Chat with us, powered by LiveChat

Dona

Spring promotion! Free stand worth up to £108 with every DCP v3 donation terminal. Ends 7 March. Click here for more details

Dona donations logo with white background
Menu
Enquire
Menu
Enquire

Tag: dona donations

Categories
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
Categories
Popular

Fundraising during Ramadan – Ramadan Kareem

Lanterns full colour at a Ramadan festival

Fundraising during Ramadan - Ramadan Kareem

February 2025

Fundraising before, during and after Ramadan can be a really rewarding experience, but there are some important factors to keep in mind to make sure you’re being respectful and effective. Here are some of the key considerations:

Mosque with Ramadan service taking donations

Ramadan

  1. Understanding Ramadan:
    • Timing: Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims, marked by fasting from dawn to sunset for a month. A day of fasting can last for as long as 17 hours, depending on where you are located during the fast. As a consequence, people’s routines and energy levels will change quite considerably. Be mindful of this when planning events or asking for donations.
    • Spiritual Significance: Ramadan is a time for reflection, prayer, and increased charity. Emphasise the spiritual benefits of giving during this time, such as increased rewards and blessings.
    • Zakat: Zakat is a mandatory form of charity giving for Muslims who meet a certain wealth threshold. It’s often given annually during Ramadan. It pays to be aware of the specific rules and guidelines around Zakat, and if you’re collecting Zakat, make sure you’re able to show how those funds will be used to enhance trust and transparency, particularly if your campaign is for a project that will benefit the community or promote Islam. 
  • Sadaqah: Sadaqah is the term for sincere, voluntary giving in Islam, with nothing expected in return. This could be acts of kindness, sharing knowledge, praying for someone or a monetary donation. 
  1. Cultural Sensitivity:
  • Language: Using Arabic phrases like “Ramadan Kareem” (may Ramadan be generous to you) or “Eid Mubarak” (blessed festival) in your fundraising materials can show respect and make your campaign more appealing to Muslim donors.
  • Imagery: Use images that are relevant to Ramadan, such as Mosques, lanterns, or dates. 
  • Lanterns full colour at a Ramadan festivalModesty: When organising events or using images of people, be mindful of modesty in dress and behaviour as well as ensuring you have the usual consent required. 
  1. Practical Considerations:
  • Iftar: Iftar is the evening meal that breaks the fast. Consider hosting an Iftar event as a fundraising opportunity. It’s a great way to bring people together and share a meal while raising money for a good cause. Use a local venue and create a sense of community. 
  • Target Audience: Tailor your fundraising efforts to your target audience. If you’re fundraising within the Muslim community, you might focus on Zakat (obligatory giving) and Sadaqah (voluntary giving). If you’re fundraising for a wider audience, you might focus on the general spirit of giving during Ramadan.

Fundraising ahead of Ramadan

When Muslims are preparing for Ramadan there are opportunities to fundraise that can help to boost your charity income. Always consider how best to do this in a respectful way. 

  1. Planning ahead is key.  Build campaigns that resonate with the spirit of Ramadan and have clear goals.  
  2. Online donations. Make use of digital platforms with a dedicated fundraising page. At Dona we offer a FREE webpage when you purchase a donation terminal. 
  3. Email marketing is a great way to keep in touch with your donors and supporters. Sending the details of your campaign and links to your fundraising webpage is a great way to promote your event or fund. Dona donation webpages can be linked via a QR code to include in your email or on printed materials, so donors can scan the code and donate quickly and easily from anywhere.   

Donation terminal stands for Mosques during Ramadan

  1. Contactless donation terminals placed around your event in high-traffic areas can really boost in-person donations. Dona’s contactless donation terminals are self-service and simple to use, and have been shown to substantially increase overall charitable fundraising. Donation machines can be mounted on stands by the different entrances for men and women, and mosques often choose to have an additional terminal that can be passed around for supporters to donate while at an event or after prayers.  
  2. Partner with other Muslim influencers, communities and events to increase the reach and effect of your campaign. Encourage your social media followers to share the campaign too. 
  3. Organise a sale of Ramada- related items such as food, spices, clothing or religious items (prayer mats, Islamic books, Quran stands).

Post Ramadan:

Quran open with beads during RamadanAfter the fundraising is complete it is essential to let your donors know how important their donations have been and to demonstrate the ways that their contributions will help those around them, the wider community and the promotion of Islam. 

You may wish to split your fundraising into the two main campaigns for Zakat and Sadaqah. This would make reporting back to your supporters much easier. With Dona you can programme your donation terminal to collect for up to 20 different campaigns. The Dona management portal makes it quick and easy to see the totals raised for each campaign.

Dona Donations can help Muslim groups, charities and organisations collect donations from supporters before, during and after Ramadan with secure, compliant and easy-to-use contactless donation terminals. Dona’s online management portal offers a host of HMRC-friendly reports, analytics and tools to customise your donors’ experience. 

To find out more, complete our enquiry form or call us today on 0203 488 5038.

Find out more....

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

Enquire
Categories
Popular

How can councils leverage contactless technology?

Council fireworks display

How can councils leverage contactless technology for the good of the community?

November 2024

Councils in the UK receive funding from a range of places, including:

Council tax, grants, business rates and fees and charges.

Many councils find these funds do not fully cover the full spectrum of projects they would like to support within the communities they serve. Hence, there is a need to raise additional resources. With contactless technology, these projects can be given a boost with self-service terminals that do not require a huge initial outlay, extra staff or extensive training.

Which projects can councils use contactless donation terminals for?

Here are some great examples of fundraising projects that can be supported with contactless donation terminals.

  1. Fundraising for Specific Projects:
  • Community Centres: Support the construction or renovation of community centres for various activities.
  • Parks and Recreation: Fund new playgrounds, walking trails, or sports facilities.
  • Libraries: Contribute to the purchase of books, computers, or educational resources.
  • Cultural Events: Help with costs to organise local festivals, concerts, or art exhibitions.

 

Fundraising at a local library for a council event
  1. Supporting Community Services:
  • Food Banks: Provide funds for food purchases, storage, and distribution.
  • Homelessness Shelters: Contribute to operating costs and essential services.

A great example from Cambridge City Council who have utilised contactless technology on the streets – with the public making small donations in a fight to tackle homelessness. For as little as £3 – the price of a cup of coffee.

https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/news/2024/10/07/street-aid-week-real-change-for-the-price-of-a-coffee

 

  • Elderly Care: Support programs that assist with transportation or meals.
  • Youth Programs: Fund after-school activities, mentoring, or vocational training.

 

  1. Addressing Environmental Concerns:
  • Conservation Efforts: Contribute to habitat preservation, wildlife conservation, or pollution reduction initiatives.
  • Renewable Energy: Support the installation of solar panels or wind turbines in public spaces.
  • Recycling Programs: Fund additional recycling facilities or educational campaigns.

 

  1. Improving Infrastructure:
  • Road Maintenance: Contribute to road repairs, pothole filling, or traffic calming measures.
  • Public Transportation: Support improvements to bus or train services.
  • Accessibility: Fund projects to make public spaces more accessible for people with disabilities.
  1. Enhancing Community Well-being:

 

  • Mental Health Services: Support counselling, support groups, or crisis intervention programs.
  • Substance Abuse Treatment: Fund rehabilitation centres or prevention programs.
  • Health Promotion: Support health education campaigns or community health clinics.

 

Where is the best place to position contactless donation terminals?

Placing self-service donation terminals in areas with high footfall is a great way to raise funds. It is quick and easy for donors to ‘tap and go’ as regularly as they like. Providers like Dona donations make it easy for charities to collect Gift Aid too, enhancing each eligible donation value by 25%.

The local library, leisure centre or shopping mall are all places that could raise much needed funds.  Each terminal can have location specific funds that users can donate to making them more likely to give to a fund that would personally benefit them or their community.

Councils often run local events, such as firework displays or carnivals.  Contactless terminals are perfect for placing at these events where a large part of the community will be gathering and enjoying local entertainment.

Council fireworks display

Choosing a contactless fundraising provider for your council.

Dona Donations are an excellent choice of partner for contactless fundraising terminals and provide a custom solution for councils. See how the features and benefits below can help to boost local campaigns:

 

  1. Transparency – the Dona Management Portal allows councils to view donations in real-time and allocate to charity projects in a timely manner.
  2. Funds – many councils support multiple charity projects throughout the year. With the Funds feature (max of 20 funds), they can display the various projects and causes the community can contribute to, to motivate and inform about what they are doing to give back.
  3. Revenue Boosting – The average donation made using Dona is £12-£14, typically much higher than cash donations. And with market-leading transaction rates, more funds go directly to the projects you care about.
  4. Screensavers – allow the council to customise and update their branding and messaging throughout the year so the donation terminals reflect current brand standards and messaging.
  5. Celebration – the Dona Management Portal allows the council to view donation totals and celebrate fundraising milestones easily.
  6. Raising Awareness – many people don’t realise that councils support local charities and help with the start-up and ongoing operational needs of local community projects. Donors who register for Gift Aid or ‘Keep In Touch’, will receive email communications to spread awareness of initiatives they can engage with.
  7. Flexible, simple and fast – councils having the ability to financially support charitable projects via self-service donation terminals. It is mutually beneficial as they don’t need to have staff at every event but can still deploy the portable donation terminals quickly to help fund the activities at short notice or at remote events.

If you would like to see more, please contact us for a demo today   

Find out more....

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

Enquire