The short answer
Link a dynamic QR code to the donation page your payment or giving platform hosts, print it 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) wide on mailers and programs and 10 cm on table signs, and add your organization’s name beside it so donors can confirm the page. QR Maker opens the page; the donation itself is processed by your giving platform.
How to make a QR code for donations
Use your giving platform’s page
Create the donation page with your giving or payment platform. Confirm it shows your organization’s name and works on a phone.
Create a dynamic code per campaign
Make one dynamic URL code for the annual appeal, another for the gala table cards and another for bulletins. Name them accordingly.
Design for the material
Mailers and programs: 3–4 cm. Table cards: 4–5 cm. Banners and signs: 10 cm or more. Dark on light, matte stock, with a clear border and a short line on what the gift does.
Show who you are
Print the organization’s name and a short address beside the code. Donors who see the same name on the page feel safer.
Repoint at campaign end
Edit the destination to the next campaign or a thank-you page. Old mailers and programs stay useful.
Size, distance and placement
- Best code type
- Dynamic URL code per campaign, to your giving platform’s donation page
- What QR Maker does
- Opens the page; the platform processes the donation
- Mailer or program
- Held in the hand: 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in)
- Table card
- Read at 30–60 cm: 4–5 cm (1.6–2 in)
- Event sign or banner
- Read from 1.5–3 m: 15–30 cm
- Trust
- Organization name and web address printed beside the code
- Tamper check
- Frame table cards and check them before events: fake stickers are a known risk
Why dynamic for appeals
Direct-mail appeals and printed programs are produced weeks ahead and used long after. A dynamic code lets you correct a mistyped link after the mailer has been printed, move supporters from the spring appeal to the autumn one, and see which pieces get scanned. Scan counts per code also help you compare the mailer, the bulletin and the table card. A static code works only if the donation page never changes.
Common mistakes
Tip: for a church or small charity, one table-card code per event beats one for the whole year. After the event, switch it to a thank-you page.
Frequently asked questions
Does QR Maker process donations?
No. The QR code opens the donation page of your giving or payment platform, which processes the gift.
How can I change the donation page after printing?
Use a dynamic QR code and edit its destination, for example from the spring appeal to the autumn one.
How can I protect donors from fake QR codes?
Print your name beside the code, frame table cards, check them before events and show the same name on the donation page.
How big should the code be on a mailer?
About 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) wide, dark on a light matte area with a clear border.