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Tag: charity donations

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Popular Technology

Unlock the Power of Mobile Giving

pop uo shops with mobile donation machines

Unlock the Power of Offline and Mobile Giving

April 2025

Boost Donations and Impact with Modern Technology

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

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

Embrace True Freedom: The Power of Offline Donations

People at an event where mobile donations are taken with tent in background

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.
pop uo shops with mobile donation machines

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

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

If you still have questions please connect.

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

Call: 0203 488 5038

Complete our enquiry form 

Message on our social channels – 

 Facebook logo for dona donations

 

Find out more....

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

Enquire
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Popular

Fundraising tips for charity shops

Charity shop with fundraising options and donations

Fundraising Tips for Charity Shops

April 2025

Fundraising Tips for Charity Shops: Boost Donations and Impact with Modern Technology
Charity shop with fundraising options and donations

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 used for donations

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

 

Image of 20 campaigns that are available on the dona donation machines

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

  1. safe and secure way for donors to give, building trust. 
  2. Design your own branded or custom homescreen and attract donors to support your most impactful causes. 
  3. Have multiple terminals at key locations in your shop.
  4. Set your own suggested donation amounts to enable quick donations.
  5. Allow the choice of a custom amount to cater for all donation amount preferences. 
  6. Collect Gift Aid with the simple sign up option. 
  7. Battery life of up to 10 hours in offline mode. 
  8. Use the Keep in Touch feature to capture GDPR-compliant donor loyalty.
  9. Choose your thank you messages after a donation has been sent. 
  10. Real-time donation tracking in the management portal with HMRC ready reports.
  11.  

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

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

Call: 0203 488 5038

Complete our enquiry form 

Message on our social channels – 

 Facebook logo for dona donations

 

Find out more....

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

Enquire
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Uncategorized

4 Easy Steps to Set Up Contactless Fundraising

Group of Charity volunteers by a van ready to take donations

4 Easy Steps to Set Up Contactless Fundraising

June 2024

Boost donations for your charity!

Dona Donations Managing Director Elroy Fernandes talks us through the ease of setting up contactless fundraising terminals for your charity.

The rise of mobile payments has transformed how people give. Cash donations are declining, but with contactless fundraising, your charity can literally ‘tap’ into a whole new world of generous supporters.

Here are the 4 easy steps to get your contactless fundraising up and running:

1. Assemble Your Fundraising Committee: Gather and talk to your committee about how contactless fundraising can be used for your charity as a safe and effective tool.  Speak to us and we can provide you all the costs, savings, and statistics to help you put forward your case to your fellow members.

Some of the most common questions we are asked are:

    1. How much does it cost
    2. Length of contracted commitment
    3. What support is available should there be a technical or user problem?
    4. Which payment cards are accepted?
    5. How long does it take to set up contactless donations?

    Elroy said “The biggest factor is trust, making sure we are helping your charity to make the most of the donations made with low costs and clear transparency.  Ensuring our values also align with your mission and values of your charity as a trusted professional supplier”

     

    2. Setting Up Your Electronic Donation System: The beauty of ‘tap to pay’ fundraising is its simplicity. We walk you through the entire process, ensuring a seamless integration with your existing donation infrastructure.

    Elroy noted “Nominate a team member that will help us to get you set up,  this is a quick process that is usually handled by your treasurer who can liaise with your bank, we are very happy to help guide you from start to finish”

    3. Promote, Promote, Promote! Once your mobile giving is up and running, let your supporters know! Announce your new donation option on your website, social media channels, and email newsletters. Additionally, you could consider offering incentives for early mobile donors to generate excitement or set a target to reach.

    Person making a Credit card payment for online donation terminal

    Elroy stated “Upon launch, we see a big rise in initial donations as supporters are keen to try the new technology and welcome the opportunity to use a safe method of payment.  Hence, this leads to a rise in the average donations made”

    4. Enjoy Increased Donations & Growing Support: With a card payment fundraising system in place, you’ll be opening your charity up to a whole new wave of contributions. Therefore, Dona terminals make donating easier than ever, allowing your supporters to contribute anytime, anywhere.

    Elroy added “For outdoor activities and events our terminals are perfect.  No Wi-Fi signal is no barrier; we can bring the latest technology to your charity fundraising and keep your team safe with a reduced theft risk.  We also find that charity volunteers like the reduced responsibility of handling cash”

    Remember, we're here to help!

    We have the experience and resources to make your contactless fundraising journey a success. Contact us today to learn more and take the first step towards a brighter future for your charity.

    Enquire