Overview
Donatis Payments provides a secure platform that enables the public to make electronic donations in memory of loved ones via online obituary notices. Donatis Payments charges no subscription or sign-up fees. The only fees we charge are a small deduction on the donation.
We partner with Unipaas, a PCI and DSS-compliant financial services provider registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as an Authorised Payment Institution (No. 929994). Unipaas handles the processing and disbursement of donations directly to the nominated charity’s bank account, ensuring the funds never leave a regulated environment.
The Charity Onboarding Process
FCA regulations require Unipaas to verify the identity and legitimacy of charities before processing payments. This verification process is part of compliance with the Payment Services Regulations 2017, which mandate robust anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) procedures to prevent fraud, ensure financial integrity, and maintain compliance with UK financial regulations. To facilitate the process of “onboarding” a charity to the Unipaas platform and to enable funds to be transferred, the following information is required:
- A contact person within the organisation and an email address for correspondence
- Banking details for the account to which the funds will be transferred
- A copy of a redacted bank statement, paying-in slip, or cancelled cheque as proof of ownership of the bank account
- A copy of suitable personal identification for the principal trustee*
* a principal trustee is the CEO/Chairperson or the Treasurer / person responsible for managing or delegating the tax reporting and payments for the trust.
Data Protection And Information Handling Terms
We collect and store this information on behalf of Unipaas. Once the uploaded files have been verified, they will automatically be deleted, and the contact person will be informed that the process is complete by email. The charity will also be granted access to an online information portal, allowing them to view and download reports on donations and payments, manage contact / bank account details and much more.
1. How We Store and Protect Data
Donatis Payments follows strict data security protocols to ensure that the information provided by charities is stored safely and used appropriately.
- Access to charity data is restricted to authorised personnel only
- Any documents submitted for verification purposes are retained only for as long as necessary to meet FCA compliance and anti-fraud obligations
- We do not share, sell, or distribute any data to third parties except as required for regulatory compliance or as requested by law enforcement agencies
- Verification documents will be deleted automatically once the verification process is complete
- Bank account and contact details will be stored for no more than 2 years after the most recent payment has been made
- To process and distribute donations, we work with Unipaas, a PCI and DSS-compliant financial services provider registered with the FCA
- Unipaas securely handles donation funds and transfers them directly to the nominated charity’s bank account
- Unipaas may also conduct additional verification checks as required under FCA regulations to prevent financial crime and fraud
Under UK GDPR regulations, charities and their representatives have the right to:
- Request access to the data we hold about them
- Request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete information
- Request deletion of their data where retention is no longer required for FCA compliance
- Restrict processing if there are concerns about the accuracy or use of data
Requests regarding data access, correction, or deletion should be submitted to charityonboarding@donatis.co.uk
If a security breach or unauthorised data access occurs, we will take immediate corrective actions and notify affected parties in line with ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) reporting requirements.
Financial Process
There are no setup or recurring fees for using this service. Instead, two standard deductions are made from each donation:
- Card processing fee: Currently 1.3% + 20p per transaction
- Administration fee: 4% of the donation value to cover operational costs
These deductions ensure the sustainability and security of the service. All donations are processed by Unipaas, which holds the funds before transferring them directly to the nominated charity’s bank account.
Payments will be made to charities either:
- Immediately after a collection closes
- Once per month, aggregating all closed collections
- Each charity payout incurs a flat processing fee of 30p per transaction.
What the Donatis Information Portal Provides
Once verified, the charity will be able to:
Track donations with full visibility of each donation, including:
- The name of the donor (if not made anonymously)
- The address of the donor (provided only if Gift Aid is added)
- The date and amount of each donation
- Any Gift Aid contributions (if applicable)
- A breakdown of administrative and card processing costs
- Contact details for donors who opt into further communication
View collection details, including:
- The name of the deceased
- The Donatis reference number for the collection
- The collection start and end dates
- The total amount raised, with deductions clearly itemised
- The name and contact details of the notice placer (typically a funeral director)
Manage charity administration, including:
- Updating the charity’s logo
- Managing email addresses for notifications
- Amending portal users
How Donations Work
- Notices can be created in a variety of ways. Typically, they are created by a funeral director or by online notice portals, such as Funeral Notices.
- Each collection has a dedicated online page, displaying the chosen charity’s logo, donor names (unless anonymous), and condolence messages.
- Donors complete a simple online process, entering:
- Their name and address
- The amount they wish to donate
- A Gift Aid declaration (if applicable)
- A condolence message (optional)
- Their payment details (via credit/debit card, instant banking, Apple Pay, or Google Pay)
- Donors can opt-in to receive updates from the charity
- After completion, donors receive an email receipt confirming their donation and any Gift Aid declaration
- While the funeral notice will remain online indefinitely, the donation collection typically closes after 7 weeks. This extended period allows for any delays in funeral arrangements
- If a donation is made to a charity that has yet to be onboarded to our platform, we will contact the nominated charity immediately requesting that they initiate the onboarding process
- When a collection closes, the notice page updates to inform visitors that the donation period has ended
- An email is sent to the charity and usually the person who created the notice , detailing the total amount raised
- Donations are then processed and paid directly to the charity as per our payment terms
Fundraising Considerations
Funds are only able to be collected and remitted to registered UK charities.
Reassurance and Compliance
We understand that providing sensitive financial information requires trust. Our processing partner, Unipaas Financial Services Limited is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as an Authorised Payment Institution (No. 929994). They are also certified as a PCI DSS service provider Level 1. All donations are securely handled and remitted directly to your charity’s bank account without leaving a regulated environment.
If you have any further concerns or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us. As part of our commitment to transparency, we will be happy to provide as much additional documentation or evidence as possible to verify our identity and the legitimacy of our request.