Campaign Donation Processing

Digital wallets (DWs) are the leading and fastest growing payment method globally. Yet not all DWs are the same. This is my analysis of the different players and business models behind them. The numbers: —  5.2 bn users globally by 2026 —  53% e-com global share ($3.1 tn) —  32% POS global share ($12.1 tn) To understand how DWs differ (strategy, positioning) we need to categorize them. These are my criteria: 1)  The types of players that are behind them: SuperApps, BigTechs, e-commerce players, banks, crypto providers, telecoms, big brands, etc. 2)  How they manage funds: DWs such as Apple or Google Pay (pass-through) don’t have their own balance, others such as PayPal process funding and payments in separate stages, whereas Alipay and WeChat Pay are stored wallets, pre-loaded with funds. 3)  The kind of use cases they support (online or in-store with P2P, C2B, B2C, B2B, C2G and G2C variations). 4)  Their technology: QR-codes (widespread in Asia) vs NFC (popular in Europe) or crypto wallets are examples. 5)  Their target audience: merchants, marketplaces, big brands, niche users, etc. 6)  The payment methods they support: credit or debit cards, bank accounts (A2A transfers), crypto, etc. Based on the above, I have identified 10 distinctive DW plays: 1. SuperApps in Asia that have evolved from simple wallets facilitating payment use cases to huge ecosystem behemoths with multiple plays (consumer, merchant, government, lending, etc).   2. Bigtechs like Apple and Google using DWs as vehicles to monetize their user base and expand beyond their core offering. 3. E-commerce platforms like Amazon, Mercado Pago or Rakuten looking to boost their business and create new growth opportunities. 4. Ecosystem players in local or regional markets that use DWs to bring payments, digital platforms and mobile banking functionalities under one umbrella. 5. Banks looking to compete with new value-chain challengers (fintechs, platforms) on their own (front-end) customer-facing game. 6. A2A players like Venmo or Zelle focusing on social features, P2P payments, instant transfers, bank integration and competitive pricing to expand their offering. 7. Niche players using customization, vertical focus, rewards and loyalty programs and specialized offerings to service specific use cases (i.e. gambling, gaming, FX). 8. Crypto & blockchain players using DWs to bridge the gap with the fiat world and to offer new use cases. 9. Big brands like Starbucks leveraging DWs to build closed-loop FS ecosystems. 10. Telecoms in Africa employing DWs as a replacement for core-banking infrastructure.   DWs’ spectacular rise is not only democratizing access to payments and to broader FS faster than any other point in history but it is also forcing players across the value chain (providers, merchants, banks, platforms, fintechs) to re-think their entire positioning and strategy. Opinions and graphics: Panagiotis Kriaris Subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dkqhnxdg

Basically, there are 3️⃣ distinct groups of B2C wallet apps. Let’s dive in👇 1️⃣ Pass-through wallets; commonly designed as mobile-first, keep tokens that link to your credit and debit cards instead of storing sensitive data or money directly. They don’t take part in moving funds. Once a transaction is initiated, such apps just pass encrypted information to a merchant — hence, the name. In the course of further payment processing, the token travels to a payment network to be decrypted and checked against the actual card or account information in the issuing bank. After verification, the payment gets approved and sent to a merchant’s acquiring bank. So, only the network and an issuing bank will know the actual card or account details. Known for high security, pass-through wallets act essentially as extensions of credit and debit cards, so they are more widespread in regions with high card adoption, such as Europe and North America. Major examples: Apple Pay, Samsung Wallet, Chase Mobile app 2️⃣ Staged wallets; also house tokenized payment details but don’t transmit them anywhere. Instead, they perform transactions in two stages. At the funding stage, the wallet acquires money from a customer’s bank account, credit line, or other source. Then, at the payment stage, it sends funds to a merchant. In this scenario, a wallet provider can make additional fraud assessments. At the same time, a payment network or card issuer may know nothing about details of a particular transaction that are disclosed during operations with pass-through solutions. Staged options often support peer-to-peer transfers and cryptocurrencies and allow for storing funds right in the wallet’s account. Major examples: PayPal, Google Wallet (former Google Pay), Cash App (the US and UK only) 3️⃣ Stored digital wallets; work as prepaid cards. Before making a transaction, a user must load money to a wallet’s balance from a bank account, debit or credit card, via peer-to-peer transfer, etc. The availability of funding sources differs across providers, depending on the location and targeted users. A merchant withdraws money directly from the wallet. Stored wallets are especially popular in unbanked and underbanked countries since they enable people to deposit money without having a bank account. Major examples: Apple Cash (US only), Alipay (China’s most popular), WeChat Pay, Paytm Wallet (India’s largest platform for instant payments). The tables below made by AltexSoft compares several global digital wallets👇 I highly recommend reading the complete deep dive article on this topic to learn all about this: https://lnkd.in/eU5Zbd5w Find this helpful? [ 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 ] Anything to add about this subject? [ 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 ] Nice story, Marcel. Next! [ 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 ] #digitalwallet #fintech #bankingapp #applepay #paypal #payments #paytech #digitalpayments #fintechindustry #financialtechnology

Crowdfunding in 2025? Pro Tip 3 of 10 👇 Rewards That Work. “Your rewards should excite, not confuse.” The best campaigns offer rewards that align with their audience’s passions while supporting a company's wider commercial ambitions. Done right, rewards can elevate a campaign to legendary status. They drive investment, create customer loyalty/power users, and amplify a brand’s growth goals. How? ✅ Align rewards with your commercial goals. Are you trying to grow your subscriber base? Push a specific product? Build a group to give feedback on product releases. Use rewards as a tool to amplify these objectives. ✅ Make them accessible. While a fully-expensed private jet to Vegas might sound fun, the reality is that smaller-ticket investors are the lifeblood of most campaigns with great momentum. Focus on rewards that appeal to them. ✅ Anchor to your average basket size. If you’re a consumer brand, design rewards around your average transaction value plus a bit. This keeps rewards aligned with what your customers already find reasonable, making the equity (+ potential EIS/SEIS) an irresistible value add. ✅ Hit the sweet spot. The most effective rewards typically fall between £1 and £5k. Rewards in this range are aspirational without being unattainable for your audience. Define your own sweet spot and make that specific tier unmissable. ✅ Leverage exclusivity. If you offer subscriptions, consider giving a free exclusive period as part of the equity package. Your goal is to grow your subscriber base—and once they’re paying shareholders, they’re far less likely to churn. Extra Pro Tip: If it’s your first round, think about creating founding investor perks. A unique tag in their profile, a different app colour, or special recognition can go a long way in making backers feel valued. Brands like Monzo and Citymapper did this brilliantly—check out the screenshots below for inspiration. See you tomorrow for tip 4! (Starting to regret committing to 10 of these....) Check out www.get-edge.co.uk #CrowdfundingTips #CrowdfundingRewards #CommunityBuilding

Wallet apps: how do they work? There are three distinct groups of B2C wallet apps — pass-through, staged, and stored. Pass-through wallets, commonly designed as mobile-first, keep tokens that link to your credit and debit cards instead of storing sensitive data or money directly. They don’t take part in moving funds. Once a transaction is initiated, such apps just pass encrypted information to a merchant — hence, the name. In the course of further payment processing, the token travels to a payment network to be decrypted and checked against the actual card or account information in the issuing bank. After verification, the payment gets approved and sent to a merchant’s acquiring bank. So, only the network and an issuing bank will know the actual card or account details. Known for high security, pass-through wallets act essentially as extensions of credit and debit cards, so they are more widespread in regions with high card adoption, such as Europe and North America. Major examples: Apple Pay, Samsung Wallet, Chase Mobile app Staged wallets also house tokenized payment details but don’t transmit them anywhere. Instead, they perform transactions in two stages. At the funding stage, the wallet acquires money from a customer’s bank account, credit line, or other source. Then, at the payment stage, it sends funds to a merchant. In this scenario, a wallet provider can make additional fraud assessments. At the same time, a payment network or card issuer may know nothing about details of a particular transaction that are disclosed during operations with pass-through solutions. Staged options often support peer-to-peer transfers and cryptocurrencies and allow for storing funds right in the wallet’s account. Major examples: PayPal, Google Wallet (former Google Pay), Cash App (the US and UK only) Stored digital wallets work as prepaid cards. Before making a transaction, a user must load money to a wallet’s balance from a bank account, debit or credit card, via peer-to-peer transfer, etc. The availability of funding sources differs across providers, depending on the location and targeted users. A merchant withdraws money directly from the wallet. Stored wallets are especially popular in unbanked and underbanked countries since they enable people to deposit money without having a bank account. Major examples: Apple Cash (US only), Alipay (China’s most popular e-wallet), WeChat Pay, Paytm Wallet (India’s largest platform for instant payments). Which wallet type and which brands, in particular, should travel companies care about in the first place? It largely depends on where their target audiences are. 👉 Subscribe for more insights https://lnkd.in/d94JgWBU Source AltexSoft #fintech #digitalwallets #payments Leda Florian Alex Ali

The most common mistake in high value fundraising events? They are charity led, rather than donor led. If you are planning a major donor event, you'll be looking for: ➡️ A venue with wow factor that make sense for the cause ➡️ Amazing speakers ➡️ Inviting a community that will enjoy each others company and carry the social side of the event ➡️ Reaching head and heart through storytelling ➡️ Demonstrate significant impact and collaboration (major donors didn't get where they are by aiming small). ➡️ Peer led, not charity led: have donors leading the event and inviting their peers to come. It's more effective than the usual charity ‘pitch’. Why? ✅ Hearing your friends say why they support a cause and why you should to is more appealing than hearing a professional speak about a cause. What would you add?

𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬 2.0 — adding core banking capabilities 👇 The world of payments is evolving rapidly. Digital Wallets 2.0 are not just about storing money — it's a comprehensive financial hub integrating payments, identity management, security, and even digital assets. —— ► 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 🔸 𝐈𝐒𝐎 20022 – Replaces legacy payment messaging formats with a data-rich, structured, and standardized approach for payments across banks, PSPs, and even blockchain networks. 👉 Enhances interoperability between networks, including real-time payments and digital wallets. 👉 Enables data enrichment, allowing financial institutions to analyze transaction data for fraud prevention, compliance, and better customer insights. 🔸 𝐒𝐂𝐓 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 (SEPA Instant Payments) – Mandates that all banks and PSPs offering standard euro credit transfers must also provide instant payments within 10 seconds. This requires banks to process payments 24/7 and introduces parity. 🔸 𝐏𝐒𝐃3 & 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (PSR) – PSD3 builds on PSD2 by reinforcing open banking, fraud prevention, and consumer protection while introducing new regulatory frameworks for fintechs and non-bank players.
Introducing: 👉 IBAN Name Matching 👉 Fraud Information Sharing: between Banks & PSPs 👉 Better API Performance & Open Banking Evolution 👉 Expands Fintech Access —— ► 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬 x 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 — The Functionalities 1️⃣ 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 & 𝐃𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 — Users can view, manage, and track incoming and outgoing fund transfer requests in real-time. 2️⃣ 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬 — Users can send money to existing payees (both internal & domestic) or to new accounts within the same PSP. 3️⃣ 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬 — Users can fund their wallets from: 👉 Their own bank accounts. 👉 Other digital wallets (via SEPA Instant Request-To-Pay). 👉 External sources — credit cards, debit cards, or bank transfers. 4️⃣ 𝐏𝐞𝐞𝐫-𝐭𝐨-𝐏𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 (Wallet-to-Wallet) — Users can transfer money between wallets within the same PSP using a mobile number 5️⃣ 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 & 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 👉 Users can access contract data, including IBANs, identity details, and primary bank account information. 👉 Supports multi-currency accounts for holding different forms of money (including stablecoins). 👉 Enables reward points, interchange commission management, and electronic bill payments —— ► 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 For banks, fintechs, and businesses looking to stay competitive in digital finance, Digital Wallet 2.0 is no longer optional — it’s a necessity. 🔸 Faster Transactions
 🔸 Regulatory Compliance
 🔸 New Revenue Streams —— Source: Tuum, KPMG, Mia-FinTech ► Sign up to 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐬 : https://lnkd.in/g5cDhnjC ► Marcel van Oost and Connecting the dots in payments...

You spent $15,000 to acquire 100 new donors who gave an average of $75 each. Your 'successful' campaign lost $7,500. Here's the math your board presentation didn't include: Campaign cost: $15,000 New donor revenue: $7,500 Year one result: -$7,500 But acquisition is an investment, right? Let's look at year two. With your 45% retention rate, 55 donors won't give again. The remaining 45 donors need to average $167 each just to break even on your two-year investment. Now consider this alternative: Your database contains 200 lapsed donors who previously gave $200 annually. A $3,000 reactivation campaign targeting these former supporters could realistically bring back 40 donors at their historical giving levels. That's $8,000 in year one revenue from a $3,000 investment - a $5,000 profit instead of a $7,500 loss. The insight isn't that donor acquisition is bad. It's that donor acquisition without profitability analysis is expensive guesswork. Your most profitable growth strategy might not be finding new donors. It might be reconnecting with the ones who already know and trust your mission. The question isn't whether you can afford to invest in donor acquisition. It's whether you can afford not to measure whether that investment actually pays off. Because in fundraising, the most successful campaigns aren't always the ones that acquire the most donors. They're the ones that generate the most profit.

Budgets help you raise money, not just spend it. And financials are part of your messaging too. Because “a well-communicated budget is a fundraising tool,” says Robin Bruce at Dovetail Impact Foundation. That’s why our brand training with Dovetail grantees now includes a financial module. Here are six budgeting ideas for your brand: 1️⃣ 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 Tell how your expenses are necessary for the mission and vision. 2️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 Link budget elements to positive outcomes to make the financials compelling. 3️⃣ 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 Share budget constraints that motivate donors to contribute towards these shortfalls. 4️⃣ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 Compare past and present budgets to demonstrate growth and increased impact. 5️⃣ 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 Employ visual aids like infographics to make complex financial data more engaging. 6️⃣ 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 Break the overhead myth and never perpetuate the dangerous 100% model (see my related post in the comments). They say a budget is a moral document. Meaning, “it tells us, mathematically, what areas, issues, things, or people are most important to the creators of that budget, and which are least important,” says Jim Wallis. So dare to think about budgeting differently. It isn’t just numbers. It’s a fundraising narrative. 💪🏽💛

INCENTIVIZING CHARITABLE GIVING: WHAT WORKS? In this new article, Hannibal Thai & I summarize over 40 years of research on the use of incentives to promote charitable giving. We identify what works and which tactics fundraisers should avoid. For the fundraisers and nonprofit managers, the key takeaways are: * Giving can be incentivized by either material or social rewards, and by offers where the benefit accrues to either the donor themselves or some other. * Tax incentives typically encourage donations. * Matching offers – where donors' gifts are matched by additional support from a lead donor or grant – effectively lift donations. In general, larger matches work better than smaller matches, but the point of diminishing returns is somewhere between a 1:1 and 3:1 match. A 1:1 match is likely ideal for maximizing bang for buck. * Match offers are more effective than rebate offers (where the donor gets a portion of their donation back). * Gifts, whether unconditional premiums or conditional thank you gifts, are generally not effective and sometimes even backfire. In other words, offering such gifts does not generate higher rates of giving and sometimes even results in lower levels of giving. We do not recommend that fundraisers use gift incentives in fundraising appeals. * Social rewards – such as the effect of donation visibility, recognition for certain donation levels, and invitations to prestige events – are more motivating for men and people with a higher need for social approval. * Finally, I do not often recommend that busy fundraising professionals read my detailed research papers, but this one is probably worth your time (see link below). For the scholars, we generate a new conceptual model for thinking about incentives that classify them as material versus social in nature and self- versus other-benefiting. We also summarize the existing corpus to identify significant gaps and present a research agenda with four propositions that warrant further investigation. You can read the full article (it's free to access) online in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly: https://lnkd.in/gH2Z6Dw4

How I helped Phantom Pen raise $231,000 in just 30 days—and why working with large marketing agencies isn't always the answer. When we launched Phantom Pen, it wasn’t just about putting out ads or sending out a few emails. It was about building a strategy from the ground up and staying hands-on every step of the way. Here's how we did it: → Personal Involvement Over Agencies: Unlike working with large agencies, I was personally involved in every detail of the campaign. Transparency and availability were key. The difference? Constant feedback and real-time optimization that made all the difference. → Built a Strong Pre-Launch Funnel: Before we even launched, we had already built a high-converting lead generation funnel. The result? $75K raised on Day 1. → Launch Strategies That Worked: It wasn’t just about the product; it was about launching it right. The right messaging, the right timing, and the right offer—together, they drove momentum from the very first second. → Reward Strategy to Maintain Momentum: Keeping backers excited was a priority. I helped refine a reward strategy that not only kept the momentum going, but also added value through creative bundles and Christmas offers.   → Refined Key Message in Video: I also worked closely with the team to make sure the Kickstarter video conveyed the product’s true value. A powerful message and a great video? A game-changer. When you’re running a campaign, it’s not just about doing things—it’s about doing them right. Every step counts, and being involved at every stage is what leads to success. A successful $231,000 campaign that was more than just a financial win—it was a blueprint for how smaller, agile teams can outperform the big players. Ready to learn how to launch a successful campaign from scratch? Stay tuned—I’m about to share the key steps that worked for us. #Entrepreneurship #CrowdfundingSuccess #MarketingTips #StartupJourney #PhantomPen #BusinessGrowth #Kickstarter #ProductLaunch