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How to use the Givebutter mobile app
How to use the Givebutter mobile app

Accept in-person donations, check in event attendees, and get live transaction updates, right from your mobile device — all for free.

Alyssa avatar
Written by Alyssa
Updated over a week ago

The Givebutter app is currently for use by Givebutter account users (admins or editors) – team members, auction bidders, and donors will need to log in on a browser to manage their information.

Upon opening the app, you'll be prompted to log into your Givebutter account. After logging in, you'll be directed to your dashboard, where you'll see your campaigns listed. If you haven't already, please download the app:

mobile app overview

Click on a campaign listed in your dashboard to view a list of transactions.

  • Form and Page campaigns will display a list of donations

  • Event campaigns will display donations and tickets

You can also view information about a specific transaction by clicking on it!

App settings ⚙️

The Settings page allows you to:

Toggle Givebutter accounts 🧑‍🤝‍🧑

If you are an Admin on multiple Givebutter Accounts, you can switch between them from the app, without logging out! All you need to do is click the dropdown menu bar under the Settings page title.

connect card reader

Scanning tickets 🎟️

The ticket scanner works by using your mobile device's camera to scan the QR code on a donor's ticket. To check in guests using the ticket scanner:

  • Click the blue + button at the bottom of your screen.

  • Select Scan Tickets.

  • You can use the options in the upper right corner to enable/disable sound confirmation, as well as your flashlight, if you're scanning tickets in the dark!

  • Ensure that the relevant campaign is selected at the top of the screen.

  • Point the camera at the QR code on a ticket. The ticket will automatically be checked in!

scanning tickets

When you use the ticket scanner for the first time, the app may request permission to use your mobile device's camera. Once permission is granted, you can use the ticket scanner – you won't be asked again.

Manual ticket check in ✏️

If you're not able to scan the QR code on a ticket, you can check guests in manually using our manual entry feature! To manually check in guests:

  • Click the blue + button at the bottom of your screen.

  • Select Scan Tickets.

  • Click Manually Enter Ticket.

  • Use the search bar to locate the ticket you'd like to check in. You can search by:

    • Ticket holder name

    • Ticket holder email address

    • Ticket short-code (ie. A0001)

manually entering a ticket

Ticket holder and contact/donor information sometimes differ, for example, if a contact purchases a ticket for someone else. You must search for the ticket holder's information, not the billing information entered at checkout.

Manual check in from the a campaign's Tickets tab

You can also manually check in tickets from the dashboard. From the dashboard, select an Event campaign, and select the tickets tab. Swipe a ticket to the left side of your screen, or click [...] to see a Check-in button!

check in a ticket from the tickets page

You can also Uncheck tickets the same way, just swipe left on a checked-in ticket! They will then appear as "Not Present". This will not revoke or refund tickets.

Quick Donations 💰

Using a card reader or tap to pay, you can accept in-person donations! Quick Donation transactions are charged the standard 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction rate, plus a 1% platform fee. These fees are combined and appear on the Quick Donation checkout page.

  • Click the blue + button at the bottom of your screen, and select Quick Donation.

  • Ensure that the relevant campaign is selected at the top of the screen.

  • Enter the donation amount, or select from the pre-populated amounts.

quick donation
  • Select an option for processing fees. This amount is 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction, plus a 1% platform fee. The fee amount will appear on the right side. This is editable regardless of the fee options chosen in the campaign settings.

    • Toggling On: The fee amount will be added to the donation amount, and the donor will be charged for the donation + processing fee.

    • Toggling Off: The donor will only be charged the donation amount, and the fee will come out of the funds donated, once processed.

processing fee options
  • Add a contact for the donation. You can click Search for a supporter if they have donated previously, or have already purchased a ticket — alternatively you can click the blue + button to create a new contact.

    • If you create a new contact, an email address is necessary to send the donor an automated receipt.

If you click + > Quick Donation while viewing a donor's contact, the transaction will auto-populate with their information.

selecting a contact
  • Click Finalize Payment when you're ready to process the donation.

  • If you have a card reader, you can accept a card payment via chip, contactless, or swipe. If you are using tap to pay, you can accept the payment via contactless card payment, or digital wallet options.

Tap to Pay on iPhone 📱

Tap to Pay on iPhone allows you to collect secure donations via the Givebutter iOS app, without needing to purchase a card reader! Tap to Pay on iPhone makes it possible to accept in-person payments from:

  • physical credit or debit cards

  • Apple Pay and other NFC-based digital wallets (via iPhone-to-iPhone payments)

Tap to Pay on iPhone is supported on iPhone XS or later, running iOS 16.0 or later. You will need to enable this option when prompted in the app. Read more about Tap to Pay on iPhone and how it works! →

  • First, ensure that you have a Primary Address set under Account > About > Address. If you don't, you'll be prompted to add one before you can begin. This cannot be done on the app — this must be added on the mobile or desktop site.

account address
  • After you've entered your Quick Donation (including setting your fee options, and selecting a contact), click Finalize Payment at the bottom of the screen.

finalize payment
  • Tap to Pay on iPhone should display as a payment option, along with Cash and Check. Click on Tap to Pay on iPhone.

tap to pay option

If you're seeing an option for Credit or debit card instead, this is either because you've already connected a card reader, or Tap to Pay on iPhone is not supported on your device. You cannot use to pay and a card reader simultaneously – you can switch between these options in your app Settings.

  • Tap the donor's card or iPhone against your iPhone. (Your screen should include an area that says Hold Here to Pay.)

tap to pay
  • When the payment is processed, a thank you message will appear. A receipt will be automatically emailed to the donor. You can either continue to process another donation, or return to your app dashboard.

confirmation screen

Creating contacts 📖

You'll need to create new contacts if you are collecting in-person donations from people who haven't donated to your Givebutter account before. You can create new contacts when you enter a new Quick Donation or from the Contacts page.

create a new contact
  • Click the Contacts icon in the menu at the bottom of the screen.

  • Click + in the upper right corner of the page.

  • Enter the contact's first and last name, email, and phone number. (An email address is necessary to send the donor an automated receipt.)

  • Click Done in the upper right corner to create the contact.

FAQ 🤔

How do I download the Givebutter app? Is the app free?

For iOS, you can find the Givebutter App in the App Store. For Android, you can find the Givebutter App in Google Play. The app is free to download in both formats.

Is tap to pay secure?

Yes! All payments, including tap to pay payments, are securely backed by our payment processor, Stripe. Tap to pay transactions are processed in a way that does not include sensitive personal information, such as names, card numbers, security codes, and expiration dates. You can also check out the tap to pay FAQ in Stripe's documentation.

Tap to pay isn't appearing on my Givebutter app as an option.

You may not be using a supported device – tap to pay on iPhone requires an iPhone XS or later, running iOS 16.0 or later in the United States. If you are using an older iPhone (iPhone X or earlier), tap to pay will not appear as an option. Android devices running the Givebutter mobile app do not currently support tap to pay.

I'm trying to use Tap to Pay on iPhone, but it's asking me to manage my Apple ID.

This is how Apple enables Tap to Pay – your Apple ID is used for this, so you'll need one to set it up. Funds are never sent to your Apple ID, they will still be sent to your Givebutter account like all other transactions.

Will donations entered in the app appear on my campaign page?

Yes! Any transactions added via Quick Donation will appear in your campaign's Supporter Feed and Live Display, if you're using it.

What features are not yet available on the app?

  • Crediting a team or team member – you can credit donations manually via the desktop or mobile app.

  • Tips are not currently supported on the app.

  • Team members cannot use the app to manage their team member profiles. This must be done on the mobile or desktop browser.

  • Custom donation amounts and minimums – Quick Donation will populate default donation amounts of $25, $50, $100, and $250, and Other.

  • You cannot enter card details manually.

  • You cannot edit or delete contacts from the app. This must be done on the mobile or desktop browser.

  • You cannot currently sell tickets or take auction payments.

  • You cannot donate anonymously on the app.

Why can't I login on the app?

It's likely that you are a team member, auction bidder, or donor. Only Givebutter account users (admins or editors) will be able to login on the Givebutter app. Please login on a desktop or mobile browser instead.


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