The problem
Many visitors no longer carry cash. At baptisms, weddings, funerals, concerts and carol services, a church may see 300 visitors a month who would give something but have nothing for the plate. If 30 to 60 of them would each give $7£5€6A$10C$9 by card, that is $200£150€179A$288C$282 to $399£300€357A$576C$564 a month the church doesn't receive.
What the AI does
SumUp sells card readers for small organizations. On its pay-as-you-go option there is no monthly fee, and in-person card payments cost 1.69% (0% for payments made with a SumUp card). The Solo reader is $105£79€94A$152C$149 excluding VAT, the Solo Lite $33£25€30A$48C$47 and Tap to Pay on a phone $0£0€0A$0C$0. A sidesperson or steward holds the reader by the door or at the welcome table with a clear sign. Card gifts land in the church's account with the takings shown in the SumUp app, and the treasurer records them as a separate line in the giving records.
A worked example
A town-center church in Chester hosts weddings, funerals, school carol services and concerts, with around 300 visitors a month who aren't regular givers.
Before
About 300 visitors a month with no way to give except cash, so most give nothing
After
30 to 60 visitors a month giving $7£5€6A$10C$9 each by card, $200£150€179A$288C$282 to $399£300€357A$576C$564
What it's worth
About $196£147€175A$282C$276 to $392£295€351A$566C$555 a month in extra gifts after card fees, against about $4£3€4A$6C$6 to $17£13€15A$25C$24 a month in costs. Gifts have no cost of sale, so the gain is the gift less the 1.69% fee: $200£150€179A$288C$282 less $3.38£2.54€3.02A$4.88C$4.78, or $399£300€357A$576C$564 less $6.74£5.07€6.03A$9.73C$9.53. The Solo reader is $105£79€94A$152C$149 plus VAT ($126.08£94.80€112.81A$182.02C$178.22), about $11£8€10A$15C$15 a month if spread over the first year; Tap to Pay on a phone avoids that cost. The number of visitors who give is an assumption; count your own after a month.
How to set it up
- Agree with the treasurer and church council where card gifts go in the accounts and who holds the reader.
- Choose a reader: Tap to Pay on a compatible phone costs nothing, or Solo at $105£79€94A$152C$149 plus VAT works on its own.
- Open a SumUp account in the church's name with the church's bank account for payouts.
- Make a simple sign explaining what gifts pay for, and offer a Gift Aid declaration card or your online giving form for regular givers.
- Record card takings from the SumUp app separately each month and compare them with the bank.
What goes wrong
- Card gifts are anonymous unless the giver fills in a declaration, so ask your treasurer how Gift Aid applies; HMRC's guidance sets the rules.
- Someone must look after the reader at every service and lock it away afterwards.
- The visitor numbers here are assumptions. If few people give by card, the reader barely costs anything, so the risk is small.
- Fees are 1.69% on pay as you go. Payments Plus at $25£19€23A$36C$36 a month only pays for itself at much higher card takings.