How Tap to Donate Technology Works and What It Costs
Turn your GiveWP site into a cashless donation kiosk. Accept tap-to-donate payments anywhere – no expensive hardware needed.
Your annual fundraiser is just around the corner. The volunteers are ready, the banners are printed, and you’re excited to connect with your community. But there’s a quiet panic: most of your supporters won’t have cash in their pockets.
A quick search for “tap to donate machines” reveals a world of sleek, but shockingly expensive, terminals. With price tags climbing to $400, $600, or even more, plus monthly fees, your heart sinks. That kind of hardware can cost more than the entire fundraising goal for the event!
But what if “buying a machine” is the wrong approach? What if tap to donate isn’t a single, expensive product but a simple add-on to a proven donation platform trusted by over 100,000+ organizations worldwide?
The truth is, you don’t need an expensive, single-purpose terminal to start accepting cashless donations. With the WordPress site you already manage and the smartphone in your pocket, you have everything you need to build a professional donation kiosk. This guide will show you how to connect the dots and start accepting tap-to-donate payments ASAP.
Three components that make contactless donations work
Tap to donate technology uses three components working together to process a donation safely. If you’ve ever used the self-checkout at a supermarket, you already know exactly how this works. That same quick and secure tap is now available for your fundraising.
Here’s what you need:
1. A donation form and an NFC reader
The first component is the form that displays your donation options and a device that can accept the tap. The device can be your own iPhone (iOS 16.4+), an Android phone with NFC capability, or a dedicated card reader. GiveWP is the best option for setting up donation forms on your WordPress site.
2. A payment processor
This is the financial engine that securely handles the transaction. For most GiveWP users, this is the same Stripe account you already use to accept donations online.
3. A “bridge” software
The final piece is a bridge that connects your reader and your payment processor directly to your WordPress website. This is where a payments platform like Jovvie comes in, linking everything together in the background.
How do you set up tap to donate?
You can set up tap to donate by installing Jovvie on your WordPress site, connecting your Stripe account through Jovvie, and then connecting your NFC-enabled phone or adding a card reader.
This process is surprisingly fast for GiveWP users. Because Jovvie is designed to be the perfect bridge between your online donation forms and in-person giving, the setup takes about five minutes.
Before you begin, make sure you have the following:
- The GiveWP plugin (installed and activated on your WordPress site).
- A Stripe account (you can create one during the setup).
- Your payment device (a compatible card reader or a smartphone that supports Tap to Pay).
From there, the steps to set up tap to donate are simple. All you need to do is:
- Install and activate the Jovvie Add-on.
- Connect Jovvie to your Stripe account.
- Create a location and register your device.
- Enable the gateway and start accepting donations.
To see what each of those steps involves in more detail, check out our quick-start guide and get your in-person donation setup ready to go in as little as five minutes.
Comparing tap-to-donate solutions for different fundraising needs
Once connected, you can choose the right hardware path for your organization’s needs. The right choice for your tap-to-donate setup depends entirely on how and where you plan to collect donations.
| Feature | Option 1: Use your smartphone | Option 2: Add a dedicated card reader | Option 3: Build a permanent donation kiosk |
| What it is | A flexible, zero-hardware-cost option using a compatible smartphone (iPhone iOS 16.4+ or Android 10+ with NFC) as a donation point. | A small, handheld device connected to a phone or tablet offers donors a familiar and professional experience. | A permanent, often unattended station built with a tablet, a secure stand, and a connected card reader. |
| Best for | Mobile and one-off events like charity runs, street fundraisers, or school bake sales, where volunteers are on the move. | Regular, supervised collections at fixed locations such as a church foyer, a welcome desk, or a weekly market booth. | High-traffic, permanent installations where staff cannot oversee every donation, like a museum lobby, gallery, or church foyer. |
For groups already rooted in WordPress, the biggest benefit of an integrated system is unified data. With GiveWP and Jovvie, an in-person tap donation creates the same donor record as an online gift, eliminating hours of manual data entry. This is a major contrast to standalone systems that require you to export and import messy CSV files to track your supporters.
Even the best technology isn’t a perfect fit for every situation. A reliable internet connection is non-negotiable, though tethering to a mobile hotspot can be a great backup plan. You should also consider your audience; in areas with poor connectivity or at events attended by demographics that still strongly prefer cash, a traditional donation box remains a valuable tool to have alongside your contactless option.
Finally, it’s important to consider your location. Software solutions using Stripe Terminal benefit from broad availability in 25 countries, whereas other dedicated hardware vendors often support fewer regions.
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How much does tap to donate cost?
Tap to donate costs can be as low as $0, as Jovvie can run on your existing hardware to reduce costs and increase savings. The price will be higher if you purchase new hardware, such as a new tablet or kiosk device. The total cost depends on your hardware choice, plus per-transaction processing fees.
Here is a simple breakdown of the real costs:
- Hardware (one-time). This can be $0 if you use a compatible smartphone you already own. A dedicated handheld card reader typically costs around $60, while a complete, professional terminal for a kiosk can range from $200+ if you purchase new devices like tablets or computers.
- Transaction fees (per donation). You will always have a fee from the payment processor, such as Stripe’s standard 2.9% + 30¢. Also, your “bridge” software may add a small platform fee. For example, Jovvie enables tap to donate and powerful in-person payments to GiveWP for a small % platform fee of 2%.
- Software subscriptions (monthly/yearly). Some platforms charge a recurring fee. However, you can get started for free with the core GiveWP plugin and the Jovvie add-on. Optional paid GiveWP plans with additional features are also available for growing organizations.
Is tap to donate safe?
Yes, tap to donate is one of the most secure ways to give! It is exceptionally safe because modern contactless systems use a process called tokenization. When a donor taps their card or phone, a secure, one-time code (a token) is created for that single transaction. The donor’s actual card number is never transmitted or stored on the charity’s devices or servers. Instead, the entire process is handled by a PCI-compliant payment processor like Stripe.
As a fundraiser, you’ll know that donations are processed securely and deposited promptly into your bank account. Using a solution powered by Jovvie and Stripe adds an extra layer of validity and trust for donors. Stripe is a globally recognized leader in payment technology, and its brand presence provides instant credibility. Since GiveWP, Jovvie, and Stripe are official partners with strong support teams, you can count on quick help if any issues come up.
As a donor, you’ll want to know your gift is going where it should. A good sign of a legit fundraiser is when the app or terminal clearly shows the charity’s name and the donation amount before you tap. You might also notice familiar logos on the device or volunteer shirts, and you can always ask for the group’s charity registration number.
If something feels off — like a generic-looking payment screen or a volunteer who dodges questions — trust your gut. The easiest way to confirm your gift is real is to ask for a receipt by email or text. Not only does it give you proof for your taxes, but it also shows right away that your donation went to the right place.
Start accepting contactless donations today
The biggest barrier to accepting in-person donations isn’t the cost or the tech — it’s the myth that you need to buy an expensive, single-use machine.
In reality, you probably already have most of the things you need to start: a smartphone in your pocket and GiveWP on your website. The only missing piece is Jovvie — which plugs right into your WordPress to bring them all together. With Jovvie, accepting a tap donation from a supporter becomes just as easy as accepting one online.
Ready to make tap donations easier? Connect Jovvie to GiveWP today!
About the Author
Jake Fischground
Jake is the marketing guru and co-founder of BizSwoop. When he’s not helping small and medium businesses learn about e-commerce you might find him taking a walk by the water or playing a game of pinball.
