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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.
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- 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.