Giving has always been central to Jewish communal life, from the tzedakah box at home to building funds and festival appeals. What has changed is how people carry their money. Cash is no longer the default for most visitors and members, and a growing number of communities are adding a contactless option so that nobody is turned away from giving simply because they had nothing in their pocket. This guide looks at how synagogues and Jewish community centres can introduce a contactless donation point thoughtfully, in a way that respects observance and sits comfortably alongside existing pledges and appeals.
A note on Shabbat and observance
Any conversation about electronic giving in a Jewish setting has to begin with observance. For many members, handling money and operating electronic devices is not appropriate on Shabbat or Yom Tov, and a contactless device is not intended to change that. In practice, a donation point earns its place on weekdays and at the many moments of communal life that fall outside those times: a simcha in the hall, a midweek shiur, a community fair, a Chanukah or Purim event, an open day, or the steady flow of visitors to a community centre cafe. Used this way, the technology supports giving without asking anyone to compromise on practice. It helps to set expectations clearly with members, so the device is understood as a convenience for the appropriate times rather than a fixture of the service itself.
Where a donation point fits in community life
Most communities find there is no single home for a donation device, but several. A discreet wall-mounted unit in the lobby or foyer captures gifts as people arrive and leave for weekday events. A compact tablet that a volunteer can carry suits a kiddush, a fundraising dinner or a stall at a community fair. A freestanding unit works well in a larger hall where footfall is high and people have a moment to pause. Building and security funds, welfare appeals, the cheder or nursery, and support for wider charitable causes can each be presented as their own appeal, so a donor sees exactly what their gift is for and can choose where it goes.
Choosing a discreet, respectful device
The right hardware for a synagogue is usually the one that draws the least attention to itself while still being easy to use. The CharityWall is a natural fit for a lobby or entrance, while the portable CharityTab is handy for events and dinners where the giving comes to the donor. For a busier community centre, a floor-standing CharityStand gives people a clear, dignified place to give. If you are weighing up which shape suits your spaces, our guide to choosing the right form factor walks through each option, and the comparison chart sets them side by side.
Gift Aid on member and visitor gifts
If your community is a registered charity, eligible donations from UK taxpayers can attract Gift Aid, which adds twenty-five pence to every pound at no cost to the donor. A contactless giving flow can prompt willing donors to add the details needed for a Gift Aid declaration, so the full value of a gift is not lost. The rules and the donor messaging matter, so it is worth reading our practical Gift Aid guide before you launch and confirming your own position with your treasurer. HMRC publishes the current rules on claiming Gift Aid.
Simple to run, even with volunteers
Communities run on goodwill and volunteer time, so the device needs to be something almost anyone can switch on without a briefing. DonorDynamics builds the hardware and keeps the firmware secure and up to date, while the giving experience itself is powered by the Give A Little app. Appeals can be switched on, updated and switched off again remotely, so you can move from a building fund to a festival appeal without anyone needing to touch the settings on the device. That also means a treasurer or administrator can manage everything from home, which suits a community where the people who look after the technology are not always the people in the building.
Getting started
A sensible first step is to pick one regular weekday moment and one event, place a single device, and see how members respond before expanding. Our 30-day launch plan sets out a simple path from unboxing to first gifts, and the complete buyer's guide covers the practical questions around cost, placement and reporting. Introduced with care, a contactless donation point lets your community give in the way that increasingly feels natural to them, while leaving Shabbat and Yom Tov exactly as they should be.