Why charities should use NFC to connect with donors
What is NFC technology on a phone?
NFC is a form of proximity tech that comes with most smartphones. Proximity tech makes in-person interactions more practical by activating instant information.
In a nutshell, NFC can be used on physical objects and will activate relevant information on a smartphone whenever it’s in close range.
You might be more familiar with the technology than you realise because it’s exactly how contactless cards and smart key fobs work. Learn which smartphones have NFC, here.
Why would a charity use NFC?
Like QR codes, embedding NFC technology in your physical fundraising assets is another way of quickly connecting your supporters to relevant and engaging information.
But compared to a QR code, NFC doesn’t need a visual image and can be activated without the user doing anything on the phone itself. It uses a small chip that doesn’t need to be visible to the user and can come in the form of a sticker.
Although QR codes have made a comeback in recent years, NFC is a more sustainable, safe, and sophisticated option moving forward. And now that all Android phones and new iPhones come with NFC, it won’t be long until every smartphone user will be able to interact with you this way. (That’s 83.89% of the world's population according to Statista.)
Learn more about when to use NFC and when to use QR in your fundraising, here.
5 fundraising ideas with NFC technology
1. Medals
Interactive medals are another way for you to communicate with those who take part. They are memorable, increase charity awareness and allow you to say thank you right away.
Medals are also more likely to be kept and cherished which means you can keep the engagement going post-event.
You could link them to digital pages such as:
- Winners raffle
- Thank you video
- Donation page
- Feedback form
- Upcoming events
or a celebrative selfie filter with your branding.
For example, the East Anglian Air Ambulance charity gave supporters a chance to win £25,000 if they became a regular donor.
Carolyn Causton, Head of Direct Marketing and Supporter Insight for EAAA, said:
Our lottery is a key source of income, so we are always looking for ways to innovate. When it comes to the digital donor who does everything on a smartphone, Good Thyngs’ solution was the obvious choice.
2. Merchandise
There's an exciting opportunity for you to engage and retain supporters after making a purchase at your store.
You can place a hidden NFC sticker behind your merchandise tags or within the fabric for your supporters to interact with whenever they want to connect with you.
Connecting objects to online charity pages will also extend the lifetime value of your merchandise because you can keep the information up to date.
You could link them to digital pages such as a:
- Donation page
- Vacancy board
- Thank you video
- Support forum
- Competition
- Charity shop voucher
or information about upcoming fundraising events.
SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity has introduced a mascot to their team who can collect cashless donations and engage supporters in activities like charity raffles. After positive feedback at the Battle Proms Concerts from supporters, we expect to see a lot more of Ted.
3. Fundraising badges and wristbands
Tap to donate fundraising badges and wristbands give volunteers and fundraisers the power to collect funds whilst on the move, without needing to carry a collection bucket or safeguard a card terminal.
They’re also a great conversation starter which helps drive meaningful discussions about important topics. This was an important factor during Movember’s ‘Grow a mo, and save a bro’ campaign.
To enhance these conversations further, you can give fundraisers the option to customise their personal donation page.
For example, they could
- Include their name in the title
- Write their own message about why they are fundraising
- Set goals and totalisers
Movember started as a simple way to raise money and awareness for a good cause, something that anyone can take part in. The contactless badge is the next step. So many of our incredible supporters take part in amazing challenges, and our no-fuss badges take donating to a whole new level.
said Owen Sharp, Chief Executive at the Movember Foundation.
4. Secure collection buckets
Including NFC and QR codes on your bucket or money box designs will give those without loose cash a secure way to donate using their phone. And, unlike contactless devices, they can be deployed in large numbers and left largely unattended (e.g. on shop counters).
It also provides you with a chance to retain donors by sharing more information, especially when you’re not there in person.
For example, you could also collect:
- Marketing opt-ins
- Instant surveys
- HMRC and GDPR compliant Gift Aid
Charities like SSAFA, CLIC Sargent, Poppyscotland, and Big C have all introduced cashless technology to their supporters.
The general public’s need to engage with QR codes this year has undoubtedly helped to make them more recognisable and accessible for existing and potential supporters of all backgrounds. I am certain that this positive change in behaviour will enable even greater adoption of QR codes and NFC phone engagement as fundraising tools when we finally emerge from this pandemic.
said Jonathan Sandall, the Director of Fundraising for SSAFA.
You can find out more about updating your collection buckets, here.
5. Lanyards
Networking can be a great way of sharing resources and building beneficial connections with people. But how many times do you follow up a conversation after exchanging a business card?
Including NFC technology on lanyards will take event networking to new, exciting, and more effective levels. You can share your contact details and have them synced straight to someone’s phone in just one 'tap'. You could increase newsletter sign-ups and monthly donors this way too.
On the platform, you can log in and see how many people you engaged with at the event and access the contact details they shared with you there.
Get started with cashless donations and NFC technology
The most important factors of cashless fundraising with tech like NFC are
- The digital experiences you link them to
- The platform you use to manage them
Collect donations and beyond with our Core and CorePlus packages. Explore the options and get in touch.