Tapping into the future of giving: St Martin-in-the-Fields pilots the new DonorDynamics CharityDesk

Having used Give A Little successfully since 2021, St Martin-in-the-Fields was a natural fit to pilot a brand-new hardware solution. The relationship with the historic site has also grown significantly over the years; in 2024, the St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust, which raises funds to support the heritage and special projects, also adopted Give A Little, installing fixed contactless donation stations in the busy Café in the Crypt as well as in the church porches.

As an early adopter of the new DonorDynamics CharityDesk, the church has been piloting a seamless new way to collect funds. The CharityDesk features Tap to Pay technology built directly into the tablet screen, meaning there is no need for an additional card reader - donors simply tap their contactless card or digital wallet directly on the screen itself.

The CharityDesk forms part of a wider selection of fixed contactless donation stations from DonorDynamics, a new Give A Little device partner. This exciting new lineup is the first range from any Give A Little partner to utilise integrated Tap to Pay technology, delivering a cleaner, simpler, and more reliable giving experience across fixed countertop, wall-mounted, and freestanding formats.

A simpler experience for volunteers and donors

For Jeff Claxton, one of the Churchwardens, who has overseen the pilot, the biggest advantage of the new technology has been the streamlined, all-in-one design.

"Having Tap to Pay built into the device is a real advantage. There's no separate card reader to connect or manage, which makes everything much simpler."

While traditional setups with separate card readers work brilliantly across many settings, consolidating everything into a single screen brings a new level of convenience to high-footfall areas. Jeff notes that this integrated approach naturally simplifies day-to-day management for busy staff and volunteers.

"The integrated Tap to Pay technology makes the device much easier to use and puts less demand on our vergers' time."

The result is a beautifully self-contained setup that offers a more friction-free experience for donors and a lighter operational touch for the church team, allowing them to focus entirely on welcoming visitors.

Reliable and Frictionless Daily Use

Reliability has been a standout highlight of the pilot. The candle stand is located in an area where previous contactless devices occasionally struggled with connectivity, yet the CharityDesk has performed flawlessly.

"The device is excellent," says Jeff. "We've been using it over Wi-Fi and haven't had any problems. It works well, and I haven't seen anyone having any issues with it."

Designed to Fit Iconic Surroundings

Located within one of the UK’s most architecturally significant churches, appearance matters just as much as functionality. Jeff says the CharityDesk strikes the perfect aesthetic balance.

"It's nice and compact. It looks smart, modern and streamlined."

He also notes that the integrated LED lighting is highly effective at catching the public's eye:

"I like the lights around the edge matching the campaign colour. The coloured bevel and the black inset are quite a visual draw. The eye goes to it."

The compact footprint also allowed the church to securely install the CharityDesk directly within its existing candle stand setup, creating a natural, dedicated point for candle donations.

Looking Ahead

Following the successful pilot, the verdict on the new Tap to Pay hardware is overwhelmingly positive.

"We'd definitely like to keep the DonorDynamics device," Jeff concludes. "It's been a really positive addition."

By combining Give A Little’s donor focused software with DonorDynamics’ innovative, integrated Tap to Pay donation stations, St Martin-in-the-Fields has found a dependable, modern solution that fits seamlessly into both its historic setting and its daily operations.