Is your charity missing out on donations because people simply don’t carry as much cash anymore? It’s a growing concern! In fact, only about 13% of people carry cash today, compared to 28% just five years ago. This shift can seriously impact your ability to collect donations.
Luckily, contactless donations are a powerful solution to this challenge. Besides being convenient for donors, they provide better tracking, reduce your administrative workload, and can even lead to higher average donations than cash.
In this article, we’ll walk you through everything from choosing the right contactless donation device to implementing strategies that will make your contactless fundraising a success. Let’s start boosting your donations and making giving easier for everyone!
Factors to consider when selecting a contactless donation device
Let’s dive into the factors that’ll help you make the right choice when picking a contactless donation method:
- Security and compliance: Keeping your donors’ data safe is non-negotiable. You’ll want a device that’s super secure and plays by the data protection rules. This way, you can protect sensitive information and build trust with your supporters.
- Ease of use: If your device is easy to use, people are more likely to give, so choose a device that’s intuitive for both your team and donors.
- Integration with existing systems: Consider how well the device works with your current donation management tools. Effortless integration streamlines your operations, saving time and reducing administrative work.
- Cost and fees: Evaluate the full financial picture of each device. This includes initial costs, ongoing fees, and transaction charges. Ensure these align with your budget and don’t reduce the impact of the donations you receive.
- Customization: Your device should reflect your organization’s identity. Look for options that allow you to incorporate your logo, colors, and messaging to create a cohesive experience for your donors.
- Technical support: Choose a device that comes with responsive technical support. Quick assistance when you need it minimizes disruptions and keeps your fundraising efforts running smoothly.
Top contactless donation methods to boost contributions
1. Get Jovvie’s self-service kiosk
Think of a donation station that’s always ready to accept contributions, doesn’t need breaks, and gives donors complete privacy. That’s what self-service kiosks offer. These devices are available 24/7, reduce the need for staff or volunteers, and provide a convenient, private way for people to donate.
Jovvie by BizSwoop is a powerful Point of Sale (POS) solution that offers a kiosk mode, so you can turn your device into a self-service donation hub. Here are its key features:
- Easy integration with existing systems and hardware to ensure a smooth transition for organizations adopting this technology.
- A user-friendly interface that simplifies the donation process, making it accessible for all donors.
- Customizable donation options that allow organizations to create custom fundraising campaigns and tailor the experience to their specific needs.
- Real-time transaction updates and secure payment processing, so all donations are tracked and managed effectively.
- Compatibility with various payment methods, including contactless options, makes it easy for donors to give in the way that suits them best.
- Native WooCommerce integration, which is especially beneficial for organizations already using this popular eCommerce platform and wanting to add any extra functionality. For instance, you can pair it with BizPrint to automatically print receipts whenever someone makes a donation.
- Support for 36 languages and 100 currencies, making it suitable for diverse donor bases.
Jovvie offers a 30-day free trial, so you can test it out before making a commitment. After the trial period, two main plans are available: a self-hosted option at $19 per month and a cloud solution at $29 per month. For those seeking a more comprehensive package, the Jovvie One plan provides an all-in-one POS solution with custom pricing based on specific organizational needs.
2. Use QR codes
QR codes are a fantastic tool for streamlining donations. They’re simple to create and distribute, and the best part is – anyone with a smartphone can scan them. You can place QR codes on flyers, posters, or even share them on social media, making them incredibly versatile.
To get started with QR codes for donations:
- Choose a reliable QR code generator online.
- Link your QR code to a secure donation page.
- Design eye-catching marketing materials featuring the QR code prominently.
To make the most of your QR code donations:
- Place codes in high-traffic areas where potential donors are likely to see them.
- Use clear, compelling calls to action to encourage people to scan.
- Track and analyze how often your QR codes are used and how much they’re bringing in.
3. Encourage donations via mobile wallets
Mobile wallets offer a convenient way for donors to contribute directly from their phones. They are user-friendly and have enhanced security features, making transactions quick and worry-free.
Popular mobile wallet options like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and PayPal are compatible with many donation systems, including Jovvie POS, so you can offer a smooth donation process for your supporters.
To encourage donations via mobile wallets:
- Highlight the convenience and security benefits to potential donors.
- Consider offering incentives, such as matching donations for mobile wallet users.
- Provide clear, step-by-step instructions on how to use mobile wallets for donations.
4. Use text-to-donate
Text-to-donate allows supporters to make a donation by sending a text message to a specific number. The donation amount is then added to their phone bill or deducted from their prepaid balance.
This method is incredibly straightforward for donors – they don’t need to visit a website or fill out forms. Just a quick text, and they’ve made a difference!
Many donation platforms now offer text-to-donate integration, making it easy to incorporate this method into your existing systems. To make the most of text-to-donate:
- Promote your campaign through SMS marketing, social media, and events.
- Use short, memorable keywords for your text-to-donate number.
- Clearly communicate the donation amount associated with each text.
Best practices for encouraging contactless donations
Leverage digital platforms
Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are great tools for promoting your contactless donation options. Share stories about the impact you’re making, and don’t forget to highlight those impressive metrics.
If you opt for Jovvie’s self-service kiosk, you can count on its integration with WooCommerce to set you up for success across various digital platforms.
Offer donation tiers
Ever noticed how having options makes decisions easier? That’s the idea behind donation tiers. Set up a range of suggested amounts – say $5, $10, $20, and $50 – to suit different budgets.
And here’s a pro tip: Show donors exactly what their money can do. For instance, you can write a message that says: “Your $10 donation provides a warm meal for a family in need.” This is a simple way to help donors see the real impact of their generosity.
Be transparent
Donors love to know where their money’s going – and rightly so. Break down your expenses and showcase the results of previous donations. Use a mix of stories, images, and videos to bring your impact to life. This openness builds trust and keeps supporters coming back.
Prioritize the donor experience
Focus on creating user-friendly interfaces and keep the donation process short and sweet. Offer a variety of contactless methods – QR codes, mobile wallets, text-to-donate – to cater to different preferences. As we mentioned already, if you make it easy for people to donate, they’re more likely to do it.
Have an offline plan
Don’t let a poor internet connection stand in your way. Choose solutions that work offline, especially for events in areas with spotty coverage. Train your team on handling offline donations smoothly. This way, you’re ready for anything, and donors can always contribute, no matter where you are or what happens.
Optimize for mobile devices
With so many people glued to their phones, it’s wise to have a mobile-friendly donation platform. Make sure your website and donation forms look great and work well on smaller screens. This small step can lead to a big increase in donations.
Implement recurring donation options
Encourage supporters to set up regular contributions. It provides you with a steady income stream and makes life easier for donors who want to support you long-term. They set it up once, and they’re good to go.
Take action: Implement your contactless donation strategy today
Contactless donations are reshaping how modern charities operate. They make giving easier and more accessible, which could significantly boost your donation numbers.
Jovvie is a great fit for charities looking to make this shift, and here’s why: It’s compatible with your existing hardware, integrates smoothly with WooCommerce, and offers cost-effective pricing. Plus, it’s user-friendly, so you don’t need any advanced technical skills!
Ready to see how Jovvie can improve your charity’s donation process? Give it a try today!
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