Simple Church Giving Kiosk: A Guide For Small Church Pastors Even small churches can setup a giving kiosk to increase on-site giving and make giving easier. This is written for small churches and not mega churches. Inside Simple Church Giving Kiosk you'll discover... A proven strategy for setting up a simple church giving kiosk in your church. The hardware you will need to set up a simple church kiosk. The software needed to set up a simple church giving kiosk. Tips for launching and maintaining a successful giving kiosk.

2. A Simple Church Giving Kiosk

5. Arelthia Phillips
A Simple Church Giving Kiosk
Arelthia Phillips

6. Pintop Solutions LLC
2016

7. Arelthia Phillips
Copyright © 2016 by Pintop Solutions LLC
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be re-
produced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express
written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quota-
tions in a book review or scholarly journal.
First Printing: 2016
pintopsolutions.com

9. Arelthia Phillips
vii
Contents
Introduction.....................................................................9
5 Reasons to Consider a Giving Kiosk .................. 12
Preparation................................................................... 14
Simple Kiosk Hardware............................................ 15
Computer.................................................................... 15
Stand, Wall Mount, or Counter Top ................... 16
Credit Card Reader (MSR)..................................... 17
Simple Church Kiosk Software ............................... 18
Overview....................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Why Simple Church Kiosk giving kiosk app? . 19
Payment Gateway........................................................ 20
Fees............................................................................... 20
Ease of Integration .................................................. 20
Recognize ability and Reputation...................... 21
Brand ability.............................................................. 21
Quickness of Payment Back to You.................... 21
PayPal.......................................................................... 22
3 Things to Avoid......................................................... 24
Tips for Continued Success...................................... 25
Answer Questions before They Are Asked...... 25
Honestly deal with objections............................. 25

10. Keep On Communicating .......................................25
Once a month.............................................................26
References......................................................................27

11. 9
Introduction
I am the developer of the Simple Church Kiosk Giving
Kiosk App. The simple church Kiosk was created in re-
sponse to a request I received from Pastor Charles Lincoln
of Christ Unveiled Ministries to create a simple kiosk script
for easy giving in 2013. I referred him to many of the solu-
tions already available and he could not find one that was
simple and within the Church budget.
The church was paying for a virtual terminal but was
having trouble processing the multiple credit card and debit
card donations they were receiving on the donation envel-
opment. Multiple Sundays they had to bring the
envelopment back to the donor and explain how the credit
card processor would not accept the card. But the problem
was not the card but the current system.
With limited volunteers the requests for card donations
was quickly overwhelming the staff. Then there was the
group of members and visitors that were hesitant about
writing their credit card number on the envelope.
So we reviewed the requirements for a simple solution
that used their current payment processor and allowed the
user to swipe their card, enter the amount to donate to com-
plete the transaction. Another big requirement was that the
givers name must be sent to the payment processor so it
would be included in their donation records.
The Simple Church Kiosk Script was created as a cus-
tom web based script that makes giving easier. After

12. extensive use it has paid for itself ten times over. Plus the
church saved about $10000 by not renting expensive kiosk
hardware.
As of today Christ Unveiled Ministries now has two of the

13. Giving Kiosks setup to make giving easy for members and
volunteers.

14. 5 Reasons to Consider a Giving Kiosk
People don’t carry large amounts of cash or checks. A
large percentage of people in your on-site services will have
a debit card or credit card that they are used to using daily.
Take donations before, during, and after services.
Members and visitors can give when they are ready. Some
members will consistently give as soon as they arrive to a
service. While others will give during the traditional giving
time. Others may be moved to give after the service.
It helps people become disciplined givers. They can
give when they are ready. Even when they forget their
check book or don’t have time to get cash from the bank
they can still give. The giving kiosk makes it easier for peo-
ple to do what they want to do, “Give”.
It is an easy first step for new givers. A kiosk is a no
pressure way to give. It is simple and serves as a great entry
point into giving.
A kiosk is a relatively small investment that more than
pays for itself in most circumstances. A giving kiosk allows
you to receive contributions that you would not normally
receive. The new donations that you receive from new do-
nors should more than cover the cost of the kiosk. The
giving kiosk was so successful for Christ Unveiled Minis-

15. tries that they decided to add a second giving kiosk to pre-
vent lines.

16. Preparation
Adding a kiosk is a vision thing. Your vision should be
dripped out before it (the Kiosk) is sitting in the lobby.
The vision should first be dripped to your staff and fi-
nance team (if you have one). Let your key leaders know
what’s coming and explain the reasons to them. Depending
on the size of your leadership team and the organizational
structure of your church, provide the right level of infor-
mation regarding costs, expenses, etc. Most importantly, let
people know that your heart is to develop disciples, not just
get more money.
Two or three weeks before the kiosk is active, let the
whole church know what’s coming. Take a few minutes
during your weekend service to let them know about this
new option. It’s important to tell people what’s happening
BEFORE the kiosk shows up one weekend. If you have a
list of member email addresses you can also send out an
email about the new option for giving.
The first day the kiosk is available to take donations talk
about the kiosk during the giving talk – the 1-2 minutes that
happens just before you receive the offering. This will make
people aware that the new giving option is available. People
want to give and will be thankful for a giving option that
works for them.

17. Simple Kiosk Hardware
A simple church giving kiosk allows for easy and se-
cure giving on-site.
Computer
A touch screen all-in-one computer with internet access.
An all-in-one pc will take up less space, but any pc will
work. The touchscreen functionality adds to the ease of use.
If you don't have a pc already Dell.com is a great place to
start.

18. Stand, Wall Mount, or Counter Top
A stand-alone unit can be relocated with ease and al-
lows for greater accessibility. A table-top unit will require a
surface for it to sit upon, but also provides space for the
placement of belongs while giving. Displays2go.com is a
great place for finding a stand for your kiosk.

19. Credit Card Reader (MSR)
A credit card reader will make it quick and easy for giv-
ers to give. They just swipe their debit card instead of
typing in the long card number and expiration date. A se-
cure credit card reader will also increase the level of
security. The Magtek Dynamag is a secure credit card read-
er.
At Christ Unveiled Ministries they have two standing
giving kiosks setup in the foyer. This allows them to be
seen when you first walk in, without them being in the walk
way.

20. Simple Church Kiosk Software
There are a lot of solutions available for accepting do-
nations on-site. The Simple Church Kiosk giving kiosk app
(https://simplechurchkiosk.com) is web software that allows
for relevant and convenient giving. When giving is conven-
ient, people give more.
Provide churchgoers another option for giving on-site.
As of today Christ Unveiled Ministries now has two of
the Giving Kiosks setup to make giving easy for members
and volunteers. After receiving a request from a second
church I decided to make the same safe convenience availa-
ble to organizations all over the country.

21. Pastor Charles Lincoln of Christ Unveiled ministries
says that the giving kiosk has helped his organization tre-
mendously, and that he was shocked at how quickly
members took to it.
Why Simple Church Kiosk giving kiosk app?
The giving kiosk app is easy to setup and easy for
church goers to use to give. It is setup so that no account is
required to donate. This allows not only church members
but also first time visitors to give using the kiosk.
Giving is quick with a swipe interface that does not re-
quire a signature like Square. Designated giving can me
setup to meet the ministries at your church. To communi-
cate with donors receipts are automatically sent via e-mail.
Invite volunteers and staff to accept payments/donations
on your behalf without access to sensitive information. The
type-in interface makes it easy for volunteers to accept do-
nations over the phone.
Choose the payment gateway, PayPal or Stripe, which
ever works best for your church. Download the donation
history to import it into your church management system or
accounting software.
The Giving Kiosk App can be used at unlimited kiosks
throughout your church. It is designed to be a self-help ki-
osk.

22. Payment Gateway
In order to allow donations using a debit card or credit
card you will need a payment gateway. Because there are so
many options for you to choose from, it’s helpful to under-
stand the ways that the payment gateway service providers
may differ, in order to be able to choose between them.
Fees
The first thing you are likely to look at is the fee struc-
ture for a given service provider. Most charge some mix of
a flat or monthly fee, plus a per transaction fee that may be
a flat fee plus a percentage, or simply a percentage fee. The
fees paid for payment processing must be seem as a con-
temporary cost of doing business.
Ease of Integration
Because the actual payment processing will occur on
the service provider’s web servers, it will be necessary to
integrate the payment processing with your website. In
many cases the easiest solution is to select a provider where
you send your customer to their website at the point it be-
comes necessary for the customer to enter credit card
information, and the service provider sends them back to
you once the transaction is complete. Keep in mind you’ll
also need to make sure that any payment gateway provider
you are considering can integrate with your website’s shop-
ping cart software. The easier a provider makes it to
integrate, the better.

23. Recognize ability and Reputation
You may want to consider the recognize ability and
reputation of a particular payment gateway provider. Most
people will be familiar with PayPal, some will be familiar
with Amazon Payments and Google Checkout, and fewer
may be familiar with some of the other services. Payment
gateways like Stripe are completely invisible to the giver.
Ultimately users want to be ensured that their personal data
is securely being collected and sent across the internet.
Brand ability
You may wish to consider whether a payment gateway
service allows you to include your logo or other branding
on the payment page. This might give your givers an addi-
tional level of comfort when they are sent to another site to
complete a transaction. Also consider if the payment gate-
way provides a way to accept payment without having to
leave your website.
Quickness of Payment Back to You
Finally, consider the stated practices of each payment
gateway service for remitting payment back to you. Look
for providers that have a very fast turnaround time, and do a
little web research to see if other businesses have experi-
enced any problems with receiving payment, or with
chargebacks from customers.
PayPal and Stripe are both secure payment gateways.
The information provided below will help you decide which
would be best for your church.

24. PayPal Pro (for veri-
fied 501(c)(3))
Stripe
Transaction
Fees (U.S.)
2.2% + 30¢ 2.9% + 30¢
Monthly Fee $30 $0
Refund Fee 30¢ $0
Setup fee $0 $0
Support Phone & Email Email
Funds Transfer Upon Request 2 Days
Figure 1.The data in this table is subject to change so please consult PayPal.com
and Stripe.com for current details.
PayPal
PayPal Payments Pro gives you everything you need to
securely accept credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal on
your website. It offers complete customizability over your
customers’ checkout process; and an Internet merchant ac-
count from PayPal.
PayPal Payments Pro is ideal for churches that want
complete control over the checkout experience. It’s pre-
integrated to work with the Simple Church Kiosk and cus-

25. tomers can pay by credit card without ever leaving your
website. Plus, you can tap into more than 110 million active
PayPal users. PayPal Payments Pro requires credit approval
(2-3 business days). By providing proof of your 501(c)(3)
status your church will receive a discounted rate.
Stripe
When using Stripe fees are only applied when someone
makes a donation. There is no monthly fees, setup fees, or
minimum fees. Stripe does not offer discounts to non-
profits. The fee is the same for all card types. Stripe is great
for a church that wants to get started with no upfront fees.

26. 3 Things to Avoid
Putting Your Kiosk in the Wrong Place
Don’t put your kiosk in crowded hallways or hidden
corners. It needs to be in a place where people congregate.
Putting your kiosk in a super-public area could also be a
mistake. While you want to put your kiosk in a common ar-
ea, you still need to offer a certain degree of privacy. Think
about where ATMs are located…easy to get to, but still pri-
vate.
Poor Follow Up
You need to specifically following up with people who
give at the kiosk. When people make a donation at the ki-
osk, thank them for their specific action. Ask them about
their experience and remind them that they can set up a pro-
file and manage/change recurring donations. Giving is a
spiritual decision that should be appreciated and developed.
Not Providing Instructions
Don’t assume everyone knows how to use a kiosk. You
might want to print simple three or five step instructions
and put a stack near the kiosk. You could make an instruc-
tional video and show it from time to time in your service.

27. Tips for Continued Success
Answer Questions before They Are Asked
Make a list of questions your people might have and answer
them in advance. A few people will want to know if there
are fees involved. Some might ask if they can give at the
kiosk one week and give in the service the next week.
Honestly deal with objections
Don’t sweep objections under the rug…bring them into
the open and honestly address them. Sometimes, simply ac-
knowledging that some people have questions or concerns
is all you need to do.
Remember, DO NOT just drop the kiosk in your lobby
and expect people to understand. Take the time to answer
questions in advance and prepare your people for how to
use the kiosk. A few weeks of preparation followed by in-
tentional communication will result in a smooth roll out.
Keep On Communicating
There’s a final phase to your roll out and that’s the on-
going, continuing communication. When you launch your
kiosk, everyone should be on the same page. But your
church is going to attract new people and the regulars will

28. simply forget. You must continue to provide regular com-
munication, continuing to talk about the why behind the
what.
Once a month
Once a month, talk about the kiosk during the giving
talk – the 1-2 minutes that happens just before you receive
the offering. These are two of the most important minutes in
your entire church service because you’re calling people to
action. When you ask people to drop their offerings in the
plates (or buckets, baskets or fireman boots), say something
like, “And if you’d like to give with a credit or debit card,
you can do so at the kiosk in the lobby.” Thank people who
have already given at the kiosk. These quick mentions once
a month or so remind people about the kiosk.
Remember the giving kiosk will be another option for those
that visit your church and want to give. According to Minis-
try Tech magazine 22% Of the Churchgoers surveyed
would like to be able to give using a giving kiosk (Hewitt,
2015).
For example at Christ Unveiled Ministries that have 2 giv-
ing kiosks located in the foyer. Traditional giving is
conducted during each service. There are also Donate but-
tons located on the website for when members cannot make
it to service, but still want to give.

29. References
Hewitt, Steve. "THE E-GIVING GAP A Comprehensive New
Churchgoer Survey." Ministry Tech. OUTREACH INC, Dec.
2015. Web.