From Small Events to Major Campaigns: Choosing the right contactless donation solution

In today’s largely cashless world, contactless donation options have become essential for any effective fundraising strategy. However, not all contactless solutions are created equally. In this article, we’ll explore the varied needs of charities and places of worship to help you identify the CollecTin contactless donation terminal that best fits your setting and unique use case.  

We need to accept entry fees and donations at events. 

Events are a powerful way to connect with supporters and encourage giving, but they often come with unique logistical challenges. From collecting entry fees, to setting up donation points for activities like games and competitions, and for equipping volunteers to collect donations on the move, the right donation terminal can make a significant impact. A unit that’s both mobile and equipped with 4G connectivity ensures donations continue even in areas without Wi-Fi. A robust battery life and a swappable battery is also key, so your team can focus on engaging with attendees without worrying about power or connectivity.

Our recommendation: Our CollecTin More and Plus units are ideal for events and can be used with a SumUp, Stripe card or Zettle card readers. Fully customisable with your branding, they allow you to set donation amounts or let donors choose their own. Units are fully portable and come with optional 4G connectivity, (available for an additional charge). Additional swap-able batteries are also available to ensure you can keep up with event demands.  

I need to accept donations quickly, one after the other. 

In high-traffic areas, where people may be entering or leaving a venue or place of worship, the ability to collect donations rapidly can be useful. Whether after a service or at the doors of an event, your supporters should be able to tap and go without waiting.  

Our Recommendation: For these moments, a CollecTin Original (for use with Stripe or Zettle) or CollecTin More with Stripe is ideal, enabling set donations every seven seconds. This true "tap-and-go" functionality helps keep the flow moving smoothly while maximising donations. 

We need to offer custom donation amounts and brand our campaigns 

Customising donation amounts and campaign branding can significantly enhance donor trust and engagement. By setting suggested donation amounts, you can subtly guide donors towards higher contributions, while still allowing them to choose their own amount can often lead to unexpectedly generous gifts.  

Our recommendation: With the CollecTin More and Plus units, you have the flexibility to tailor donation options to suit your audience and maximise giving potential. These units also allow for customisation of the welcome and thank you screens, including the use of video, which reinforces your organisation’s branding and builds trust in your cause.  

We need a unit that can be both fixed in place and portable 

In some settings, your contactless donation terminal may need to be securely mounted to a wall or desktop and left unattended, requiring a constant power supply. However, there are also times when the same unit needs to be easily detached for portable use. This flexibility ensures it can be used wherever donations are most likely, whether at a fixed location or on the move. 

Our Recommendation: The CollecTin More and CollecTin Plus units offer the option of a desktop or wall mount for secure, unattended use. When needed, they can easily be removed from their mount and used portably, providing the versatility to meet your organisation’s changing needs. 

We are new to contactless giving and want to start with the cheapest option 

For some charities and places of worship, keeping costs low is a top priority, especially when starting out with contactless giving. Offering supporters a cashless donation option can make a big difference, but it’s essential to do so at minimal expense, ideally without ongoing fees. 

Our Recommendation: The CollecTin Original is the ideal entry-level unit for cost-conscious organisations. With no fundraising software involved, it eliminates monthly fees, allowing you to accept donations via a separately purchased payment card reader. Controlled through your own mobile device, this setup keeps initial costs low while providing a straightforward way to introduce contactless giving. 

We need a large number of units and want to manage them centrally 

For many charities and religious organisations, the ability to roll out multiple donation units across many sites is needed. In these cases, a solution that arrives fully set up and ready to go can be a game-changer, eliminating the need for on-site or virtual support. For many it’s important to know that they are providing a seamless, consistent experience in terms of branding and campaign management across all their devices.  

Our recommendation: Our CollecTin Plus is an ideal solution if you are seeking centralised control over donation campaigns and unit settings. With CollecTin Plus, you can easily customise campaigns for all units, lock down user settings, and streamline Gift Aid requests with automatic reclaim. Additionally, central reporting makes it simple to monitor and optimise campaign performance - all the tools you need to run efficient and effective fundraising campaign from a single, central point.  

We need to Collect Gift Aid from our Donors 

With traditional cash donations, you can often miss out on a valuable 25% uplift if donors are taxpayers, as you’re unable to capture Gift Aid. To unlock this extra support, it’s essential to have a way for donors to easily register for Gift Aid when making their donations.  

Our recommendation: The CollecTin More and CollecTin Plus units are designed to do just that, enabling you to capture Gift Aid details to increase your fundraising impact. The software provided with the CollecTin More units, which is provided by Give A Little also allows you to report donations which are eligible for the Gift Aid small donations scheme (GASDS). CollecTin Plus software, provided by Wil-U also allows you to automate your Gift Aid claim with HMRC, so you get all the benefits without the admin.  

Finding the Perfect CollecTin for Your Needs 

With a range of CollecTin units designed to meet various fundraising needs, there’s an ideal solution for nearly every setting. Whether you need a portable terminal for events, a quick tap-and-go option for high-traffic areas, a system that captures Gift Aid, or a versatile unit that can be both fixed and portable, CollecTin offers a product to suit your goals. 

Explore our CollecTin range and start making the most of contactless giving. Or contact us today to discuss your needs and we can help you choose the right fit for you.