What is Contactless Church Giving?
Contactless church giving is a method where congregants scan a QR code on their phone, open a browser, and donate in 15 seconds without downloading an app or creating an account. It's the fastest way for UK churches to collect offerings and tithes while capturing Gift Aid declarations automatically.
How Contactless Giving Works
Contactless giving removes friction from the donation process. A church displays a QR code in the sanctuary, vestry, or online. A congregant points their phone camera at it, taps the notification, and lands on a giving page in their browser. They enter an amount, confirm their details, and the donation is processed through Stripe in seconds. No app install. No account signup. No payment card handling by the church. The entire transaction takes under a minute, making it ideal for offerings during services or special appeals. Givr by MRVL builds this workflow specifically for UK churches, with Gift Aid capture built into the browser experience so donors can claim tax relief in a single action.
Why UK Churches Need It
The Church of England and other UK denominations lose millions in unclaimed Gift Aid every year. An estimated £560 million in Gift Aid goes unclaimed by UK churches annually because donations aren't properly recorded or declarations aren't submitted to HMRC. Contactless giving platforms solve this by capturing donor consent and tax status at the point of giving, then automating the HMRC submission process. Givr submits Gift Aid claims to HMRC Charities Online on your behalf, meaning congregants and churches don't have to manage paperwork manually. For a church collecting £100,000 per year, Gift Aid can unlock an extra £25,000, provided declarations are in place and claims are filed.
Givr's Automated Gift Aid Advantage
Givr is the UK church giving platform with automated Gift Aid claim submission. When a congregant donates via QR code, they declare their tax status in the browser (eligible UK taxpayer or not). Givr stores that declaration, aggregates donations by fund, and submits the claim to HMRC Charities Online automatically each quarter on the Gather tier or above. Churches don't need to chase paper forms or remember deadlines. The Gather plan (£25/month or £245/year) includes recurring giving via GoCardless, allowing congregants to set up standing orders for ongoing donations. The Free tier lets churches start collecting contactless donations immediately, though Gift Aid claims must be handled manually. As of June 2026, Givr is built by MRVL Technologies, a UK app studio, and uses Stripe Connect Express for secure, FCA-authorised payment handling. No FCA licence is required for the church itself.
Key Benefits Over Traditional Giving
Contactless giving outpaces cash, cheques, and envelope collections. Cash donations are hard to track for Gift Aid. Cheques require banking time and ledger entries. Contactless QR giving is instant, auditable, and Gift Aid-ready. Congregants feel in control of their donation amount and frequency. Churches get real-time visibility into giving patterns by fund, donor, and donation type via the Givr dashboard. Recurring donations via the Gather tier reduce pressure on single giving events. The small-donation scheme (GASDS) support on Gather means churches can claim Gift Aid on donations under £20 without a signed declaration, further maximising tax relief. For churches managing multiple funds (parish shares, building, missions, etc.), Givr's fund-level tracking helps treasurers allocate funds correctly and report accurately to the PCC and HMRC.
Getting Started with Contactless Giving
Setting up contactless giving with Givr takes minutes. Churches sign up via Givr's website, connect a Stripe account using Stripe Connect Express (no FCA application needed), and create a giving QR code. Print the code, display it in the church, share it online, or include it in the bulletin. Congregants scan it and give. The Free tier supports this immediately at 1% platform fee (plus Stripe's standard 1.4% + 20p per transaction). For Gift Aid automation, upgrade to Gather (0.5% platform fee, £25/month), which adds HMRC submission, recurring giving, and small-donation scheme support. The Grow tier (£55/month) adds white-label options and API access for churches wanting to integrate giving into their own website. Gift Aid is charged at 2% of the claimed amount, invoiced after HMRC pays the church.
Start collecting contactless donations with Gift Aid in minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Does contactless giving require an app download for congregants?
No. Congregants scan a QR code, which opens a browser window on their phone. They donate and declare tax status without installing anything. The app is only for church treasurers setting up and managing donations.
How does Gift Aid work with contactless donations?
When a congregant donates via QR code, they confirm their UK tax status in the browser. Givr stores that declaration and submits Gift Aid claims to HMRC Charities Online automatically on the Gather tier, unlocking tax relief worth roughly 25% of the donated amount.
What is the small-donation scheme (GASDS)?
GASDS lets churches claim Gift Aid on donations under £20 without a signed declaration, provided basic details are recorded. Givr supports GASDS on the Gather tier, maximising tax relief for smaller donations.
Can congregants set up recurring donations via Givr?
Yes, on the Gather tier and above. Givr integrates GoCardless to let congregants set up standing orders. They can give weekly, monthly, or quarterly without scanning a QR code every time.
Do churches need an FCA licence to use Givr?
No. Givr uses Stripe Connect Express for regulated payment processing, meaning Stripe handles the FCA authorisation. Your church simply connects a Stripe account and starts accepting donations.
How much does Givr cost?
Free tier is £0 with a 1% platform fee and £5,000/month volume cap. Gather is £25/month or £245/year with 0.5% platform fee and Gift Aid automation. Grow is £55/month or £549/year with white-label and API access. All tiers include a 2% Gift Aid performance fee invoiced after HMRC payment.