Pennies consumer donations double on Verifone devices

Pennies and payment partner Verifone announce that their partnership has seen consumer donations double over the last 12 months.

Participating Verifone retail clients include Hobbycraft, Notcutts, Ask Italian, and Dixons Carphone – the latter being the latest retailer to join the micro-donation movement and contributing to the 100 percent growth of micro-donations collected from customers.

In April 2017, Pennies recorded over 227,000 monthly consumer donations made across Verifone’s Pennies-enabled retail clients – compared to approximately 103,000 in April 2016. This represents a significant increase in consumers giving their small digital change a big purpose by supporting causes across the UK.

Kevin Freeguard, Vice President and Managing Director, Verifone, UK and Ireland said: “The partnership with Pennies is a fantastic application of our technology to enable consumers, merchants and charities to support great causes through an innovative channel. The Pennies app demonstrates how easily merchants can leverage their investment by adding value to the point of sale. We encourage all our UK. merchants to enable Pennies on Verifone devices to continue to support worthy charities on the roster.”

Pennies’ own poll (2016) of 2,000 adults and young people revealed a quarter have or would have an ‘improved opinion’ of a retailer that offered a digital charity donation option like Pennies. This rises to nearly 40% of 16 – 34 year olds.

To date, over 6 million micro-donations have been made across the partnership totaling in excess of £1.4m. These funds have supported more than 20 charities including Together for Short Lives, Cancer Research UK, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, and The Mix.

Alison Hutchinson CBE, CEO of Pennies said: “Verifone has helped Pennies collect millions of micro-donations through food retailers such as Zizzi and ASK Italian; luxury brand Gieves & Hawkes; and high street brand Dixons Carphone. We’re thrilled with all we have achieved so far, and are working together to enable millions more to give – anonymously and when they choose, and feel good about helping others.”

Read more how about Pennies and Verifone collaborate with restaurant chain, Zizzi’s, to enable micro-donations for Cancer Research UK.

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Notes to Editors
For more information, please contact Rob Dyson, Head of Marketing and Communications at Pennies.

About Pennies
Pennies is the digital equivalent of the traditional charity collection box. We enable consumers to round-up their bill at participating partners – to make their pennies count for charity.
Pennies estimates that if the UK’s card holders donated 30p once a month over £150m would be raised for charity every year.
Pennies is enabled in a number of well-known brands including Domino’s Pizza, Zizzi restaurants, Topps Tiles, The Entertainer, The Fragrance Shop and Screwfix; as well as a growing number of smaller merchants.

How Pennies works
Pennies’ micro-donations are anonymous – so data-free – quick, and a choice every time. The retailer chooses the charity that its customers can support. No data is collected, and there is no follow up; it really is about dropping a few pence in a charity box – but via a debit or credit card.
Press ‘YES’ on the Chip & PIN machine in-store, or click the ‘Donate’ button online. The request is always for a few pennies (1p-99p) – either by rounding up or topping up.