QR codes for nonprofits and charities
A nonprofit's printed materials (appeal letters, collection tins, event banners, annual reports) reach people at the moment they feel like helping. A QR code turns that moment into a donation or a volunteer sign-up before it passes.
Budgets are tight, so it matters that codes are free to make, keep working without a subscription, and show which appeal actually raised the money. Separate dynamic codes per campaign give you that without paying for a separate tool.
QR code ideas for nonprofits and charities
Donate from the appeal
A code on the letter, tin or poster opens the donation page with the campaign already selected.
Volunteer sign-up
A short form at events and on flyers that collects names, contact details and availability.
Show the impact
A video or photo story of the project the donation funds, linked from the thank-you card.
Events and fundraisers
Galas, runs and quiz nights with registration and calendar buttons.
Which QR code to use
Static codes are free and need no account, but can't be changed after printing. Dynamic codes and hosted pages can be edited at any time, count every scan, and keep working on every plan, even if you cancel.
Dynamic link per appeal
One code per mailing or poster run, each pointing at the donation page. Compare scans to see which appeal performs.
Create a dynamic codeFeedback and forms page
Star ratings, NPS and questions, with responses collected in your dashboard.
Volunteer sign-ups with text, email, phone and choice fields, collected in your dashboard.
See live templatesVideo page
A YouTube or Vimeo embed, or an uploaded MP4.
An impact story from YouTube or Vimeo on a fast mobile page.
See live templatesUPI QR code
In India, a UPI code on a collection box lets people give from any UPI app.
Open the UPI generatorHow big to print it
| Where people scan | Distance | Minimum code width |
|---|---|---|
| Appeal letter or thank-you card | 35 cm (14 in) | 4.1 cm (1.6 in) |
| Collection tin or counter | 60 cm (24 in) | 7.0 cm (2.7 in) |
| Event banner | 4 m (13 ft) | 46.4 cm (18.3 in) |
For a dynamic short link such as https://qrdx.dev/q/aB3dE5f at error correction Q, without the blank margin. Static Wi-Fi, vCard or long URL codes hold more data and need to be larger. Check yours with the print size calculator and the scan checker.
Placement tips
- Print the code next to the emotional part of the appeal, not on the back page with the legal text.
- On collection tins, keep the code flat on a label wrapped around the widest, straightest part.
- Write the donation URL under the code for supporters who prefer to type it.
- If a campaign ends, point its codes at your general donation page rather than letting them go stale.
Call-to-action copy
A code with a reason to scan beside it gets more scans than a bare code. Lines to print next to yours:
- Scan to give in under a minute
- Join our volunteers
- See what your donation does
- Sign up for the charity run
QR codes for nonprofits and charities: FAQ
Do QR codes increase donations?
They remove the step where supporters have to remember and type a URL later, which is where many intended donations are lost. Measure it for your own appeals by giving each one its own dynamic code.
Can we make QR codes for free as a nonprofit?
Yes. Static codes are free and unlimited without an account, and the Free plan includes dynamic codes with unlimited scans. QRdx is also open source, so you can self-host it.
What happens to old appeal codes?
Repoint them. A dynamic code from last year's mailing can open this year's appeal or your general donation page, so the printed letters people kept still work.