You might not know that Donater digital fundraising tools were conceived around Christmas time.

All the team here at Donater are a bit Christmas crazy. We love this time of year, and our home city of Winchester mirrors the festive spirit we feel.

Christmas in Winchester

We love the huge Christmas tree that twinkles in the High Street and we were happy to see the return of Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market after Covid restrictions caused it to be cancelled last year.

We know we’re biased because it’s our home but there really is no place like Winchester at Christmas time. Although Donater are an international company, our roots are very much in Winchester, and it has a lot to do with how Donater technology was born.

Our founder Steve started coming to Winchester to visit family when he was a young child. His early memories of Winchester are that of Christmastime and the magic that comes with it. At ten years old he moved to the city permanently and has been here ever since.

It’s rumoured that once you sit on the Buttercross Statue in the city centre, you never leave. And it’s come true for all of us!

Donater’s Very Own Santa

Steve is a member of Winchester Round Table and was an integral part of the creation of Winchester Santa Sleigh. Every Christmas they brave the weather to raise money for local charities and causes, whilst also spreading some much needed festive cheer!

Having run a successful local digital business in the city for over 12 years, he realised that there was a need for digital fundraising tools to be more readily accessible to charities and good causes. So not only did Steve don his Santa hat for numerous rounds of Winchester estates as the big man in red himself, he also developed a way for the sleigh to raise even more money – Digitally.

Donater launched a suite of fundraising tools, from online donation platforms on websites, to Smart Stickers with NFC tags and QR codes so people can donate on-the-go via their smartphones using Google Pay, Apple Pay or bank details.

Christmas Fundraising in the Community with Donater Digital Fundraising Tools

For the past 2 years, Winchester BID has utilised our Donater QR code technology to raise money for homelessness charities in the city. Last Christmas, this QR code stood proudly on one of the sponsor boards next to the city’s Christmas tree so that passers-by could use their smartphones to donate directly to the Spare Change for Lasting Change project. These QR codes can be found on numerous donation boxes around the city centre to make donating accessible to all – Not just those who happen to have cash.

We’ve already mentioned Winchester Round Table’s Santa Sleigh – They are also once again using Donater QR code technology as well as utilising a Donate button on their website. A little way down the road, Basingstoke Round Table are also using Donater’s suite of digital fundraising tools to safely raise money over the festive period with their Santa Sleigh.

Joining the growing ranks of Santa Sleighs this year are Exeter Round Table Christmas Float, Bewdley Community Santa Sleigh by Wyre Forest Round Table, Sheffield Round Table Santa Sleigh, Saffron Walden Round Table, Vale of Evesham Santa Sleigh, Overton Youth FC Santa Float and Bunting Mews Christmas Light Charity Collection.

Contactless Fundraising at Christmas

It’s so inspiring to see these good causes being innovative in their approach to fundraising, and embracing new ways of taking donations during the continuing pandemic. The past 2 years, contactless payments and cashless donations have become even more important amid social distancing regulations.

Our CEO Steve’s Christmas spirit is infectious, and we are so loving seeing Donater digital fundraising tools in action at such a magical time of year.

If you would like to see how Donater’s suite of digital fundraising and online tools could help your charity or good cause raise vital funds this Christmas and beyond, head to our website.

Or if you prefer, give us a call directly and we would happily go through how our digital fundraising tools could work for you – Get in touch now.

01962 670190 / [email protected]

We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of our supporters and the charities we’ve had the pleasure of working with this year. We’ve seen a lot of money raised for such wonderful, worthwhile causes.

So, from our very own Santa, and the team of elves here at Donater, we wish you a peaceful and safe Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!