By Easter 2023, 120 churches across the Diocese of Manchester will be able to accept donations via a digital giving device and by online giving.
A total of 120 applications were received during November’s Digital Giving Rollout. Originally the plan was for Archbishops’ Council to provide 50 devices to successful applicants as part of the National Giving Strategy. However, thanks to funding from Manchester Diocesan Board of Finance the remaining 70 applicants will also receive a device. This means all 120 applicants will be supported.
These free digital giving devices have been proven to make it easier for people to give financially when visiting churches and boost the average donation by a factor of three. With cards having overtaken cash as the preferred form of payment in society, we know that having the ability to accept digital donations is going to be key for many churches in the years to come. This support from Archbishop’s Council and the Manchester Diocesan Board of Finance makes obtaining one of these devices accessible for all.
In addition, 82 of the churches who applied will receive support to set up online giving, as they stated in their application form this giving method wasn’t already in place.
Paul Bailey, Diocesan Giving Advisor, said: “Churches across the country received digital donations worth over £4 million in 2021, and this is expected to be much higher when the 2022 figures are released. I am delighted to receive this generous investment which will modernise the giving methods at churches across our diverse diocese. It is a big boost to achieving the aims of the diocese’s giving strategy launched in late 2021”.
All of the applicants have been contacted via two separate emails outlining the next steps. The first email confirms the name of the device they’ll receive; an invitation to book a webinar date in mid-January to set up a contactless giving account; and an in-person training date during the week beginning 27th March 2023 at five venues across the diocese. A second email outlines the grant agreement for each contactless device and a hyperlink to complete an electronic Confirmation of Acceptance Form. Unless all of these steps are completed by the successful churches in the required timescales they will not receive a device.
The 82 churches receiving support to set up online giving will be contacted shortly via email with an invitation to attend a webinar that will outline how to set up online giving.
