Mayo engineer launches contactless fundraising service to help charities raise money

Mayo engineer and local sports club member Luke Alder has launched Bucket Collection Ireland, an innovative fundraising service designed to help clubs, schools, charities and community organisations increase donations by accepting contactless card payments alongside traditional cash collections.

The launch comes at a time when payment habits across Ireland continue to change.

According to the Central Bank of Ireland, Irish consumers made more than 3.3 billion card payments in 2025, representing a 9.8% increase on the previous year.

The total value of card payments also increased by 23% to €186.85 billion, highlighting the continued growth of contactless and digital payments.

Having grown up involved in local GAA and soccer clubs, Luke recognised a growing challenge facing fundraising organisations, while bucket collections remain one of the most effective ways to raise money, fewer people now carry cash.

"Having been involved with local clubs for many years, I have seen first-hand the incredible work volunteers do to fundraise for their communities.

"However, many people who genuinely want to donate simply don't have cash with them any more.

"Bucket Collection Ireland was created to help clubs, schools and charities adapt to changing payment habits while keeping the simplicity and community spirit of traditional bucket collections."

Bucket Collection Ireland provides organisations with ready-to-use fundraising kits containing contactless card readers, collection buckets and simple operating instructions.

The service allows organisations to accept both cash and card donations at fundraising events without having to purchase equipment, set up payment systems or manage additional technology.

The service operates on a simple success-based model. There is no upfront cost, no equipment purchase required and no additional expense for clubs or charities.

Bucket Collection Ireland retains 20% of card donations processed through the service, which covers the cost of providing equipment, preparing fundraising kits and supporting organisations before and during their events.

This means organisations only contribute when they successfully receive card donations. For example, if a supporter makes a €10 card donation, €8 goes directly to the organisation while €2 helps cover the cost of providing the service.

"Our aim is to make contactless fundraising accessible to every club and charity, regardless of size or resources. We want to remove barriers and allow organisations to capture donations from supporters who may otherwise have walked past simply because they didn't have cash."

Each fundraising kit is professionally prepared before events, allowing volunteers to focus on engaging with supporters while Bucket Collection Ireland manages the equipment, setup and support.

"Our goal is simple — if we can help a club collect even a few hundred euro more at each fundraiser from people who would otherwise have been unable to donate, then we are making a real difference.

"Every additional donation can help provide better facilities, equipment and opportunities for local communities."

As the business continues to develop, Bucket Collection Ireland is open to working with strategic partners, community organisations, businesses and investors who share its vision of modernising fundraising across Ireland.

"We believe there is a significant opportunity to help clubs and charities nationwide adapt to changing payment habits. We are open to conversations with organisations and partners who can help us expand the service and bring contactless fundraising to more communities."

Bucket Collection Ireland has recently launched its website and social media platforms.

It website is www.bucketcollectionireland.ie