Online giving

An online giving page is a great way to encourage friends and supporters of your congregation to give. Online giving can be used to support the general work of the congregation or for particular appeals and projects. An online giving page can be accessed through a ‘donate button' on the congregation's website, a link to a standalone page on a provider's website or a QR code. A QR code is a unique image code of small black and white squares which is read by the camera or code reader on a smartphone or tablet and takes the donor directly to an online giving page. A QR code can be included in printed material, notice-boards, websites and online services.

There are numerous providers available, but it may be worth considering one with specialist knowledge of charities and churches, such as:

  • Dona
    • No monthly fee
    • Transaction fee: 2.4%
    • Payment processor is SumUp
    • Congregations can offer different funds/projects for the donor to choose from
    • Collects Gift Aid information
  • Give a Little
    • Basic Plan: No monthly fee, but annual donations must not exceed £1,000
    • Premium Plan: Sliding price scale starting from £7.50+VAT per month for annual donations up to £7,500. Collects Gift Aid information. Congregations can offer different funds/projects for the donor to choose from
    • Payment processor is either SumUp (transaction fee 2.5%) or Stripe (transaction fee 1.4%+20p)
  • Fundraise from Stewardship.org
    • No monthly fees
    • Transaction fee: 3% or 3.5% if claiming Gift Aid
    • Collects and processes Gift Aid claim on the congregation's behalf
  • Just Giving
    • Just Giving offers a "Start Plan" which has no monthly fees.
    • Transaction fee: 1.9% + 20p (plus an additional 5% fee on any Gift Aid processed)
    • Donors are given the option to add on the cost of the transaction fee
    • The Start Plan also offers:
      • Giving Checkout: donors can make online donations but without a customised page
      • Fees: 5% of any Gift Aid they process but no transaction or other fees.
  • Data Developments (for MyGiving software users)
    • No additional monthly fees
    • Transaction fee: 2.4% + 20p
    • All donations entered into ‘MyGiving' automatically
    • Congregations can offer different funds/projects for the donor to choose from
    • Congregations can offer donors the opportunity to cover the cost of the transaction fee
    • Collects and processes Gift Aid claim on the congregation's behalf
  • Wonderful
    • Accessed through a QR code or web link
    • Uses ‘Account to Account' payments (Open Banking) whereby donations are directly transferred to the congregation's bank account from the donor's online or mobile bank account rather than through a payment card. The donation appears almost instantly in the congregation's bank account.
    • Donors must have access to digital banking facilities either online or through a mobile App.
    • No monthly or transaction fees (fees are covered by a corporate sponsor subject to fair usage)
    • Collects Gift Aid information
  • Takepayments QR Code package
    • £20+VAT per month
    • Transaction fee: 1.05% + 5p (debit card), 2.05% + 5p (all other cards)
    • Collects Gift Aid information
    • 12-month minimum contract
    • A promotional ‘starter pack' is included for Church of Scotland congregations