QR Code for Non-Profits: How to Enhance Impact and Raise More Funds

The pandemic accelerated the pace of digitization across all industries and sectors, and the non-profit sector was no different. If data tells us anything, consider this:

1. 56% of non-profits reported a faster move towards digital programs, and nearly half of them invested more in technology during this time. 
2. 65% of donations in 2020 came from mobile devices, making the humble QR Code a perfect vehicle to drive charities. 

For most non profits, a QR Code for donation can be a quick, easy and accessible way to boost reach. They can direct the QR Code to a form, a payment link or a website to donate online. This removes the roadblock of cash-only transactions and helps drive more impact.

Even UNICEF, one of the world’s most prominent non-profits, embraced QR Codes to make their annual trick-or-treat campaign in 2019 more digitally accessible. 

Continue reading to explore how non-profits can leverage the power of QR Codes to increase their reach, spread awareness, raise funds and scale up campaigns. 

Table of Contents

1. Innovative ways to leverage QR Codes for non-profits
2. Things to keep in mind before using QR Codes for fundraising
3. Spread awareness about your cause with dynamic QR Codes
4. Frequently asked questions

Innovative ways to leverage QR Codes for non-profits

#1 Easy and efficient fundraising

One of the conspicuous and most prominent use cases of QR Codes for non-profits is to help generate funds securely and seamlessly. 

You can add a QR Code to charity campaigns and print it on various marketing collaterals- from brochures, tent cards, and invitations to banners and standees. 

Once people scan the QR Code, they will be redirected to a landing page or website that enables people to donate. Not only does this facilitate seamless fundraising, but a QR Code for donation will also increase your chances of getting funds and keeping track of it. 

A good example is when the popular American restaurant chain Chili’s used QR Codes to raise over $5 million for the cause of cancer among children. 

As a part of its annual fundraising campaign, Chili’s tracked 291,000 scans of their QR Code printed on tents and coloring sheets placed on tables across the restaurants! 

#2 Tell powerful human stories

The power of human stories is one we are all familiar with. Think about the last video you saw on social that moved you, and you are most likely thinking about a relatable human story told well. 

Amplifying the real impact of cause-driven work through video QR Codes, images, and even text is a great way to communicate your work effectively. 

A QR Code that leads to a landing page or a Youtube playlist with a short yet powerful video can drive massive impact. 

You can spread awareness about your cause, engage with your audience better and increase the influence of charity campaigns with QR Codes for non-profits. 

#3 Build trust by being actively transparent

One of the main reasons people hesitate to donate to charities is the lack of transparency regarding where the funds will go. This ‘trust deficit’ can be addressed by over- and effective communication on the part of the charities. 

Inviting donors to take a behind-the-scenes tour of your programs is an easy way to create an environment of transparency. When you’re willing to open your doors, your supporters will relate that to honesty.

Lindsay Crossland, The Salvation Army

With a QR Code for non-profits, you can share the journey of every penny raised and its final impact. For instance, place a PDF QR Code across various touchpoints like events, on marketing collaterals, and offline ads. 

Your audience can scan and read the details of your charity drives. You can also leverage video QR Codes to inform and onboard new joiners, making it an important tool to drive awareness and credibility within the organization.

#4 Gather feedback to learn, serve, and grow

According to Harvard Business Review, 88% of non-profit organizations said gathering feedback was one of the metrics in measuring impact. However, getting customers to fill out a feedback form is not so simple. 

This is where a QR Code for fundraising come in. 

You can create a QR Code form for feedback and surveys and promote it on social media, your print material, merchandise, or stationary. The QR Code form is customizable, mobile-friendly, and even supports multiple languages.

In addition to this, you can also create a Google Form QR Code. Easy to create, share and gather feedback. 

#5 Use data and analytics to drive more impact

One of the critical challenges the charitable sector faces is disorganized access to data. While reports suggest that 90% of non-profits collect data, about half of them, do not fully utilize it.

In order to leverage this data to its full potential- it must be organized, digitized, and easily accessible. A QR Code for non-profit is a great way to gather and analyze data effectively.

You can track information like the date and time of the scan, number of scans, location, device, etc. Moreover, if you want a deeper understanding and want to dig into end-user data, you can also integrate your QR Code with Google Analytics. 

#6 Expand reach and network proactively

Like in any business, building relationships becomes essential when you’re a non-profit. Joining like-minded communities and networking with potential partners, donors, board members, or even professionals can help you up your game and raise funds. 

A simple way to leverage the power of a QR Code for non profit is by using digital business cards. 

Employees can use these at events, in their email signature and ID cards to enable real-time digital conversations. Digital business cards are cost-effective, 100% contactless, and easy to share across various platforms and devices. 

#7 Share an updated events calendar

Most non-profits have a dynamic events calendar that is busy throughout the year. 

A calendar QR Code allows your audience to scan and view the next set of events and programs. This is an excellent way to keep your members updated. 

These could be placed on posters, banners, and your non-profit’s brochures to give potential members and donors a chance to stay updated on your events and galas. 

#8 Let visitors RSVP to your events

When you host many events and galas, it is important to keep track of invitees and attendees. This helps with better planning and also optimal use of financial resources. 

Add an RSVP QR Code to your invitations and e-invites. Let your guests RSVP and receive all the details they might need before attending your event, like time, venue, direction, etc. 

Things to keep in mind before using QR Codes for fundraising

As you’ve read by now, a QR Code for donations can truly help drive more awareness to your non-profit. However, it can also become an epic fail if you don’t adhere to certain best practices. 

Here are a few things to remember when creating a QR Code for non-profits.

#1 A clear call-to-action

Drive an impact faster with a clear, powerful QR Code CTA. For instance, your QR Code for donations can have CTA like ‘Donate Now’ or ‘Know our Story,’ and it should redirect to the correct landing page. User experience is important, and if you’re not giving a clear CTA or a misleading one, there will be a drop-off.

#2 Ensure the QR Code is not pixelated

A basic rule of thumb is that the more pixelated a QR Code is, the harder it is to scan. Consider different formats like JPG, PNG, MSV, etc., and ensure you choose the right one. Check for the QR Code size based on your use case – it could be a small poster or a billboard for charity. 

#3 Consider adding your logo

Including your brand logo in all the marketing collaterals lends credibility and authority. A QR Code with logo is easily recognizable, and it will encourage people to scan your QR Code. You can also customize other elements of your QR Code like color, shape, design, patterns, etc. 

#4 Test and test again

Imagine clicking on a QR Code and getting an error. Make sure you test the QR Code for donations several times across devices before you share it with the world.

Spread awareness about your cause with dynamic QR Codes

We know that as a cause-driven organization, you have a lot on your plate, and enabling people to believe in your work and create impact is the most important part of your job. 

A QR Code could be that small step that could drive big change for you and help spread awareness about your cause. With Beaconstac’s dynamic QR Code, you can easily create, customize, track, and maintain your QR Codes. 

Sign up for a free 14-day trial and test our product.

We also offer a 10% discount exclusively to non-profits and charitable organizations. Check the complete list of QR Code generator pricing and plans.

Frequently asked questions

#1 How to create a QR Code for fundraising?

You can create a QR Code for fundraising in 4 easy steps:  

1. Go to Beaconstac’s QR Code generator and log in to your dashboard. (Sign up for a free trial if you don’t have access to the dashboard)
2. Click on ‘+Create QR Code’ and choose the type of QR Code you want to generate.
3. Enter the required details and customize your QR Code.
4. Click ‘Next,’ and your QR Code is ready for download. 

#2 What is a dynamic QR Code for non-profits?

There are two types of QR Codes: static and dynamic. A dynamic QR Code for non-profits can be edited even after its creation as opposed to a static one. 

Beaconstac’s dynamic QR Code generator also allows you to track QR Codes, create 30+ types of QR Codes, integrate with other tools, capture potential leads, and much more. 

#3 How to set up a QR Code for donations?

You can set up a QR Code for donations by linking it to,

1. A website
2. A form 
3. A payment link

This way, a QR Code for fundraising can be attached to physical or digital material to maximize reach and impact. This also avoids cash-only payments and enables digital payments towards the non profit’s funds.

• Author Details

Author Details

Natasha Puri

Natasha is a content marketer who intertwines product with high quality content. Presently, she writes about dynamic QR Codes and their features, as a tool that drives businesses revenue. When she’s not tracking QR Codes and how they can help businesses market their products, she’s busy tracking her two little boys.

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