This new charity donation platform makes it easier than ever to donate to meaningful causes this holiday season. Based in London, Common Pence consists of a device that allows commuters to donate their leftover subway credit to charity. Created by UK designer Zander Whitehurst, the system works specifically with London's Oyster travel pass by rerouting its leftover funds and giving them to that month's featured organization.
The idea is that 50p is transferred to a central fund for the charity when you wave one of three devices (Oyster pass, contactless credit card or NFC smartphone) in front of a Common Pence panel. This fund goes to the selected charity once a month, which can be tracked online or via mobile app. You can also use the charity donation platform by holding your card up instead of tapping, so its remaining amount is drained.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Mobile Donation Platforms
- The rise of handheld donation devices like Common Pence opens up opportunities for the development of mobile donation platforms that make it easy for people to contribute to charities on the go.
- Contactless Payment Integration
- The inclusion of contactless credit card and NFC smartphone functionality in handheld donation devices presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for businesses in the payment processing industry to integrate donation capabilities into their platforms.
- Transparent Donation Tracking
- Common Pence's online and mobile app tracking of donated funds showcases the potential for creating transparent donation tracking systems that allow donors to see exactly where their contributions are going, presenting an opportunity for technology companies to develop similar platforms.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Charitable Organizations
- Implementing handheld donation devices like Common Pence can revolutionize fundraising efforts for charitable organizations, making it easier for them to collect donations from commuters and engage a wider audience.
- Payment Processing
- The integration of contactless payment functionality in handheld donation devices offers an innovative opportunity for the payment processing industry to expand their services and tap into the growing demand for convenient donation methods.
- Technology Companies
- Creating transparent donation tracking systems, like Common Pence's online and mobile app feature, presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for technology companies to develop platforms that enhance transparency and accountability in the donation process.
