Case Study - In a Cashless Age, Churches Tap into New Ways of Giving
- Laura B
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
How 127 churches embraced contactless technology and what happened next.
In pews across the country, the collection plate isn’t vanishing—but it is evolving.
For centuries, giving at church meant reaching into your pocket for spare change or writing a cheque. Today, in an era where even convenience stores accept tap-to-pay, a growing number of churches are rethinking how generosity happens.
Over the course of a year, 127 churches introduced contactless donation
devices—small machines stationed by the door, near the altar, or beside the coffee table. These devices, often no larger than a paperback, accept donations by mobile wallets with just a tap of a cell phone.
Their impact? Quiet, but profound.
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Cash, once the foundation of weekly giving, is no longer a given.
“We weren’t collecting what we used to,” one church fundraising lead admitted. “You could feel it—not just in the numbers, but in the plate itself. It was lighter.”
In response, these 127 churches—rural and urban, large and small—opted in to a contactless experiment. Over a 12-month period, they deployed devices like the Superspree Halo, Superspree Loop, and Superspree Offering Plate devices, designed for ease of use and quick transactions.
Some placed a single device at the back of the sanctuary. Others installed multiple units across fellowship areas and entrances. Nearly all had been using the technology for more than 200 days at the time of study.
The Numbers Behind the Tap
The results shared in this church case study, drawn from real-time donation data, suggest that ease and visibility matter more than tradition.
One church brought in more than $30,000 via contactless giving alone.
Weekly donation averages ranged from under $10 to several thousand dollars, depending on location and foot traffic.
Churches with multiple well-placed devices consistently outperformed those with just one.
The most successful locations weren’t necessarily the largest—but they were the ones that made giving visible, intuitive, and easy.
Simplicity Drives Generosity
Most donors didn’t need instructions. They walked up, tapped, and gave.
Churches reported that even older members—those initially skeptical of digital devices—grew comfortable with the process. “I never thought I'd be using my cell phone in church,” said one worshipper. “But it’s easier than rummaging for coins.”
Fundraising teams noted a key trend: the presence of a contactless device served as a visual prompt. People were more likely to give when reminded, especially if they didn’t have to dig through wallets or ask where the plate was.
More Than a Gadget
To some, installing a contactless donation box in a church might feel transactional or impersonal. But for those who’ve seen the benefits firsthand, the devices are simply tools in sustaining ministry.
“We didn’t replace anything,” a priest explained. “We just opened the door for people who were already willing to give, but didn’t have a way to do it.”
The devices blended quietly into church life. Some were framed with scripture or affixed to handmade stands. Others sat beneath stained glass, illuminated by morning light.
Lessons from the Field
From the churches studied, a few common lessons emerged:
Location matters: The closer the device is to foot traffic, the more it’s used.
Start small: One well-placed unit can make a measurable difference.
Talk about it: A brief mention during services normalizes digital giving.
And most importantly: Generosity just looks different now.
A Tap Toward the Future
In a world where even buskers accept contactless, churches are adapting not out of pressure, but purpose. They’re ensuring that the act of giving remains as open and accessible as the gospel they preach.
For fundraising leads still relying on envelopes and cheques, the story of these 127 churches offers a clear message:
Sometimes, all it takes is a tap.
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