For churches in the United States
Welcome to GoodBox
Everything you need for your first weeks: setting up your terminals, briefing your team, and how gifts reach your church.
Setting up, step by step
Most churches are ready in an afternoon. Start a week or two before you plan to launch.
Unpack and switch on
Each terminal arrives with at least 50% charge, so you can switch it on straight away. It’s already set up for your church, with nothing to install.
Log in to the GoodBox Portal
Log in at portal.goodbox.com with the details from your welcome email. This is where you’ll see every gift and every payout.
Make a test gift
Give $1 on each terminal with your own card, then check it appears in the GoodBox Portal.
Choose where each terminal goes
Put terminals where people already pause: the welcome desk, a giving basket at the offering or offertory, or a podium at the entrance. Check the signal in each spot; if it’s weak, the terminal can still take gifts offline.
Name your terminals in the Portal
In the GoodBox Portal, open Manage Devices and give each terminal a name that says where it lives, such as “Welcome desk”, “Collections” or “Candles”. You can also see whether each one is online and when it last connected.
Agree who looks after them
Name who keeps terminals charged, who brings out and puts away any used in giving baskets, and who reconciles gifts each week.
Brief your team and announce it
Share the greeter or usher briefing, and use the ready-made announcements for the pulpit or Mass, the bulletin, newsletter and email. Both are in your launch toolkit.
Launch, then check your first payout
On launch day, ask greeters and ushers to point people to the terminals and help anyone who’s unsure. Your first payout arrives on the Wednesday after.
Day to day
Stands and podiums
- Can stay in the same spot all the time, even when no one is around
- Visitors can give any day the church is open, not just at services
- Usually kept plugged in; if not, charge it overnight
Giving baskets
- Bring the terminal out for the offering or offertory
- Pass it with the basket as usual
- Put it away safely and back on charge afterwards
Keep people giving
- Mention it briefly from the front
- Donors can scan the QR code for a receipt
- Tell the office about anything unusual
If something goes wrong
The screen is blank
Check the terminal is switched on and charged.
There’s no signal
The terminal can still take gifts in offline mode. Carry on as normal; gifts are processed once it reconnects. We recommend reconnecting it within 24 to 48 hours, for example by moving it somewhere with Wi-Fi or signal.
A gift doesn’t appear in the Portal
Check the terminal’s status and last connection time under Manage Devices in the Portal. Gifts taken offline appear once the terminal reconnects. If one is still missing, email support@goodbox.com with the date, time, amount and terminal name.
It still isn’t working
Put it safely aside, use the plate or basket instead, and email support@goodbox.com after the service.
Payouts, fees and receipts
Payouts
Gifts are paid into your church’s bank account every Wednesday for the previous week’s giving. Each gift and payout is listed in the GoodBox Portal.
Card fees
2.75% plus $0.20 per gift. If your church pays the fee, it’s taken before the payout. If donors cover it, it’s added on top of their gift and you receive the full amount.
Receipts
Donors who scan the QR code after giving receive a receipt automatically. For gifts of $250 or more, check your receipts meet US acknowledgment rules with your accountant.
Reconcile each Wednesday’s payout against the previous week’s gifts, and record it as a separate line alongside your plate or collection count. The treasurer and parish office sheet in your launch toolkit has the full steps.
Resources for your church
Choose the launch toolkit for your church. Each has a launch checklist, announcements, a team briefing and a sheet for whoever handles the money. If yours isn’t listed, use the toolkit for all other churches.
Launch toolkit
Wording for the pulpit, bulletin and newsletter, a greeter and usher briefing, and a treasurer’s sheet.
Download (PDF) →Launch toolkit
Wording for Mass, the bulletin and second collections, an usher briefing, and a parish office sheet.
Download (PDF) →Launch toolkit
For any other church: a launch checklist, announcements for the service, bulletin and email, a greeter and usher briefing, and a treasurer’s sheet.
Download (PDF) →Contactless giving in practice
Our guide to placement, your team, what to say, fees, records and common concerns.
Download the guide (PDF) →Terminals, accessories and artwork
Extra terminals are $175 each plus $15 a month. Countertop stands are $75, giving baskets $20 and steel podiums $750. New artwork, for example for a special appeal, is quoted separately.
Order more from our team →View artwork packages (PDF) →