Tap-to-Give is now available to use as a Subsplash Giving customer. Imagine a member of your community being able to simply tap their phone on a sticker on the chair in front of them to be prompted to give. This is all easily available and we are here to show you the next steps. Using Near-Field Communication (NFC) Technology along with your Subsplash giving link, it's possible!
NFC Technology
If you have ever used Apple or Google's tap-to-pay feature when making an in-person purchase, then you've used NFC technology! Near-field communication (NFC) devices help transmit data to your Apple or Android device. Think of NFC as a fancy QR code—it takes a user to a specific website, but there is no need to turn on your camera. With Tap-to-Give, your donors can simply tap their smartphone on an NFC tag or sticker (on the back of a seat, at a kiosk, etc.) and instantly access your Subsplash Giving page. From there, they can choose the amount and payment method—credit, debit, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more!
Follow the simple steps below to Program an NFC tag to share your Subsplash Giving link!
Tap-to-Give Set Up
There are two ways to set up Tap-to-Give! Custom NFC devices can be purchased with your ministry's logo and the Subsplash Giving Link prewritten on the device. Secondly, you can purchase blank NFC devices that require manual programming but are often more cost-effective.
Option 1: Purchasing Custom NFC Devices
There are many NFC services online; however, Tag Tap and Tapitag are top-rated companies that produce custom stickers, tags, and much more. These companies will also pre-program the device with your Subsplash Giving link!
Some manufacturers may not allow you to reprogram the device with another URL or action. Therefore, if you foresee reusing the devices for different purposes (e.g. changing the preprogrammed URL to direct donors to a seasonal Christmas fund) you may want to contact the manufacturer beforehand.
Locating Your Subsplash Giving Link
Locating Your Subsplash Giving Link
Navigate to your Subsplash Dashboard and select Giving.
Next, select Welcome on the left-hand menu.
Under the header, Share Your Giving Page, select Copy. You have now successfully copied your Subsplash Giving link!
Option 2: Purchasing Blank NFC Devices
Blank NFC tags are a great and budget-friendly option as well! Purchasing these tags will require you to program the device with your Subsplash Giving link manually.
Programing Blank NFC Devices
Programing Blank NFC Devices
Some companies may have a preferred app to program their devices with your Subsplash Giving link. However, NFC Tools (Apple / Google) is a great free and universal NFC programming app. Below is a step-by-step process on how to obtain your Subsplash Giving Link and program the NFC device.
To keep your links secure, experts suggest that you lock down each of your NFC tags with strong passwords. This will prevent someone from reprogramming the tag with links to a fake giving page or other malicious site.
Locate your Subsplash Giving Link
Navigate to your Subsplash Dashboard and select Giving.
Next, select Welcome on the left-hand menu.
Under the header, Share Your Giving Page, select Copy. You have now successfully copied your Subsplash Giving link!
Program the NFC Device
Download the NFC Tools app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. The following screenshots were taken using an Apple device. Other devices may look different; however, the process should be similar.
Open the NFC Tools App and select Write.
Next, select Add a Record
Select Custom URL/URI. This will allow the device to work properly on all smartphones.
Insert your Subsplash Giving link and make sure to include https:// at the beginning. Once added, select OK in the upper right corner.
Select Write/# Bytes. NFC devices have different storage limits, therefore, the number of bytes shown during this step will need to be smaller than the maximum bytes allowed by your specific NFC device.
Place the top back portion of your phone close to the Device.
Once the phone recognizes the device, the programming with begin. If done successfully, a confirmation message will appear on your phone.
Congratulations, your device has been programmed and is ready for use!
NFC Security
While not necessary, we highly recommend securing your NFC devices. This will prevent malicious individuals from overwriting your URL and directing users to another site.
Most consumer NFC devices can be secured with a password and fall into the categories of EV1 chips and NTAG21x series tags. Earlier in this article, we linked a blank NFC device, this device is NTAG215 and falls into the NTAG21x series. If you are looking to branch out and look at other models, the following devices fall into the NTAG21x series: NTAG210, NTAG212, NTAG213, NTAG215, NTAG216, and newer NTAG210μ and NTAG213 TT. Additionally, custom tags from Tag Tap and Tapitag can also be secured.
Security FAQ
Security FAQ
Can Someone Hack My NFC Device When it's Password Protected?
While this is possible, it is very unlikely, especially when using a strong password. NFC devices are not connected to the internet; they are closed-circuit devices. This means that they cannot be accessed or tampered with remotely over the internet. Therefore, a malicious attacker would need to be a few inches away from the device and guess your password. If an individual were to guess the password, they could only change the contents of the device, which can be problematic; however, they would not gain any personal information of anyone who used the device.
How Should I Choose a Password?
Picking a strong password is an important practice for all of your technological devices and accounts. We recommend the following criteria when choosing a password to secure the NFC devices.
Length: 12-14+ characters
Character types: a combination of alphabetical lower and uppercase letters, along with numbers and symbols
Uniqueness: choose a new password that has not been previously used
Randomness: a random string of mixed character types
What if I Forget My Password?
Unfortunately, if your password is forgotten, there is no way to recover it. The device can still be scanned and used; however, you cannot reprogram the device without the password.
How Do I Remove the Password from the Device?
Securing Your NFC Devices
Securing Your NFC Devices
These steps can be completed after you have programmed the device with the URL of your choice!
