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.

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Dona Donations Wins Most Innovative Contactless Donation Technology Provider 2025

Post author By Miranda Aldridge
Post date 16th July 2025

Dona Donations Wins Most Innovative Contactless Donation Technology Provider 2025

April 2025

Empowering Charities Across the UK with Award-Winning Innovation

We are thrilled to announce that Dona Donations has been honoured with the Most Innovative Contactless Donation Technology Provider 2025 award at the prestigious Non-Profit Organisation Awards. The awards are in their fifth year and are designed to honour and celebrate the exceptional work carried out by not-for-profit organisations worldwide.

Winning this award is a remarkable achievement, a celebration for our team, and recognition of the incredible work done by the charities we serve. It is the passion and commitment of our charities to making a difference that inspires us to push boundaries and redefine what’s possible in fundraising technology. With this award, it further cements our dedication to empowering non-profit organisations of every size to thrive in an ever-evolving digital world.

Supporting Charities: Our Mission

Our mission has always been clear: to use tech for good – providing charities with tools that remove barriers to giving and unlock new ways for donors to donate. Over the last few years, we have built more than just innovative contactless donation terminals, we have built lasting partnerships with charities, investing the time to understand the unique needs and challenges of each individual organisation.

We have taken what we learned and designed award-winning technology that is:

User-friendly — seamlessly integrated into any event or venue, our devices make donating quick and simple, encouraging spontaneous generosity, regular giving and increasing conversion rates.
Secure and Accessible — we ensure that supporters can give confidently, using secure methods that are as convenient for them as they are effective for you.

Hardware and Software from Dona

Our dedication to helping charities succeed extends far beyond hardware. Our comprehensive management portal software enables the ability to monitor, analyse, and optimise your fundraising campaigns with intuitive dashboards and real-time reporting. We also recognise that fundraising can be daunting, which is why we have developed our AI-driven fundraising consultant – Antonia. This game-changing solution provides expert guidance, tailored recommendations, and actionable insights to help maximise donation income.

Personalised Fundraising Strategies — Our AI consultant Antonia analyses campaigns and offers targeted, custom advice, helping organisations achieve their fundraising goals.
Streamlined Administration — Our management portal reduces administrative burden, so that charities can focus on what matters most: making a difference.

We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our charity partners. Together, we have helped raise over £45 million across the UK—a testament to both the generosity of donors and the effectiveness of our technology. Every pound raised is a story of hope, change, and lives improved.

Why use Dona for your fundraising

Your organisation is at the heart of everything we do. Whether you are a small local cause or a nationwide non-profit, our solutions are designed to scale with you. By partnering with Dona Donations, you gain access not just to award-winning products, but a team invested in your success.

Dedicated Support — Our UK team is always here to ensure you get the most out of our solutions, with hands-on onboarding and ongoing assistance.
Custom Branding Options — Personalise your donation terminals to reflect your charity’s identity and vision, strengthening your connection with donors.

Opportunities for Collaboration — We love working closely with our charity partners to innovate, pilot new ideas, and share stories of success across our community. Read about our success stories.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Fundraising

Winning the Most Innovative Contactless Donation Technology Provider award fuels our drive to continue developing solutions that help you achieve even more. We are committed to listening to our charity partners, meeting their needs, and delivering technology that truly makes a difference.

We extend our thanks to our incredible team for their hard work and commitment, and to all the charities who trust us to help them make a difference. Your partnership is what inspires us to pursue excellence and innovation every day.

Learn more about our award-winning recognition here: Acquisition International Awards

Thank You for Trusting Dona Donations. Let’s continue to transform giving—together!

If you would like to contact us – Please choose your preferred method below or tap our live chat on the bottom right …

Call: 0203 488 5038

Complete our enquiry form

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Tags attraction marketing, digital fundraising, digital income, exhibit promotion, increase donations, museum fundraising, Summer fundraising, tourist donations, visitor attractions

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Boost Your Summer Fundraising

Post author By Miranda Aldridge
Post date 7th July 2025

Boost Your Summer Fundraising

April 2025

Digital Income Strategies for UK Museums & Visitor Attractions

The summer period, with its longer days and increased visitor numbers, presents a golden opportunity for UK museums and attractions to make the most of donors’ generosity. In an increasingly cashless society, embracing digital fundraising is the perfect solution.

Some museums or attractions are FREE to enter and rely entirely on money from trusts, funds and public donations; others charge an entry fee and ask for donations to supplement their work, which can account for between 10 and 40%*of total income for larger museums and attractions.

*https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/total-income-of-dcms-funded-cultural-organisations-20222023/total-income-of-dcms-funded-cultural-organisations-202223-headline-release

The Digital Shift in UK Giving

Charitable giving in the UK is continually evolving, with a trend towards digital and cashless transactions. While cash donations still exist, contactless payments and online giving are becoming the preferred donor choice. Museums and attractions must therefore adapt their fundraising strategies to meet these needs. The 2024 Annual Museum Survey noted an encouraging 27% increase in donations since 2019/20, showing the potential for growth with the right approach.

See how the Gurkha museum uses their Dona donation machines for fundraising success.

Embracing Self-Service Donation Terminals

Dona Donations’ Digital Collection Plates (DCPv3) provide a seamless and secure way for visitors to contribute. These terminals accept:

Contactless payments (tap-and-go) even offline
Mobile wallet transactions
Traditional Chip & PIN card payments

Main advantages:

Ease of Use: Quick and user-friendly for donors.
Self-service: They can operate without constant staff or volunteer supervision, freeing up your team for other roles.
Offline Capability: Can accept donations even without an internet connection. Ideal if your attraction is a cave, in a gorge, or particularly remote.
Low Fees and Automatic Updates: Ensuring cost-effectiveness and up-to-date technology.
Security and Compliance: Fully GDPR and PCI DSS compliant, reassuring both your organisation and visitors.

When placing the terminals, think strategically about high-traffic points within your attraction, such as entrances/exits, popular exhibition areas, or near the gift shop and cafe. Provide information where queues may form about how much donations make a difference to the museum or attraction.

Dona card terminals can be wall-mounted, positioned on a countertop or floor-standing, providing flexible options.

Leveraging QR Codes and Dedicated Web Pages

Beyond physical terminals, digital touchpoints like QR codes and dedicated web pages are essential.

QR Codes: These codes are scannable with a smartphone. Place them prominently on:
- Exhibition signage
- Information boards
- Visitor guides and maps
- Cafe tables
- Membership desks
- Marketing materials and flyers When scanned, a QR code should immediately direct visitors to your dedicated online donation page.
- Anywhere where the public are gathering or likely to be spending ‘dwelling time’ during their visit.

Dedicated Web Pages: Your website should feature a clear, compelling, and easy-to-navigate donation page. This page should:
- Be Mobile-Optimised: Most visitors will access it on their smartphones.
- State the Impact: Clearly articulate how donations will be used with several options available for donors to choose the fund they would like to support. Dona donation machines offer up to 20 personalised fund options.
- Offer Varying Amounts: Suggest different donation tiers – test different options to see which tiers resonate best for your visitors, this can be amended on different donation machines so can be specific to the exhibit or area that it is placed.
- Be Secure: Display trust badges and clearly communicate data security measures.
- Offer the option to register for Gift Aid if eligible. Can be switched on or off on Dona card machines.

Encouraging Donors:
- Compelling Storytelling: Use evocative language and imagery to explain why donations are needed. Highlight specific projects, conservation efforts, or community programmes that rely on visitor support.
- Show Impact: Instead of just asking for money, explain what a donation will achieve. Visuals, like a “thermometer” or “target” showing progress towards a fundraising goal, can be highly motivating.
- Subtle Reminders: Staff and guides can be trained to gently encourage donations, perhaps by mentioning the reliance on public support during interactions.
- Promote Gift Aid: For eligible UK taxpayers, ensure it’s easy to add Gift Aid, which increases the value of their donation by 25% at no extra cost to them.

Inspiring Donors and Amplifying Impact

Beyond the immediate transaction, it’s vital to inspire a deeper connection and amplify the impact of every donation.

Donor Recognition: Acknowledge donations, even small ones. A simple “Thank You” message on the digital terminal screen, followed by an email receipt and a more personal thank you if details are provided, can foster goodwill.
Showcasing Missions: Use your digital platforms to regularly update donors on how their contributions are making a difference. Share photos, videos, and stories of the projects funded by donations.
Social Media Amplification: Encourage visitors to share their experience and support on social media. Run campaigns that highlight your fundraising missions and the tangible benefits of donating. Include hashtags that can be used to group social posts.
Membership Integration: Promote membership programs as a way for dedicated supporters to provide ongoing support with added benefits.

Looking Ahead: Continuous Innovation

The summer offers a unique window to maximise your fundraising potential. By integrating modern digital tools like Dona Donations’ self-service terminals with well-placed QR codes, compelling web pages, and emotive storytelling, UK museums and attractions can significantly boost their donation income. Remember to continuously evaluate what works best for your audience and adapt your strategies to ensure sustained support for your invaluable cultural and heritage missions.

Find out more about Dona’s donation machines, management portal and new AI-driven virtual fundraising assistant.

If you would like to contact us – Please choose your preferred method below or tap our live chat on the bottom right …

Call: 0203 488 5038

Complete our enquiry form

Message on our social channels:

Tags attraction marketing, digital fundraising, digital income, exhibit promotion, increase donations, museum fundraising, Summer fundraising, tourist donations, visitor attractions

Popular Technology

Dona proudly achieves two ISO certifications

Post author By Miranda Aldridge
Post date 30th June 2025

Dona proudly achieves two ISO certifications

April 2025

Dona is proud to announce our certification for:

ISO 9001 (Quality Management System):

This certification demonstrates a company’s commitment to consistently providing products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements, and to continually improving customer satisfaction.

ISO 27001 (Information Security Management System – ISMS):

This certification demonstrates a company’s commitment to effectively managing and protecting sensitive information.

Why did Dona choose to become ISO certified?

Obtaining these certifications demonstrates our commitment to high standards, in both delivering quality and how we protect the information that we hold. The certifications show that we operate efficiently, meet legal and contractual requirements, and give our clients confidence that we operate in a compliant way. They also support us in scaling by ensuring we have the right processes in place.

What did Dona have to achieve, have in place or need to show to be certified?

For ISO 9001, we had to demonstrate that we’re consistently delivering a quality service, from the first contact we have with a charitable organisation, past the point of sale and on to demonstrating continuous value through our customers’ ongoing relationship with our platform. Effectively, that loop never closes. That includes having clear processes, documenting how we work, reviewing feedback, measuring performance, and continuously improving.

For ISO 27001, we demonstrated that we manage information securely — from access controls and backups to how we handle personal data, respond to incidents, and manage supplier relationships. It covers everything from remote working and software development to physical security and cloud systems. Every policy and directive we had in place was reviewed, tested, and aligned with global best practice.

In both cases, we had to evidence not only the systems we’ve built but also how well they’re understood, implemented, and maintained by the team. The foundations of both certifications are relevant to everyone in the business and everything that we do.

What effect does Certification have on Dona as a business?

These certifications help us work and scale in an intelligent and secure way, while maintaining the agility that allows Dona to grow in the market. Internally, they bring structure and consistency which reduces mistakes, and highlights ways in which Dona can improve. Externally, the certifications demonstrate to partners, customers, and regulators that we take quality and security seriously, potentially opening doors to new opportunities and reassuring stakeholders that their business is secure with Dona.

What does the certification mean for Dona customers?

The bottom line is that our customers can have greater confidence in us. ISO 9001 ensures we are committed to delivering a consistently high standard of service, and ISO 27001 ensures that their data and information is being handled with care, following globally recognised best practice. It also means we are actively assessing risks, preventing issues before they happen, and constantly improving how we work.

These certifications are not a ‘one-off’. We audit internally on an annual basis, as well as annual audits from an external auditor. This ensures our ongoing commitment to maintaining the standards and not just meeting their requirements once.

When asked about how he felt about achieving ISO certification Managing Director, Elroy Fernandes was quoted as saying:

“Dona is a company that not only cares deeply but operates at a world-class standard.”

To find out more about our fundraising technology products, request a brochure or speak to our UK sales team today.

Call: 0203 488 5038

Complete our enquiry form

Message us via Webchat or Whatsapp

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Tags charity news, charity tech, contactless fundraising news, customer care, dona, dona certifications, dona donations, dona news, dona review, donation tech, donation technology, fundraising technology, ISO certified charity tech

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

Is Your Charity Collecting Offline Donations?

In the age of tap-to-give and QR code generosity, it’s easy to assume that all donations take place online. But what happens when there’s no internet connection? When WiFi drops out or mobile data lags? This is where offline donations come in, playing a critical yet frequently overlooked role in modern fundraising.

Dona donation terminals are engineered with Offline Mode to ensure all income is captured even without an internet or mobile data connection, make fundraising reliable, effortless, efficient, and accessible, no matter your environment.

What Are Offline Donations?

Offline donations refer to contributions made without an active internet connection at the point of transaction. This doesn’t mean cash or cheques (though those are traditional forms of offline giving). Just like on an aeroplane, when a payment is taken and processed when the plane touches down, offline donations are digitally recorded donations processed without real-time connectivity—often via contactless payment devices that store data locally and sync once the internet is restored.

If you’re looking to get started with digital fundraising, it’s essential that you choose a donation terminal provider that can handle offline donations so that when supporters tap their card or phone to donate, the device will still queue the transaction securely, submitting it to the payment processor when the connection is reestablished.

With Dona donation terminals, payments can be stored for up to a week. Providing a secure and consistent internet connection is restored within that time, donations will be captured securely.

Offline Donation Statistics

In July 2025, we shared some Dona fundraising statistics that prove how important it is for charities to ensure their digital fundraising terminals are able to capture offline donations.

Data recorded from September 2024 to July 2025 on the Dona v3 DCP donation machines:

Average number of donations processed offline: 11%
Between September 2024 to July 2025 over £465,000 has been captured across the Dona platform using our offline mode. This is money that UK charities would otherwise have missed out on.
The highest amount raised by any one charity during this time using offline mode is £10,444.92 – 19.76% of their total income of £52,936.54 during this period.
Over 60 charities captured between 40% – 100% of their donations in Offline Mode.

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

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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

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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

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

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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.

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

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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.

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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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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.

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