Digital Innovation in Fundraising

Digitalization does not stop during the Advent season: just as in everyday life, electronic payment solutions are replacing cash in fundraising. Mastercard and the Hungarian Interchurch Aid are entering into a strategic partnership to create and promote the technological background for conscious, fast, and secure fundraising. It is no coincidence that the announcement of the three-year agreement was timed to coincide with the beginning of Advent: Advent fundraising has played a prominent role in the work of the aid organization for many years.

Mastercard and the Interchurch Aid are revolutionizing the everyday practice of donating by taking their partnership to a new level. The aim of the three-year strategic cooperation is to enable people to support the organization's work in its fundraising campaigns not only with cash donations but also with the latest and most modern digital payment methods, and to increase the number of donors and the amount of donations by expanding the payment options.

The long-term cooperation is based on the success of previous joint projects: three years ago, in 2022, the parties joined forces in the 'Határtalan segítség' (Borderless Help) program to alleviate the refugee crisis and social crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. In 2022 and 2023, they jointly organized a Disneyland experience day for children in need, and in 2023 and 2024, Mastercard supported the aid organization's Advent campaign.

Thanks to the Digital Opportunity Creation initiative, the Aid Organization's summer themed day camps were able to take place this year in 36 locations in disadvantaged regions of the country, with more than 1,000 children participating, which was also supported by Mastercard. These results form the basis for the cooperation that will create the digital payment technology background and financial foundations for joint programs in the 2025-2027 period.

As a key element of the cooperation, during this year's Advent season, donors to the aid organization can now use the 'Tap on Phone' (phone terminal) solution in addition to traditional cash donations, which can turn tablets and smartphones into payment terminals for simple and secure assistance – all they need to do is download an app. With these state-of-the-art digital devices, it is possible to make payments using mobile phones, watches, and traditional bank cards. This means that no separate POS terminal is required for electronic payments; all you need is an NFC-enabled smartphone. The technology has been available on Android and iOS platforms since this year, and its popularity is demonstrated by the fact that around 11,000 'Tap on Phone' devices have been put into use in Hungary in just under a year.