripple effect, making our friends and family more likely to follow
    with their support.
Two grey haired ladies sat chatting outside about their charity donations

5. Habit building:

Routine and Ease: When an experience is consistently easy, it becomes a habit. Giving can become part of this routine, increasing the likelihood of continued
donations. 

At Dona Donations, we love to give our donors an easy process to support their chosen
charity.

Contactless card payments mean no need to carry cash and it is quick and easy to
‘tap to donate’.


If your charity could benefit from a boost to your fundraising with contactless card donation
please do contact us today. 

 

*Harvard Business Review 2008 – Professor Michael Norton –
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/5_ways_giving_is_good_for_you