When we think of charities and fundraising, we think of traditional methods, like encouraging donations with street volunteers and partaking in events such as bake sales and marathons. But times are changing. Young donors are twice as likely to give to charity via their smartphones than previous generations. 

With the UK still in lockdown and technology developing more each day, there’s been no better time for the charity sector to use tech for fundraising efforts. Here are three ways charities are using technology to boost their fundraising in 2021…

Mobile donations

Only 34% of payments are now made in cash. That’s a dramatic change from 2006, when cash made up 62% of all payments. The convenience of card payments and payment services like Apple Pay is changing the way we spend money. 

As such, Apple Pay donations have been very effective for some of the UK’s biggest charities, a feature that makes it easy for iPhone owners to make a simple one-off donation. Blue Cross found a creative way to use contactless payments with “pat and tap”. They sent out “in the field” dogs who wore coats that had card readers on them, encouraging contactless donations.

Apps like “Share the Meal”, which was released in 2015, are also great for offering donors a simple and quick way to support their favourite charities. The app, launched by the UN’s World Food Programme, was set up so one quick tap could donate 50p, enough to feed a child for a day. The app is still available and the total number of donated meals sits at around 13 million.

New tech 

Almost 29% of Brits own a smart speaker. That’s increased four-fold since 2017. Some of the biggest names in the charity world have already got involved with this technology, such as the NSPCC. Still in early testing, people can respond to ads on their smart speakers to make donations straight away. This is a simple, effective way to use tech for fundraising as popularity in smart speakers continues to rise.

You don’t have to look too far for new tech, either. Just take your point-of-sale system, for example. Some EPoS systems are designed specifically for the charity sector. These solutions include Gift Aid software that automates the entire donation process, boosting profits while reducing admin. The system helps staff, volunteers, and donors alike as the software helps with managing stock and simplifying the transaction process.

Online

The popularity of online events has been growing steadily for some time, but it significantly surged during the pandemic. The charity sector saw this as the perfect time to get involved. Charities like Mind, the NSPCC, and NHS Charities Together partnered up with Glastonbury to create Glasthomebury, a streamed version of the festival that encouraged those at home to donate to the charities that help those most affected by lockdown. 

With the constant development of technology, fueled by the younger generation’s appetite for better tech, now is the perfect time for charities to embrace tech for fundraising. Technology could be a great way of tapping into younger markets, improving customer experience, and boosting revenue.

There’s no better way to bring your charity into the technological age than with Charity Retail Systems’ bespoke, HMRC-recognised EPoS solution. To take your charity to the next level, get in touch on 01204 706 000.