At the core of fundraising is the relationship between a nonprofit and those constituents who are most passionate about that organization’s mission. As development professionals it is vital to find touchpoints that cultivate and maintain these mutualistic relationships. Therefore, finding opportunities to make giving accessible and easy for these constituents can be beneficial to getting a first gift that leads to a sustained philanthropic relationship. 

DipJar’s Straightforward Design Makes Giving Gifts Accessible 

Technology that helps fundraisers prospect, track, and secure gifts has become increasingly popular. Founded in 2012, DipJar is an innovative device that helps prospects quickly and easily make a gift to a nonprofit organization. With this technology, donors only need a credit card, or in some cases just their phone, to complete a transaction. 

The product DipJar is essentially a play on the idea of a “tip jar” in that it is a small container that people can give money to. However, unlike the usual mason jar at a coffee shop where patrons throw their extra dollars and cents, this device takes credit cards as a convenient way to transact donations. Currently the company produces two versions of the DipJar, DipJar Classic and DipJar Pro. Both versions work similarly, in that the devices are made to take “encrypted transactions”. 

The prominent differences between the Classic and Pro versions are noted in the infographic below (See Figure 3). The Classic version is a very straightforward piece of technology that allows the nonprofit organization to set a monetary amount that the donor can “dip into” to give their gift. The prospect can “dip in” as many times as they would like if they want to give at an increased amount, however the price cannot be changed once set. While the Pro version gives both the organization and the prospects more agency on the monetary amounts. The Pro version allows the nonprofit organization to set multiple amounts on one jar and there is an option for the donor to give at a custom amount. 

While the Pro version is a higher premium to rent, it includes some more advanced features that make the device even more accessible than the Classic version. Specifically, DipJar pro is wireless and runs solely through wifi/hotspots which allows the user to place the device anywhere regardless of outlet location. Additionally, the Pro version takes ApplePay as well as credit and debit cards so if a patron does not have access to their wallet or just does not want to pull out their card they can pay by phone. 

However, even with DipJar Pro’s advanced features both devices generally work the same. Therefore, deciding which product to rent would be based on the criteria the respective nonprofit will be using the technology for, how their space works, and who their audience is. 

Convenience in Giving Leaves Room for New Event Solicitation Strategy 

Both jars make gift transactions accessible and add a gamified experience to the donation process. With the classic version of the jar, patrons can dip many times to reach a higher gift level, creating the feeling of “racking up points” like in a video game. The Pro version offers a “choose your own adventure” feel with its customizable giving options. 

The gamification aspect of these devices make them especially useful for fundraising events. When raising a certain amount of funds in a short amount of time is the goal these jars can be leveraged to encourage guests to give almost like they are playing a game. When an organization can attach tangible mission based achievements to the jars it helps patrons understand what each dip represents. Therefore, by equating each dip with an outcome it encourages the constituents to work together or compete against each other to fund the biggest amount of positive impacts.  

DipJar in the Day-to-Day 

While DipJars have become very popular at fundraising events, this is not the only instance in which they are useful. For nonprofit organizations that have a physical space that welcomes visitors, these jars can be placed in lieu of traditional donation boxes. I, like many people, do not carry cash on me, so being able to give a gift in a cash donation box at a museum or theater is usually not an option for me. However, if an organization has DipJars placed in various parts of their space I would be able to give in a simple and accessible way. 

Unlike a one time cost of a donation box purchase and install, the DipJars do come with a monthly or yearly subscription. Therefore, it would be important if using this technology for the day-to-day to see a return on investment for the rental costs. Strategy around where the jars would be placed and how to attract someone to use it would be vital for these jars to see a large amount of donations. 

Something really special about Dipjars, as I mentioned above, is that organizations can equate dips to a tangible piece of the mission. With this idea in mind it could be prudent to encourage people to dip based around a specific exhibition, play, or project that a nonprofit is producing. In this way patrons can really visualize what they are donating towards. 

Going further, if these prospects are recorded in a customer relationship management (CRM) database, organizations can create a stewardship plan around the patrons who have given through DipJar. For example, if a theater has a DipJar program where all of the dips go towards a new production, then the donors who gave through the jar and are also in the CRM could receive a biannual impact report about the production. 

Moreover, if a nonprofit notices that they have consistent gifts from one patron through DipJar it may be the case that that donor should be moved into portfolio. The point being that with the right strategy behind it DipJar can be leveraged as a day-to-day giving vehicle that could have the potential to create a new pipeline and cultivate prospects.  

DipJar’s Place in Fundraising 

DipJar’s greatest strength is its convenient and accessible transactions. Finding ways to make the act of making a payment easy can be the difference between securing a gift or not. When these jars are used alongside a well thought out fundraising strategy I believe they can be a highly successful giving vehicle.