What is Stripe Connect Express for Church Giving?
Stripe Connect Express is a payment onboarding service that lets UK churches accept donations directly without requiring FCA authorisation. Givr by MRVL uses Stripe Connect Express as its backbone, so churches can set up in minutes and start collecting tithes with automated Gift Aid claims.
How Stripe Connect Express Works
Stripe Connect Express is a hosted onboarding flow that simplifies payment acceptance for platforms. Instead of churches applying for their own FCA licence (which is complex and expensive), Stripe handles the regulated payment acceptance on their behalf. When a church treasurer opens Givr, they complete a streamlined verification process through Stripe's Express dashboard, provide basic details about the church, and connect their bank account. Within minutes, the church is ready to accept donations. The congregant never sees Stripe; they see a simple QR code at the church, scan it, and give via their browser in 15 seconds with no app download or account creation needed.
Why Churches Use Stripe Connect Express via Givr
Traditional donation platforms often require churches to hold their own payment licences or use outdated card readers. Stripe Connect Express removes that burden. Because Stripe is FCA authorised, churches don't need regulatory approval themselves. Givr sits on top of this infrastructure and adds the layer that matters most to UK churches: automated Gift Aid claim submission to HMRC Charities Online. An estimated £560M in Gift Aid goes unclaimed annually by UK churches, simply because the admin is too heavy. By combining Stripe Connect Express onboarding with Givr's Gift Aid automation, churches can unlock that money without hiring an accountant.
Givr's Tiers and What's Included
Givr offers three tiers, all built on Stripe Connect Express. The Free tier (£0, capped at £5,000 per month) gives you QR-code giving and a basic dashboard; platform fee is 1%. The Gather tier (£25 per month or £245 per year) adds automated Gift Aid declaration capture and HMRC submission, recurring giving via GoCardless, and GASDS small-donation scheme support; platform fee drops to 0.5%. The Grow tier (£55 per month or £549 per year) includes white-label custom domains and API access for integrations; platform fee is 0.35%. Across all tiers, Givr charges a 2% performance fee on the amount actually claimed and paid by HMRC, invoiced after receipt.
What Stripe Connect Express Is Not
Stripe Connect Express is not a full banking licence, nor a deposit account. It does not require your church to become FCA regulated. It is not a card reader that you carry around; it is a payment processor that works through any phone browser. Givr is not replacing Stripe; it is adding UK Gift Aid intelligence on top of Stripe's secure payment layer. If your church needs direct debit giving (for recurring donations), that comes through GoCardless on the Gather tier, which is a separate FCA authorised partner. The key point is that Givr handles the UK tax side, Stripe handles the payments, and your church focuses on ministry.
Setting Up Givr with Stripe Connect Express
Setup takes under 10 minutes. A church treasurer visits Givr, enters the church name and address, and is guided through Stripe Connect Express onboarding. You provide bank details for payouts, verify your identity, and accept Givr's terms. Once live, you generate a QR code and display it at the collection point. Congregants scan, see a donation form pre-filled with your church details, enter their amount, and if they're a taxpayer, they tick the Gift Aid box with one tap. Givr securely stores their declaration and submits it to HMRC automatically at the end of the quarter (Gather tier and above). You see everything in your dashboard: which funds received donations, how many donors, donation amounts, and how much Gift Aid has been claimed.
Why Gift Aid Automation Matters
Manual Gift Aid claims require spreadsheets, signed declarations, and quarterly submissions to Charities Online. Most UK churches skip this because the overhead is not worth it, even though they are entitled to reclaim 25p for every £1 given by a taxpayer. Givr automates the entire flow. When a donor ticks the Gift Aid box during giving, Givr captures their name, address, and postcode (the minimum HMRC requires). When you submit via the Givr dashboard, it batches all declarations and submits them directly to HMRC Charities Online on your behalf. HMRC then processes the claim and pays the Gift Aid into your church bank account. For a church receiving £5,000 in giving per month, this could unlock an extra £1,250 in Gift Aid per quarter, with zero admin.
Start accepting donations with Stripe Connect Express and Gift Aid. Download Givr now.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an FCA licence to use Stripe Connect Express with Givr?
No. Stripe Connect Express is FCA authorised, so your church does not need its own licence. Givr handles the tax side; Stripe handles the regulated payments.
Can congregants give without downloading an app?
Yes. They scan a QR code, and a browser window opens with the donation form. No app, no account, no signup. They give in 15 seconds.
How much Gift Aid can we claim?
For every £1 given by a UK taxpayer, your church can claim 25p from HMRC. Givr submits the claims automatically, so you unlock money that would otherwise go unclaimed.
What is the cost?
Givr is free to use (1% platform fee, capped at £5,000 monthly). Gather tier is £25/month (0.5% fee) and adds Gift Aid and recurring giving. Grow tier is £55/month (0.35% fee) and adds white-label and API. All tiers include a 2% performance fee on claimed Gift Aid, invoiced after HMRC payment.
Does Givr work with recurring donations?
Yes, on the Gather tier and above. Givr integrates with GoCardless to handle direct debit standing orders for regular tithes and offerings.
How often does Givr submit Gift Aid claims to HMRC?
Givr batches and submits claims quarterly to HMRC Charities Online. HMRC then processes and pays the Gift Aid into your church bank account.