Making the most of cashless donations

We are becoming an increasingly cashless society, with more than 94% of in-store transactions now paid by contactless cards. In 2025, fewer than 12% of donations were made in cash. It’s clear that providing easy, contactless ways for people to donate is the future of fundraising.

There are three main ways to make contactless donations:

• Tap-on-Phone: an app allows fundraisers to accept contactless donations through their phone

• Tap-to-Give/ NFC Donation Terminals: people can tap from a contactless card or their phones to a card-present device (portable handhelds, fixed plinths, or countertop stands). This technology typically works through mobile data or Wi-Fi.

• QR-to-Donate: Donors scan a printed or digital mobile QR code that opens into a branded mobile donation page. Donors can pay with Google/ Apple Pay or by entering card details.

It is worth thinking through how you might collect donations – whether this is at an event, through local businesses, through posters, leaflets or newsletters, or via your online channels. The Chartered Institute of Fundraising has some top tips for how to get started promoting cashless donations, looking at getting the message out to existing and potential donors. JustGiving also provides some practical steps for collecting contactless donations at events, from training volunteers and testing equipment, to debriefing after the event.

Finally, it is a good idea to update your fundraising policy to reflect contactless donation practices. The Fundraising Regulator has specific guidance for handling cashless donations.

Photo by Julio Lopez