Do Churches Need an FCA Licence to Collect Donations?
No. Churches collecting donations through Givr do not need an FCA licence because Stripe Connect, which is FCA authorised, handles all regulated payment processing on your behalf.
Why Churches Don't Need an FCA Licence
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates payment service providers, not charities or churches that accept donations. When your church uses Givr, the payment processing is handled by Stripe Connect, which holds the necessary FCA authorisation under the Payment Services Regulations. Your role is to collect donations and manage fund allocation, not to hold payment processing licences yourself. This is the standard model for UK charity giving platforms. You simply set up a Givr account via Stripe Connect Express, which takes minutes, and you're ready to accept donations through a QR code. No FCA application required.
How Givr Handles Regulated Payments
Givr uses Stripe Connect Express to manage the regulated side of giving. When someone scans your QR code and donates, Stripe processes the payment and holds the FCA authorisation. Your church receives the funds into your bank account via Stripe, and Givr handles the rest. The platform charges a small platform fee (1% on the Free tier, 0.5% on Gather, 0.35% on Grow), but this is a service charge, not a licence fee. You remain in control of your church's funds and donation records through the Givr dashboard. Stripe's FCA authorisation covers the payment side; your church's charity registration covers the legal requirement to be a registered charity.
The Real Value: Automated Gift Aid
Rather than worrying about licences, most UK churches using Givr focus on what the platform actually does: claim Gift Aid automatically. An estimated £560 million in Gift Aid goes unclaimed by UK churches every year. Givr captures Gift Aid declarations when someone gives, then submits claims directly to HMRC Charities Online on your behalf (on the Gather tier and above). This means your church recovers 25p for every £1 given by a UK taxpayer, without the treasurer having to chase paperwork. Churches that upgrade to Gather (£245 per year) also unlock GoCardless recurring giving, so regular givers can set up standing orders in seconds. The result: more money stays in your church's coffers, and your finance team saves hours.
Who Sets Up Givr at Your Church
Any church officer with access to your charity bank account can sign up. Usually this is the church treasurer, finance team member, or vicar. The Stripe Connect Express setup takes about five minutes and doesn't require any FCA application. You'll provide basic church details, your charity registration number, and bank account information. Stripe verifies your church, and within hours you're live. Your congregation can then scan the QR code at giving time and donate through their phone's browser without downloading an app or creating an account. No licence forms, no waiting periods.
What About Recurring Giving and Compliance
Givr's Gather tier includes GoCardless recurring giving, which is also regulated by the FCA. However, GoCardless, like Stripe, holds its own FCA authorisation. Your church doesn't need a separate licence to use it. You simply direct givers to set up a standing order through Givr, and GoCardless processes the payments under its own regulated status. This is the same model used by thousands of UK churches, charities, and community groups. Givr also supports GASDS (the small-donation scheme), which lets churches claim Gift Aid on donations of up to £25 without a signed declaration, further simplifying compliance and boosting Gift Aid recovery.
Next Steps for Your Church
If your church wants to start collecting donations with Gift Aid in place, sign up for Givr in minutes. The Free tier lets you collect and manage donations with a 1% platform fee, no Gift Aid automation. Upgrade to Gather (£25 per month or £245 per year) to unlock automated Gift Aid declaration capture and HMRC submission, plus recurring giving via GoCardless. Your church will be compliant, FCA-covered by Stripe and GoCardless, and ready to recover thousands of pounds in unclaimed Gift Aid. No licence needed.
Set up Givr in five minutes, no FCA application required.
Frequently asked questions
Does my church need to register with the FCA to use Givr?
No. Givr uses Stripe Connect and GoCardless, both FCA-authorised payment providers. Your church doesn't need its own FCA licence. You only need to be a registered charity.
Is Givr regulated by the FCA?
Givr itself is not an FCA-regulated entity. The regulated payment processing is handled by Stripe Connect (FCA authorised) and GoCardless (FCA authorised). Givr is a platform layer on top of these services.
What happens if my church is not a registered charity?
Givr is designed for UK churches and charitable organisations with charity registration. If your church isn't registered, you should contact the Charity Commission first, as you may be eligible for registration.
Does Givr submit Gift Aid on my behalf?
Yes, on the Gather tier and above. Givr captures Gift Aid declarations when givers donate, then submits claims directly to HMRC Charities Online automatically. You don't have to file paperwork yourself.
What if a donor wants to give a large amount?
Givr has no upper limit on individual donations. Stripe and GoCardless handle payment processing under their FCA authorisations, regardless of donation size. Your church can accept any amount.
Do I need a separate licence for recurring giving?
No. GoCardless, which powers Givr's recurring giving feature, is FCA-regulated. Your church doesn't need its own licence to accept standing orders.