Dona Donations Nominated for Barclays Innovation in FinTech Award

April 2025

A Recognition of Excellence

Innovation in Fintech Award for Dona - recognition by Barclays of best donation machines for charities

We are thrilled to share that Dona Donations has been nominated for the Innovation in FinTech Award, sponsored by Innovate Finance, at the 2025 Barclays Entrepreneur Awards.

This nomination is a significant recognition of the hard work, creativity, and dedication by the Dona team, for all that has gone into building a platform that provides genuine support and growth for the UK charity sector.

Championing Innovation in Fundraising

At Dona, innovation has always been at the heart of what we do. Since our foundation in 2020, we’ve been proud to create solutions that make giving simpler, smarter, and more impactful:

£50 million raised across 2,000+ UK charities, helping vital causes thrive (figures as of September 2025).
Streamlined Gift Aid collection, making it easier and faster for charities to claim, with an average of 40% of donations given with added Gift Aid on Dona, as well as the ability to collect Historic Gift Aid.
Boosting average donations by enhancing the donor journey and making generosity effortless. The average donation on Dona is £12, and the average amount that charities fundraise in their first 6 months with Dona has increased by 81.4% from version 1 (2020) to version 3 (2024) as a result of technical product development and innovation.
Smarter giving data management, empowering charities with clear insights and faster HMRC reporting.

In 2025, we’ve taken another step forward with the introduction of our AI-powered Virtual Fundraising Assistant, Antonia, delivering tailored insights and recommendations based on personalised historical data, to help charities maximise their future fundraising and plan ahead more effectively.

In 2025, we’ve also demonstrated our ongoing commitment to excellence, by becoming ISO certified for Quality Management and Information Security Management. Learn more about how Dona ensures security here.

A Proud Moment for the Team

Being nominated for this award is not just a milestone for our product — it’s a celebration of the people behind it. From our product developers to our customer support teams, every member of Dona has played a role in shaping a platform that’s trusted and loved by charities across the UK.

Looking Ahead

Recognition at the Barclays Entrepreneur Awards reminds us why we started: to empower charities with innovative tools that make fundraising easier, faster, and more rewarding. And this is only the beginning.

We’re excited to keep building, keep innovating, and keep helping charities make a bigger difference.

Thank you to Innovate Finance and Barclays for this honour — and thank you to our charity partners for trusting us on this journey.

Call: 0203 488 5038

Complete our enquiry form

Message on our social channels:

Why Schools, Colleges and Universities are Embracing Digital Fundraising Solutions

April 2025

The Digital Fundraising Revolution

For so long, fundraising in educational institutions has been associated with cash collection at cake sales, sponsored walks, and rattling collection tins. While these traditions hold a special place in our hearts and memories, they often struggle to keep pace with the demands of the twenty-first century. In an increasingly cashless society, where convenience is king, schools and universities that rely solely on traditional methods can be missing out on valuable donations. Schools, colleges and universities are embracing the digital revolution, with award winning solutions like Dona, and the benefits are game changing.

Dona isn’t just another digital payment system; it’s a comprehensive fundraising solution designed to help educational establishments streamline their operations, maximise donations, and reduce the administrative burden that so often plagues fundraising efforts. By integrating Dona’s innovative donation machines, QR codes, and free donation webpage, you can transform the way your school or university connects with its community and secures vital funding for the future.

Where to Place Your Dona Machines for Maximum Impact

Dona’s physical donation machines are designed to be placed in high-traffic, communal areas where they are easily accessible to students, staff, parents, and visitors. Imagine a Dona donation device strategically located:

In communal areas and assembly halls: During school assemblies, performances, parent-teacher evenings, or university open days, these machines offer a simple, frictionless way for people to contribute.
By canteens and cafes: When students or staff are purchasing their lunch, a quick tap of their card or phone at a Dona machine is a natural and convenient action.
At community and school events: Whether it’s a sports day, a school play, an arts exhibition, or a university gala, having a Dona machine on hand at your event ensures you can capture more generous donations on the spot, without the need for cash.
When parents visit: A prominent Dona device in the reception area provides a constant, visible reminder of ongoing fundraising campaigns and offers parents a fast, convenient and discreet way to donate during school visits.
At drop off and pick up: Print posters with your QR code and attach them to the school gates. Parents, carers and passers-by can donate on the fly.

This strategic placement ensures that your fundraising is not limited to a single event but is an ever-present part of school life, making it easier than ever for your community to support your mission.

Streamlining Administration and Maximising Donations

One of the most significant advantages of using a platform like Dona is the dramatic reduction in administrative burden. The endless counting of cash, reconciling bank deposits, and issuing receipts manually are time-consuming tasks that take valuable staff time away from more important work. Dona handles all of this automatically.

No more cash: In a world where fewer people carry physical money, relying on cash donations is a surefire way to miss out on potential funds. Dona’s card and contactless payment options cater to modern donors, ensuring you can accept contributions from everyone, regardless of their payment preference.
Automated reporting: Dona provides real-time data on donations with its AI driven management portal, allowing you to track the progress of each campaign instantly. This eliminates the need for manual record-keeping and provides a clear, transparent overview of your fundraising efforts. Include progress easily in your monthly school newsletter or student bulletin.
Stress-free fundraising: By automating the most tedious parts of fundraising, Dona takes some of the stress out of the experience. The donation terminals are also self-service. It frees up teachers, staff, and volunteers to focus on what they do best: building relationships and engaging with the community, rather than worrying about logistics.

Safe and secure: No more worry about missing cash, someone having to pop to the bank or the risk of fraud/theft. Dona has industry leading security and data protection protocols in place.

Modern Fundraising Makes Sense

The world has changed, and fundraising must change with it. The days of solely relying on cash and paper are coming to an end.

Using Dona as your fundraising partner you will not only increase your donations and streamline your processes but also send a powerful message: that your institution is a modern, dynamic place that values innovation. Together we can grow the next generation.

Download our Education Brochure

Call: 0203 488 5038

Complete our enquiry form

Message on our social channels:

Sales:

0203 488 5038

Support:

0203 488 8095