6 Donation Kiosk Features for Community Success

In the age of digital donation & fundraising, it’s more important than ever for communities and mosques to pursue innovative yet convenient ways to accept donations. A donation kiosk is one of these tech-savvy solutions that can accept credit card gifts at events and on-site.

Donation kiosks too are portable ways to collect gifts from supporters or congregants that don’t carry cash. We’ll explain how each of these features is fundamental to your community growth success.

At the very least, you should choose a kiosk that lets you:

• Add your mosque or organization’s logo.
• Include additional marketing materials like a sign.

On the surface, branding helps to draw attention to your giving device, but it achieves much more than that. When donors see your logo or slogan on a device, they can give confidently, knowing that their money is going toward a good cause.

A donation kiosk that immediately connects members and donors to your cause can help elicit the positive feelings that are so integral to creating a good giving experience. 

Branding helps to establish trust so that donors know what organization is receiving their funds.Try placing an unbranded giving kiosk at one of your events, and you’ll see that donors are more hesitant about contributing.

Kiosks, after all, can be used in a wide range of situations, making it even more important to let donors know that it’s your nonprofit.

No matter where your kiosk is placed, donors and members should know exactly who is receiving their gifts.

 Having a customizable kiosk is about more than just making your kiosk look good; it’s about building a brand that supporters will recognize and trust no matter where your kiosk is placed.

Since donation kiosks can be used in many different situations, it’s important to find a device that is versatile enough to work no matter how it’s used.

When looking for a versatile kiosk, choose a device that:

• Accepts all types of credit cards. We’ve all experienced the frustration of not knowing whether to swipe or insert a card if it has the chip. Not only should the device accept all card types, but the process to use a card should be the same to keep the donating simple.
  
  
• Can be used in multiple situations (i.e. events, day-to-day operations, etc.). Choosing a portable device will make it easier to transport. To move the device from one situation to the next, you should choose a device that doesn’t require a lot of set up. A kiosk that can be plugged in and ready to use means you can accept donations right away.
  
  
• Encompasses of other useful features.
  A donation kiosk which has many other features will help any members of your community. Make the most of your kiosk by choosing a device that can be used during fundraising events, after sermons, and on-site. The more versatile your device, the more opportunities you have to raise funds for your cause.

With a versatile device, your community can raise funds for your community event. Whether you're collecting event donations from members to stake holders, donation kiosks can be effective ways to raise money.

3. SECURITY 

Choose a kiosk that uses multiple methods to ensure you and your donors’ information stays secure.

Having secure donation kiosks will put your donors at ease and protect your nonprofit from fraudulent transactions.

When donors know that their information is safe, they’ll be less hesitant about contributing to your cause.

Security is a top priority when choosing a donation kiosk. Ask providers how they keep sensitive information protected.

As we mentioned earlier, having a kiosk that’s easy to transport will make it easy to bring to your community events and other on-the-go situations.

Imagine that you want to take your donation kiosk to a fundraising event like a charity auction. Lugging around a large device is both impractical and restrictive, meaning you’ll have fewer locations to place your kiosk.

Moreover, small giving kiosks like palm-size credit card readers don’t equate to better fundraising as tiny devices will be harder to spot at events.

The best option is to go for a portable device that’s still large enough to attract attention.

Donation process should always be simple. 

Why is ease of use so important?

Think about it this way: donors don’t want to give when it involves a lengthy or complicated process. When giving is quick and easy, donors have fewer obstacles stopping them from giving.

Additionally, ease of use gives your community more options. Mosques are likely going to place their kiosks in the lobby or somewhere else that’s easily accessible.

A kiosk that’s easy to use means you don’t need a staff member or volunteer around to stand or walk around when a sermon is going on.

You won’t know what strategies work unless you have data to help you. Using a kiosk that tracks specific metrics is extraordinarily useful when you need to determine the perfect donation amount, location, and overall fundraising strategy for your kiosk.

Your kiosk should be able to track:

• The donation size. By calculating the average donation size, you can determine the best donation amount that donors are comfortable giving but also maximizing your fundraising efforts.
• The date and time a gift was made. Knowing when donations were made will give you insight into your donors' giving habits.
• The location of the kiosk used. If you’re using more than one kiosk, tracking the location will help you determine the best placement for your device.

By tracking these metrics, you’ll be able to understand the gift size that donors and congregants are most comfortable giving as well as information on what type of events or on-site locations work best.

GROWING TOGETHER

As you explore the different possibilities of donations kiosks, look out for devices that are easy to use and can be adjusted to fit different donation & fundraising situations.

Setting up your community or mosque for success starts with choosing the right tools. Hopefully, this list of 6 features has helped you determine what’s important for your community.