"Giving Kiosks" Appearing in Churches, Nonprofits

(Dec. 18, 2006) More than 15 “giving kiosks,” A.T.M. machines that allow donors to use their credit or debit cards to give automatically to a cause, will be in churches and nonprofits across the United States, according to a recent article in The New York Times (“The Lord Giveth, and Now He Takes Visa,” Dec. 11, 2006).

The trend began at Stevens Creek Community Church in Martinez, Ga., as a means of making it easier for parishioners to contribute and tithe, since many of them did not typically carry cash, but always had their debit or credit cards with them. Giving through the kiosks accounts for about one-fifth of the church’s overall contributions.

The kiosks typically require users to input a phone number and a PIN, then swipe their credit or debit card. In some cases, donors can choose to contribute to a specific fund, such as a capital campaign. Donors receive a receipt after the transaction.

Because of concerns over people contributing more than they might have, some machines accept only debit cards, not credit cards.

Beyond Places of Worship

Marty Baker, the pastor of Stevens Creek Community Church, has since formed a for-profit company, SecureGive, which sells these terminals, while some churches and nonprofits are considering developing their own type of “giving kiosk.”

Baker says that while the terminals began in churches, he sees a bigger potential for other nonprofits. He has been in discussions with New Orleans officials to set up kiosks around the city so that visitors can donate to any number of rebuilding efforts. In addition, SecureGive just reached a deal with the Oregon Ballet Theatre to put up two kiosks in the theatre in December.

“The onus is on all of us in the business to explore new and innovative ways of encouraging private giving,” said Erik Jones, the ballet company’s marketing director, in the article “We see the kiosks as a low-pressure and convenient way for our patrons to donate to the Oregon Ballet Theatre while they’re actually at a performance and still in the glow of what they’ve witnessed onstage.”