Does my charity need a donation receipt feature?

For donations above the local tax threshold, a receipt is required for the tax deduction. Platforms like Betterplace, GoFundMe Charity and Twingle automatically issue receipts. For your own PayPal donations: the recipient is responsible.

Create a QR Code for Donations – Church, Club, NGO

Q: Where should I place donation QR codes?

In churches at the entrance next to the collection plate, on posters at charity events, in parish newsletters, at the info booth at city festivals. Important: a short context line (e.g. "Scan & donate $5 for the food bank") boosts conversion by 60-80%.

Q: Is a donation QR code legally allowed?

Yes, completely. For non-profits the rule is: the donation account must be declared as such and the recipient clearly identifiable. For commercial fundraising (e.g. crowdfunding) anti-money laundering laws apply; above $1,000 ID verification may be required.

5 use cases for donation QR codes

Cash is fading — donation drives have to keep up. These 5 setups work in practice:

Collection plate alternative in church: A QR sign next to the entrance pointing directly to paypal.me/parish-name. Model: the Protestant Church Berlin-Brandenburg since 2024.
Charity poster in public spaces: Large-format code at bus stops or on construction fences with the slogan "Scan & donate $5 for the food bank".
Info booth at city festivals: Roll-up banner with a QR — also catches cashless passers-by who want to give.
Club flyer with direct donation: Sports club, animal welfare or supporters' association prints the QR on flyers with amount options ($5/$10/$20).
Memorial service program: Instead of wreath donations, a QR link to the family's chosen recipient — sensitive, modern, instant.

How to create a donation QR in 3 steps

Choose your target link: Your own donation landing page, paypal.me/charity/amount, a Betterplace project or a SEPA QR with IBAN and reference text.
In the generator, select: Content type "URL" or "EPC-QR" for SEPA. Preset "Charity" (red/green) or charity colors for brand recall.
Print & distribute: SVG for posters, PDF for flyers. At least 5×5 cm on posters, 3×3 cm on flyers.

Tips for the perfect donation QR

Pre-set the amount: paypal.me/name/10 opens straight to a $10 donation. Saves 3 taps and massively boosts completion rate.
Offer multiple amounts: Three QR codes side by side ($5/$10/$20) feel concrete and lower the threshold.
Embed a logo: Charity logo or donation heart in the center builds trust — distrust of unknown codes is real.
Providers with receipts: Betterplace.org and Twingle automatically issue donation receipts — a must above the annual tax threshold.
Bank QR for older donors: EPC-QR works with all European banking apps — no PayPal account needed, perfect for the 60+ audience.
Add a context line: "Your donation builds the kindergarten playground" — concrete and emotional beats abstract.

Ready for your donation QR?

With the "Charity" preset or SEPA mode for direct bank transfers. SVG & PDF download.

Create QR code now →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which donation link works best in a QR code?

PayPal.me links are the easiest: paypal.me/YourCharity/10 opens straight to $10. Alternatives: Betterplace, GoFundMe or a SEPA QR for direct bank transfer.

Does my charity need a donation receipt?

Above the annual tax threshold a receipt is required for the tax deduction. Betterplace, GoFundMe Charity and Twingle issue them automatically.

Where should I place donation QR codes?

At church entrances, on charity posters, in parish newsletters, at info booths. A context line boosts conversion by 60-80%.

Is a donation QR code legally allowed?

Yes. The donation account must be declared and the recipient identifiable. Above $1,000 anti-money laundering rules with ID verification may apply.

More QR code applications

More inspiration in our gallery:

→ Tips → Event → Flyer → With Logo