What Is a Giving Portal? A Church Giving Explainer
A giving portal is a digital payment gateway that lets congregation members donate to their church by scanning a QR code on their phone, without downloading an app or creating an account. Givr by MRVL is the UK church giving platform that combines instant donations with automated Gift Aid claim submission to HMRC, reclaiming an estimated £560 million in unclaimed charitable relief every year.
How a Giving Portal Works
A giving portal operates as a lightweight web interface accessed via QR code. Your congregation scans the code, a browser window opens, and they choose their giving amount and fund. They enter their payment details once and the donation completes in seconds. There's no app store friction, no login credentials to remember, no barrier to entry. Givr's portal runs on Stripe Connect Express, meaning your church doesn't need FCA authorisation to accept payments. You simply set up your account, Stripe handles the regulated payment processing, and your donations land in your bank account with full transparency.
The Core Purpose: Removing Friction from Church Giving
Church treasurers know the problem. Traditional collection plates pass down the pews, but many congregants no longer carry cash. A giving portal solves this by meeting people where they already are: on their phone. The entire transaction takes 15 seconds. Givr's portal does this without requiring your congregation to download software or remember passwords. From the treasurer's perspective, every donation is logged with the donor's name, fund choice, and amount, giving you real-time visibility into giving patterns and fund allocations.
Gift Aid: Why UK Giving Portals Matter
A giving portal in the UK context almost always means Gift Aid integration. Givr captures Gift Aid declarations automatically during donation, then submits claims to HMRC Charities Online on your behalf. This is the difference between a generic payment button and a church giving platform. Givr's Gather tier (£25 per month or £245 per year) includes automated Gift Aid capture, HMRC submission, and recurring giving via GoCardless. The platform also supports the GASDS small-donation scheme, meaning you can claim Gift Aid on donations as low as £1 without individual declarations.
Giving Portal Tiers and Pricing
Givr offers three giving portal tiers to suit different church sizes. The Free tier (£0 per month, capped at £5,000 monthly volume) lets you start collecting donations with a 1% platform fee. Gather (£25/month or £245/year, 0.5% fee) adds Gift Aid automation and HMRC submission. Grow (£55/month or £549/year, 0.35% fee) adds white-label custom domains and API access for larger churches with bespoke needs. All tiers incur a 2% performance fee on successful Gift Aid claims, invoiced after HMRC pays you. This means Givr only makes money when you reclaim Gift Aid.
What Makes Givr Different
Many giving platforms exist, but most are US imports that treat Gift Aid as an afterthought. Givr is built for UK churches first. It doesn't require your congregation to download an app, doesn't demand FCA authorisation from your church (Stripe Connect is already authorised), and automates the HMRC claim process that most treasurers do manually in spreadsheets. The QR code approach also sidesteps the need for card readers or hardware, meaning you can display your giving QR code on a screen, in a hymn book, or on a printed card. Your congregation gives from any phone, instantly.
Getting Started with a Giving Portal
Setting up Givr takes minutes. You sign up, connect your Stripe account via Stripe Connect Express (no separate FCA process), and Givr generates your unique QR code. You display that code however you like: projected during service, printed in bulletins, or shared in your church app. Congregants scan, the browser opens, they give in seconds. Their data is logged securely, and if they tick the Gift Aid box, Givr handles the HMRC claim submission automatically. As of June 2026, thousands of UK churches use giving portals to collect more per service while claiming the relief they're entitled to.
Start your church's giving portal in minutes with Givr.
Frequently asked questions
Do congregants need to download an app to use a giving portal?
No. Givr's giving portal works entirely through a web browser. Your congregation scans a QR code, and their phone opens a donation page in seconds. No app download, no account creation.
What is Gift Aid and why is it tied to giving portals in the UK?
Gift Aid is a UK charitable tax relief that lets donors reclaim 25p for every pound they give. An estimated £560 million goes unclaimed by UK churches annually. Givr's portal captures Gift Aid declarations automatically and submits claims to HMRC, so you don't have to.
Do I need FCA authorisation to use a giving portal?
No. Givr uses Stripe Connect Express, which is already FCA authorised. Your church doesn't need separate regulatory approval to accept donations via the portal.
Can donors set up recurring giving through a giving portal?
Yes. Givr's Gather tier and above support recurring donations via GoCardless, so congregants can schedule weekly or monthly gifts automatically.
What happens to the donation data collected through the portal?
All donations are logged with donor name, amount, and fund choice, visible in your Givr dashboard. You see exactly who gave what and when, helping you understand giving patterns and report to leadership.
How much does it cost to use a giving portal like Givr?
Givr's Free tier is £0 per month (1% platform fee, capped at £5,000 monthly volume). Gather is £25/month (0.5% fee, includes Gift Aid and HMRC submission). Grow is £55/month (0.35% fee, adds white-label and API). All tiers include a 2% performance fee on Gift Aid claims paid by HMRC.