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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. 

Find out more....

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

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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. 

Find out more....

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

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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.

Find out more....

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

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