This article explains how givestar’s contactless donations technology (known as Tap To Donate) works.
Contactless donations are an important tool for fundraisers looking to raise money in-person - they are fast, effective and increasingly important in a world where fewer people than ever are carrying cash.
givestar’s Tap to Donate feature gives fundraisers access to take contactless donations directly with just a compatible smartphone - no card machine required.
How does it work?
It works by using the built-in NFC reader in your smartphone (the same one you use to make mobile payments), to turn your phone into a secure payment terminal.
It is compatible with Visa, Mastercard, Discover (US), American Express and NFC-based mobile wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
Tap to Donate meets the highest levels of security standards. For more information, you can read more here.
How do I use Tap to Donate to raise contactless donations?
Download the givestar app, either on your Apple or Android smartphone (it’s free), and sign up or log in. Go to the Fundraising section of the app by tapping Fundraising on the main navigation bar at the bottom of the page. Look for the ‘Make A Tap Donation’ button and choose a campaign you wish to raise money for. Follow the prompts and choose an amount to raise. Confirming your selection opens a payments window which prompts the donor to tap their debit/credit card to the phone (this is typically on the front of the phone for Apple users, and back of the phone for Android users). Donors can also use mobile pay from their own devices by clicking on the ‘continue’ button. Make sure to carefully line up the payment card to the right place on the fundraiser’s phone. A Success message will indicate that the donation has been made!
Compatibility with Tap to Donate
The Tap to Donate feature is compatible with iOS software of 16.7* or later, running with an iPhone XS, iPhone 11 or above.
In regards to our Android users - each phone must have NFC capability and be Google-certified running Android 11 or above.
*iOS 17.0 or later in France, Italy, and the Netherlands.