What is Mobile Giving and How Does It Work for Churches?
Mobile giving is a contactless way for church members to make donations by scanning a QR code on their phone, then completing their gift in a browser in under 15 seconds, with no app download or account creation required. It simplifies church fundraising and, in the UK, opens the door to reclaiming Gift Aid that would otherwise be lost.
The Basics of Mobile Giving
Mobile giving removes friction from the donation process. A church displays a QR code in the sanctuary, online, or in a newsletter. A member scans it with their phone camera. A browser window opens, they enter their gift amount and payment details, and the transaction is complete. No signup forms. No app to install. No stored passwords to remember. For churches in the UK, the most valuable part is Gift Aid: a government scheme that adds 25% to every donation from a UK taxpayer, automatically. Givr captures Gift Aid declarations during the giving process and submits claims to HMRC Charities Online on your behalf, meaning churches reclaim money they would otherwise miss. An estimated £560 million in Gift Aid goes unclaimed by UK churches every year, simply because the process has been too manual and time-consuming to manage.
Why Mobile Giving Matters for Churches
Contactless giving became the norm during 2020, but its benefits go far beyond hygiene. Members who forget their wallet, cheque book, or loose change can still contribute. Younger congregants, who rarely carry cash, finally have a giving option that feels natural to them. Recurring giving becomes possible too: a member sets up a standing order via GoCardless, and the church receives a regular contribution without needing a building society account number or paper forms. For church treasurers and finance teams, mobile giving platforms consolidate donations into a single dashboard, showing which funds received what, which donors gave, and how much Gift Aid is pending. This visibility replaces the old tally sheets and spreadsheets, reducing administrative burden by hours each month.
How Givr Works for UK Churches
Givr is built specifically for UK churches and the Gift Aid system. A church treasurer signs up online and connects a Stripe account (no FCA licence required; Stripe handles the regulated payments). They set up a QR code for each fund, giving or general. Members scan, give in 15 seconds, and Givr captures their postcode and consent for Gift Aid in the same flow. When Gift Aid declarations are submitted to HMRC Charities Online via Givr's Gather or Grow tiers, the church receives the 25% top-up within 4 weeks. The Free tier lets churches collect unlimited donations with no Gift Aid processing; the Gather tier (£25 per month or £245 per year) adds automated Gift Aid submission and recurring giving; the Grow tier (£55 per month or £549 per year) includes white-label branding and API access for deeper integrations. All tiers are charged a platform fee (1% on Free, 0.5% on Gather, 0.35% on Grow) plus a 2% performance fee on claimed Gift Aid, invoiced after HMRC pays out.
Mobile Giving Beyond the Sanctuary
Churches use mobile giving in multiple contexts. During online services, a pastor shares the QR code on screen or in the chat. At special events, such as fundraisers or mission campaigns, a dedicated QR code links to a named fund. In newsletters or websites, a QR code directs visitors to the giving page without forcing them to leave their inbox. Some churches project the QR code in the foyer for those who prefer to give after the service. The combination of simplicity and Gift Aid reclaim means mobile giving works equally well for regular congregants and occasional visitors. Because no app is required, first-time givers encounter no friction, and treasurers capture data automatically, building a clearer picture of congregation generosity over time.
The Gift Aid Advantage
Gift Aid is exclusive to UK charities and churches, and it is the single biggest reason why UK church giving platforms differ from their US or international counterparts. When a church member ticks the Gift Aid box, they consent to the church reclaiming tax relief on their donation. A £100 gift, with Gift Aid, becomes £125 in the church's bank account. The challenge has always been compliance: churches must capture the donor's name, address, postcode, and declaration, then submit monthly or quarterly claims to HMRC Charities Online in a specific format. Manual submission is slow and error-prone. Givr automates this entirely. Declarations are captured in the giving flow itself, stored securely, and submitted to HMRC on a schedule you choose. Your church treasurer no longer spends hours compiling Gift Aid forms; instead, they monitor a dashboard and watch claims land in the bank account.
Getting Started with Mobile Giving
Churches new to mobile giving often worry about setup complexity or regulatory hurdles. Givr removes both barriers. You do not need an FCA licence, a merchant acquirer, or a specialist banking relationship. Stripe Connect Express handles payment processing on your behalf, and you can be live in under an hour. Choose your tiers, set up your funds, generate QR codes, and print or display them. As of June 2026, thousands of UK churches use mobile giving, ranging from small rural parishes to large urban plants managing multiple campuses and funds. The shift away from traditional plate passing is gradual but inevitable. Mobile giving is faster, more inclusive, and more transparent for everyone involved.
Ready to give your church a mobile giving solution? Start with Givr in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
Do church members need to download an app to give via mobile giving?
No. With Givr, members simply scan a QR code, and a browser window opens instantly. They give in 15 seconds and are done. No app, no account, no signup.
How much does Givr cost a church?
Givr's Free tier is £0 per month (with a 1% platform fee and a £5,000 monthly volume cap). Gather is £25/month or £245/year (0.5% platform fee, includes Gift Aid and HMRC submission). Grow is £55/month or £549/year (0.35% platform fee, includes white-label and API access). All tiers also pay a 2% performance fee on claimed Gift Aid.
Can my church claim Gift Aid automatically with Givr?
Yes. The Gather and Grow tiers capture Gift Aid declarations during the giving process and automatically submit claims to HMRC Charities Online on your behalf, so you receive the 25% top-up without manual paperwork.
What payment methods does Givr support?
Givr supports all major debit and credit cards via Stripe. The Gather tier also adds GoCardless for recurring giving (standing orders), allowing members to set up regular donations.
Is Givr suitable for small churches?
Yes. Small churches often benefit most from Givr because it removes the administrative burden of Gift Aid processing. The Free tier has no monthly fee, so you can try mobile giving at zero cost.
How long does it take to set up Givr?
Most churches are live in under an hour. Connect your Stripe account via Givr's onboarding, set up your funds, generate QR codes, and start giving.