Tap to Donate
Tap to Donate is now available under public beta!
Requirements for use:
- A ChurchSuite or CharitySuite account with a local currency set to GBP (tap donations for accounts in other local currencies are not currently supported).
- The Giving module is an installed module on your account.
- A completed Stripe integration.
- A supported device with a built-in NFC reader (External card reader terminals are not currently supported).
- iOS devices: iPhone XS models released in 2018 and later iPhone models running iOS 16.7 or above. iPads do not use NFC technology and cannot be used. iOS 'tapping' is typically performed on the front screen of the device where the NFC Chip is located. On some iPhone models, the NFC Chip can also detect 'taps' on the back of the device.
- Android devices: Most modern phones and tablets with a functioning NFC antenna and chipset. While not an exhaustive list, Stripe recommends and supports the following devices; other Android devices may also work. Android 'tapping' is typically performed on the back of the device where the primary NFC Chip is located. On some Android models with dual NFC Chips, 'tapping' can also be performed on the front of the device, but will likely still direct users to tap on the back of the device.
Downloading the app: iOS
Tap to Donate is available through TestFlight.
For churchsuite.com accounts, download Testflight and view the ChurchSuite Tap to Donate app here.
For charitysuite.com accounts, download Testflight and view the CharitySuite Tap to Donate app here.
Downloading the app: Android
Tap to Donate is available through the Play Store
For churchsuite.com accounts, download the ChurchSuite Tap to Donate app on the Google Play Store here.
For charitysuite.com accounts, download the CharitySuite Tap to Donate app on the Google Play Store here.
Important: Making test donations
Donations will be charged to the payment card, and the app will not work in a Stripe "Test Mode". For testing, you can refund test donations through your Stripe account dashboard and delete them from the Giving module to avoid Gift Aid reclaim. "Tap" donations are added against the small donations giver profile for the site selected in the app settings.
Providing beta feedback
The app's interface and user and giver experience are subject to change during this public beta review. We welcome all feedback about the user and giver experience and the app's overall functionality. Is everything clear and intuitive? Are there any sticking points? Does everything work as expected? Email feedback and report any issues to support@churchsuite.com.
We hope you enjoy using Tap to Donate and that it's a helpful addition to the way you collect donations from prospective givers.
In this article
Introduction
Setting up Tap to Donate
Overview of the giver user experience
Managing contactless donations received
Introduction
Tap to Donate is a contactless giving app that can be used with NFC-enabled iOS or Android smartphones and tablets. It enables the collection of anonymous small donations from prospective givers quickly and easily. Any church or organisation using the Giving module with a completed Stripe integration can use it.
'Tap' donations are automatically added to the Giving module. For UK churches and charities, Gift Aid is claimable on eligible contactless small donations up to £30 under the HMRC Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme. Larger and non-anonymous donations are also possible through an in-app QR Code that directs the giver to the Donate form to complete their donation on their device.
Tap to Donate is designed for use at in-person gatherings and events where the cardholder is present, and can be used in different configurations: at a fixed giving "kiosk" or when "taking up an offering" where a device is passed around the congregation. Each device can be locked to a preselected Fund. The giver chooses from up to four preset amounts or enters a custom amount, and taps their card or digital wallet on the device to complete their donation payment, eliminating the need to enter physical card details.
Transaction fees
Stripe automatically deducts a card processing fee from each tap donation processed, whether the payment is approved or declined. The giver's donation amount is added to the Giving module, but the net-of-fees amount is paid out to the designated bank account set in your Stripe account settings. See the related support article for further information about Integrating with Stripe for online card payments.
For Donate, where card details are manually entered (or where Apple Pay or Google Pay is configured), Stripe's fees comprise a percentage of the donation amount plus a £0.20 transaction fee. The same percentage of the donation amount applies to contactless Tap to Donate donations, but the fee is split into two parts: a £0.10 transaction fee and a £0.10 "Per-Authorisation" fee.
App user permissions
Any user with Tap to Donate "Use" permission, as indicated below, can log in and use the app; no access to other modules, including the Giving module, is required. For further information, see the related article on Adding and managing users.
The device's default security measures are used to secure access to the app, typically a screen unlock passcode or biometrics. Once unlocked, the device can be used for Tap to Donate. An optional app PIN can be set to restrict access to the app settings, enabling you to lock the device to a preferred fund and prevent fund switching on the device. The app is designed for use by authorised users on your church or charity's devices and is not suitable for installation on a giver's device, i.e. it's not a personal giving app.
Supported devices and minimum requirements
Tap to Donate utilises Near-Field Communication (NFC), a wireless technology that enables the chip on a physical card (or a digital wallet on a phone) to be read when in proximity to the device.
iOS: iPhone XS or newer running iOS 16.7 or later. Note that iPads do not support NFC.
Android: NFC-enabled smartphone or tablet running Android 8.0 or later. Note that the NFC reader on Android devices is at the back of the devices, meaning cards and digital wallet phones need to be tapped on the back of the device to be read. Consequently, Android devices may not be suitable for use in a kiosk stand if the NFC reader is not readily accessible. The app does not support external USB NFC readers.
Visit the Stripe website for a list of supported devices.
Note: If using a personal device, never store your personal cards in the device case. Proximity to the device's NFC chip may result in donations being charged to your card instead of the giver's card!
Top Tip! Locking a kiosk device with guided access
You can restrict a Tap to Donate device to a single app, which is useful for devices that are left unattended at a Giving Kiosk. You can set a time limit and customise which features, hardware buttons, and areas of the screen are available on the device, and prevent the app from being forced to close or logged out.
Click here for help with iOS iPhone Guided Access and here for help with Android App Pinning. A range of third-party 'guided access' apps is also available for Android devices.
Setting up Tap to Donate
Once the app is installed, launch it and take a moment to swipe through and read the introductory tutorial pages. You can return to the tutorial pages at any time by selecting Help from the app's Settings. These explain the app's functionality, navigation and settings and show the "giver" User's experience. After the final tutorial page, you can Log in. Begin by searching for and selecting your church or organisation, and then enter your username and password (and multi-factor authentication code, if enabled) to complete the authentication process. After that, the app's use is secured by the device's built-in screen lock security. Unlocking the screen using a passcode or biometrics will grant access to the Tap to Donate app.
Once authenticated, the app displays a list of Funds that have been set to Show in Tap to Donate.
Top Tip! Managing fund visibility and preset amounts
We've produced a related support article, Managing funds in the Giving module, that contains instructions on how to manage which funds are displayed in the Tap to Donate app. In this way, you can hide any private funds that you don't wish to collect contactless donations for. You can also customise up to four preset Amounts that givers can choose from when making a contactless donation; they can also make a custom donation amount.
At this point, you can navigate to the app Settings to set whether a PIN is required to change funds. This setting is helpful when you want to lock a device to a selected fund - all 'tap' donations will be assigned to that chosen fund. If the device is being used in a context where fund switching is required or preferred, you can leave the "Fund Change" PIN disabled. Finally, for multi-site customers where the logged-in app User has permission for multiple sites, you should choose the Giving module Site to which anonymous small donations are recorded. A selected site setting persists until changed, which means you can configure different devices for use at other sites. Alternatively, you can add app User profiles that have single-site permission, meaning that anonymous small donations are recorded against the app User site, with no option to change the site.
Where the fund-change PIN is enabled, choosing a fund prompts you to enter a 4-digit number and Set PIN. The same screen is used if you later choose to Disable PIN, requiring entry of the PIN to complete the process. An enabled PIN remains enabled until disabled, the app is force-closed, or the app is logged out.
The Amount page is shown, and the device is ready for use. You can return to the Fund list at any time by tapping the < icon in the top-left of the screen. If enabled, the Fund Change PIN will be required.
Overview of the giver user experience
Prospective givers can choose from four preset amounts or click Other to enter a custom amount. Givers can also select to Donate on their device, which reveals a QR Code that the giver can scan to open Donate on their device to complete the donation process. This feature is helpful for those who wish to make recurring donations rather than anonymous small donations.
The giver is instructed on where to tap their card or digital wallet phone. For Android (shown below on the right), the NFC reader is located at the back of the device. For iOS devices (shown below on the left), the reader is accessed by tapping the screen at the front of the device.
An Approved message indicates a successful donation and confirms the amount donated. The giver can optionally request an Email receipt for their payment. The donation is automatically added to the Giving module - see the next section for further explanation.
A Declined payment request invites the giver to Retry Payment—perhaps with an alternative card. If the retry is also declined, a QR Code is shown, which the giver can scan with their phone camera to take them to your Donate page on their device to complete their donation. The giver can also request an Email Receipt for a declined payment request. The decline 'reason' is not shown in the giver's User experience, and declined payment requests are not recorded in the Giving module.
Chip-and-PIN - Android devices
Some UK cards require chip-and-PIN security. For example, newly issued cards typically need to be used with chip-and-PIN first before they can be used for contactless payments. While iOS supports a Tap to Pay on iPhone with a PIN-entry screen, Android devices do not.
Additionally, some UK cards are unable to complete contactless payments using a PIN, even on an iOS device. In this scenario, a Declined message will be displayed. However, the giver can continue with their donation by scanning the QR Code to complete it on their device using Donate and an alternative payment method.
For UK churches and charities claiming Gift Aid on eligible contactless small donations, an alternative "giver" user experience to Donate on your device is provided for givers who wish to give more than the £30 eligibility limit. Scanning the QR Code, the giver is taken to your organisation's Donate form to complete their donation using a non-contactless secure payment process. For further information, see our related support article, Accepting online donations using Donate.
Managing contactless donations received
As a reminder, Tap to Donate donations are anonymous because no identifiable details about the giver are collected during the giving experience. The process is quick and simple, making it ideal for collecting small donations at an unstaffed giving kiosk or when taking up a collection at in-person events and gatherings.
Each successfully approved 'tap' donation is automatically added to the Giving module - only donations made in GBP are supported:
- For UK churches and charities where Gift Aid applies, small donations up to £30 are added to the Small Donation Scheme (SDS) giver profile and recorded with a "Contactless" method. For multi-site customers with site-specific SDS giver profiles, the app Site setting determines the SDS giver profile used. See the related support article How to process donations under the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme for further information. Contactless donations over £30 can still be made, but Gift Aid will not be claimable - if the giver chooses to continue, the donation is added to the SDS giver profile with an "Override" Gift Aid status to prevent Gift Aid from being claimable; alternatively, the giver can "Gift Aid" their donation by scanning the "Donate on their device" QR Code to complete the donation through Donate by another payment method.
- For churches and charities outside the UK accepting 'tap' donations in GBP in regions where Gift Aid doesn't apply, 'tap' donations of any amount are added to an Anonymous Giver profile. This profile is created in the Giving module automatically when the first 'tap' donation is processed. Anonymous 'tap' donations are added to that profile using a "Contactless" method.