How Charities Can Use QR Codes to Accept Donations?

Posted on October 29, 2021

Have you noticed a black and white patchwork of squares at stores, supermarkets, for online transactions, and more?

These are QR codes. They have been around for some time now, but the pandemic has propelled their widespread usage since 2020!

The reason for this is the pandemic forcing the use of contactless methods for transactions. QR codes have served as an excellent means for making contactless payments.

What are QR codes?

A QR code is a two-dimensional bar code image. When it is scanned using a smartphone or a tablet it can open the link to a website, send SMS messages, emails, or dial a phone number. QR codes or Quick Response codes were envisaged as a replacement for bar codes that were traditionally used on products for payment. QR codes carry a lot more data compared to bar codes. They can be easily read, and they simplify the manufacturing and distribution process.

Smartphone owners can scan QR codes by first downloading a QR Code Reader from App Store/ Gallery. Scanning the QR code entails taking a photograph of the code with the smartphone.

Because of the data that can be embedded in a QR code, it offers infinite possibilities to users.

When a QR code is scanned:

• It can open a web page.
• Log into a website
• Display multimedia content
• Provide data to user’s device
• Compose email or text message
• Download apps, and more.

These possibilities have made QR codes extremely popular among retailers and other agencies. And nonprofits are also using QR codes for facilitating donations.

In the last few years, there has been a surge in the number of mobile users worldwide. And nonprofits need to provide responsive websites that can be accessed through smartphones. There has also been a marked increase in mobile giving because of the convenience they offer. Data reveals that half of the website traffic for nonprofits in 2020 was from mobile and tablet users. Offering a QR code to donors is the next step that nonprofits can take to make it easier for donors to contribute to charities.

If you are wondering “How can my charity start using QR codes?” here’s how:

• First of all, you must ensure that your website can be accessed on mobile and tablets. This is because QR codes are designed to be used on smartphones and not on desktops.
• Generate a QR code with the help of a QR code generator. There are several free options available online for generating QR codes. You can also consider paid or subscription versions for greater flexibility. Paid versions offer customization with the brand colors, logo, etc., you can also integrate data analytics to the code, and more.
• Link the QR code to web pages designed for mobile browsing. Make sure the QR code is linked to the Donate Now or Text-to-Give-Now pages.
• It is recommended that you link the QR code to the mobile version of your social networking sites.
• Donors can scan the QR Code from their smartphones. They will be directed to a mobile web browser to view the link in the QR code. Alternatively, they can be sent a text message or a prompt to dial a number.
• QR codes work perfectly for location-based fundraising campaigns.

QR codes can be used in a myriad of ways by nonprofits.

Before you start integrating QR codes into your nonprofit, here are some points to consider:

• Do not use QR code just because it is popular or for the sake of using it. Make sure that the QR code is used for a specific purpose.
• Ensure that scanning the QR code is beneficial for the donor as well.
• Define where the QR code will direct users and ensure that you create the QR code accordingly.
• Test the QR code that is easy to scan and directs users as intended before sharing it.

Check out these areas of application of QR codes:

Tell Your Brand’s Story: A nonprofit can share its mission with its audience by linking the QR code to pictures, videos, and testimonials, etc.

Easy Donations: Linking the QR code to the donation page of the website leads the users to the form where they can donate directly.

Provide Transparency to Donors: Donors like to know how and where their funds are being used. QR codes at the point of donation offer donors a clear view of where their donations are sent.

Resolve Queries: QR codes can direct users to the frequently asked questions page where their queries can get resolved.

Fundraising Appeals: You can use the QR code in fundraising appeals to make it easy to donate.

Fundraising Events: At fundraising events, you can get your donors to participate by scanning the QR code for registration. You can also display the QR code on banners, etc.

Billboards and Flyers: If you are promoting your nonprofit by advertising on billboards or distributing flyers, it is a good idea to include QR codes on billboards and flyers.

Donation Boxes and Buckets: By adding a QR code to donation boxes or buckets, you encourage donors to contribute even if they are not carrying cash. QR codes offer an easy option to scan and give. QR codes can also be placed in different areas within the nonprofit to encourage donors.

Embed QR codes on Partners’ Websites: Many nonprofits partner with the fundraising organizations. You can embed a QR code on the partner website and offer an easy way for their clients, employees, etc., to make donations.

Share on Email Newsletters: You can share QR codes in email newsletters helping donors scan and make donations via emails in their inboxes.

Analyze Donations: QR codes can also be used to study donation trends from different locations. You can assign a different QR code to different locations and check out the number of funds raised from specific locations. These insights will help you optimize your fundraising campaigns.

Boost Future Donations: QR codes capture GSPR compliant data from each donor. You can leverage this data to re-market to these donors for future campaigns.

Besides these, there are umpteen other possibilities of using QR codes by nonprofits. This is why there is an increase in the “scan to give” campaigns of nonprofits.

How do QR codes facilitate scan to give?

QR codes link to different payment options facilitating scan to give.

Donate through Paypal: After scanning the QR code, the donor can confirm donation by entering their Paypal username and password.

Donate using Credit Card: The donor will need to provide his credit card details after scanning the QR code.

Text-to-give using QR code: The donor charges the amount donated to his cellphone account after scanning the QR code.

Supports both Cash and In-kind Donations: This option is more popular among corporates who want to donate. After scanning the QR code, the business can donate either cash or products to the nonprofit.

QR codes offer infinite options to nonprofits for increasing the visibility of the brand, fundraising, and more. Besides, they are easy to integrate and offer a safe and contactless method of fundraising. They also help increase the reach of the nonprofit. Donors across the globe can easily scan the code and contribute to different charities.

If you have not yet explored the infinite possibilities offered by QR codes, it is time to give it a serious thought! Because if you offer your donors the option to scan and give, you are likely to attract more donors and raise more funds!