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Tag: donation security

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How Dona Donation Machines Keep Your Generosity Safe and Secure

Selection of credit cards held by a person ready to make a secure donation

How Dona Donation Machines Keep Your Generosity Safe and Secure

April 2025

Peace of Mind with Every Tap
Selection of credit cards held by a person ready to make a secure donation

At Dona, we understand that security is at the top of the list of requirements when selecting a supplier for collecting and handling donations in the digital world we now live in. That’s why our donation machines and platform are designed with the highest standards of security and safety in mind, giving both donors and organisations complete peace of mind.

Here are some common questions and answers we are asked about security and data protection.

Q: What are Dona Donation machines, and why is security so important?

Dona Donation machines are easy-to-use, self-service terminals that allow people to make quick, cashless donations to charities and organisations. We know that the machines need to have the best security available. We want you to feel confident that donations and sensitive data are always protected.

Q: How does Dona protect donor data when I donate?

Donor privacy and security are our top priority. We adhere to stringent regulations to ensure donor personal and card data is always safe:

  • GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) Compliant: This means we handle personal data with the utmost care, ensuring it’s collected, processed, and stored legally and securely within the UK.
  • PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) Compliant: This is a global security standard for organisations that handle branded credit cards. It ensures that card details are protected during every transaction.

In simple terms, these compliances mean we follow strict rules to prevent unauthorised access to donor data, giving you confidence that donations are secure.

Mastercard debit card blue for making a donation

Q: How does Dona ensure our charity’s data is safe?

For charities and organisations, the security of donor information and operational data is critical. Dona goes above and beyond to safeguard this:

  • UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Guidelines: Our systems are built following the best practices and recommendations from the NCSC, the UK’s authority on cyber security. This means we’re constantly thinking about and implementing the most robust security measures.
  • Internationally Recognised Certifications: We’re proud to have achieved two important certifications:
    • ISO 9001 (Quality Management): This certification demonstrates our commitment to consistently providing products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. In practice, it means we have processes in place to ensure everything we do, from manufacturing to customer support, is to the highest standard.
    • ISO 27001 (Information Security Management): This is the gold standard for information security. It shows we have a robust system in place to manage risks to the security of the information we hold, whether it’s donor data or our own operational information. Additionally, we’re continuously identifying and addressing potential security threats.

These certifications reinforce trust with our partners, ensure operational excellence, and demonstrate our unwavering commitment to safeguarding data and delivering high standards.

Q: How does Dona keep its machines secure and up-to-date?

Security is ongoing and we ensure our machines are always equipped with the latest protections:

  • Monthly App Updates: The Dona app, which powers our donation machines, is updated every month. These updates bring the latest features and essential security patches to all deployed devices.
  • Regular Security Testing: We carry out regular security testing of our donation machines to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively. This ensures our systems consistently meet high standards of security and resilience.

Automatic Software Updates: For your ease of use and peace of mind, Dona software on Dona donation machines will automatically update when connected to WiFi or 4G. This means your machine is always running the most secure and up-to-date version without you having to do a thing. If you are using your donation machine offline, the app will update the next time you connect your device to a WiFi connection.

What This Means for You:

  • For Donors: They can donate with confidence, knowing their personal and financial information is handled with the highest level of security, adhering to strict UK and international standards. Their generosity is safe with Dona.
  • For Charities & Organisations: You can trust Dona to be a secure, reliable, and compliant partner. Our commitment to quality and information security means you can focus on your vital work, knowing that donor data is protected and your operations are supported by robust, up-to-date technology.

At Dona, security isn’t an afterthought; it’s built into the very core of what we do. We’re dedicated to providing safe and effective solutions that help you make a difference, one secure donation at a time. We regularly review and enhance our security protocols as threats evolve – security is never ‘done’.

If you still have questions around security and data please give our friendly UK team a call and we can provide any further information you require. 

Call: 0203 488 5038

Complete our enquiry form 

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Donors Give Happy: Creating a Seamless Donation Experience

Person making a heart shape with hands on a mountain top to show they love the view

Donors Give Happy: Creating a Seamless Donation Experience

August 2024

Happy Donors = More donations!

Can you increase your fundraising totals by simply making the donor experience really easy?
If you can offer a speedy, hassle-free way to donate will it put donors off, or mean they give more and more frequently?
We all know that we feel great when we are able to help someone or give to a charity that
can help on our behalf. But does the actual process of giving need to be lengthy or be an
effort to make it worthwhile?
Our research indicates that an easy donation process can significantly influence our
willingness to give. Here are our top 5 psychological factors that we believe are at play:

1. That Feel Good Factor:

  • Pleasure and Satisfaction: Easy experiences often evoke positive emotions, creating
    a sense of well-being. People are more inclined to give when they feel good. A
    Harvard Business Review in 2008* stated that the act of giving releases dopamine
    and endorphins which give us that wonderful positive feeling.
  • Gratitude: When we give or receive a gift, we often feel grateful, thereby boosting
    our happiness, health and social bonds.
  • Passion: Remember that your donors are passionate about your charity, this is why
    they have chosen to donate to your cause. By making the process easy, it shows you
    care about their experience and value their support.
Heart in hands means feeling good donate more

2. Chillin:

  • Effortless Engagement: Easy experiences require less brain power. This frees up to
    focus on other aspects, such as the act of giving itself or the effect our giving is
    having on others.
  • Increased Generosity: When we're not mentally taxed, we're more likely to think
    about the needs of others and engage in altruistic deeds.

3. Perceived Value:

  • Enhanced Satisfaction: Easy experiences often lead to higher perceived value and an
    increase in trust. We associate the product or service with positive outcomes,
    making us more willing to support them in the future.
  • Loyalty and Advocacy: Positive experiences foster loyalty, increasing the likelihood
    of repeat donations, more often and with a higher referral rate.

4. Social Sharing:

  • We love to talk: Easy experiences are often shared positively with others. This
    creates a sense of social proof, encouraging others to participate and give too.
  • Giving is Contagious: Positive recommendations build trust in the charity or
    organisation, with a ripple effect, making our friends and family more likely to follow
    with their support.
Two grey haired ladies sat chatting outside about their charity donations

5. Habit building:

Routine and Ease: When an experience is consistently easy, it becomes a habit. Giving can become part of this routine, increasing the likelihood of continued
donations. 

At Dona Donations, we love to give our donors an easy process to support their chosen
charity.

Contactless card payments mean no need to carry cash and it is quick and easy to
‘tap to donate’.


If your charity could benefit from a boost to your fundraising with contactless card donation
please do contact us today. 

 

*Harvard Business Review 2008 – Professor Michael Norton –
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/5_ways_giving_is_good_for_you

 

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Peace of Mind: Security and Risk Reduction for Charities

Older man with cash and a contactless card

Peace of Mind: Security and Risk Reduction for Charities

July 2024

Safe and Secure: Can Contactless Donations Protect Your Charity?

The UK ranked 3rd in the world for the amount of money donated to charity in 2022 with 71% of the population being donors*.

Charities can often be subject to theft and fraud with Action Fraud reporting that the total amount lost between November 2022 and October 2023 to be £2,732,170 with over 500 cases.

Charities are reliant on altruism, trust and honesty. There is the risk of theft and fraud that can be either internal or external.  

Internal Charity Fraud

Charity Fraud Report 2023: This report by BDO and the Fraud Advisory Panel highlights that internal fraud (by staff or volunteers) is the most common type of charity fraud**.

While we know that staff and volunteers are crucial to running a charity, there are steps that can be taken to minimise this risk.

 

If you are a charity concerned about internal theft or fraud please see this resource from the Preventing Charity Fraud organisation. It is an excellent guide to speaking to your volunteers about charity fraud – Speaking to volunteers about charity fraud

Charity volunteer lady counting cash donations on a table

External Charity Fraud

The highest recorded examples of external charity fraud in 2022*** were the misappropriation of cash or assets – this was double the number for 2021.

Cash can be stolen from events, charity boxes or on the way to be deposited.  In addition to the loss to the charity, this can be extremely upsetting for staff and volunteers.

Scammers might impersonate your charity and try to collect funds illegally.  Having strict donation policies and appointing a representative to monitor charity collections under the charity banner is just one option.  

Why is it important to protect donors and donations

Reliance on fundraising is crucial to the charity’s survival but are cash collections the best way to collect?

We can access this from both sides – The donor and the Charity.

The donor seeks convenience, security and to feel good about their donation.  The thought of their donation being stolen or not going to the heart of the charity would be devastating and could mean they are less likely to donate in the future.

The Charity would like to raise as much money as possible to be able to fulfil their aims and to operate within their constitution.  A simple, efficient process with minimal risk and clear reporting is ideal, such as an online management portal. 

Cash vs Contactless charity donations, which is best?

You might be weighing up – Cash vs Contactless payments – which is more secure? This is a question that we are often asked, particularly in the post-COVID era.  Let’s look at more detail about the handling of cash donations.

Older man with cash and a contactless card

Are contactless donations the solution?

The UK is moving towards a cashless society.  Contactless payments utilise a series of security measures like encryption and tokenisation to protect personal or sensitive information.

Taking card payments generally reduces the risk of physical fraud as stolen cash is almost impossible to recover.  

The benefits of contactless donations are clear when we look at the risk to our volunteers, the theft risk and the reporting of donation behaviour.

With more data about our donors, charities are able to make strides to increase the donation amount per transaction, build campaigns in a more informed way, focus on the easy of donating and save on costly staff and admin fees.

If you would like to explore using contactless donations for your charity please contact us –


By phone – 0203 488 8095

Or by filling out our enquiry form. 

 

 

 

*Charities Aid Foundation – https://www.cafonline.org/about-us/research/caf-world-giving-index

**BDO Charity Fraud Report – https://www.bdo.co.uk/en-gb/insights/advisory/forensic-services/charity-fraud

***Charity Fraud examples – https://www.qlicnfp.com/charity-fraud-examples-you-should-watch-out-for/