What is QR Code Donation for Churches?
QR code donation is a contactless giving method where congregants scan a printed code with their phone camera, which opens a donation page in their browser. No app download, no account creation, no card reader needed. In churches, it's the fastest way to collect tithes and offerings while capturing Gift Aid automatically.
How QR Code Donation Works
A church prints a QR code and displays it during a service, on a giving stand, or in a bulletin. When a congregant scans the code with their phone camera, a donation page opens instantly in their browser. They enter a donation amount, their name, postcode, and confirm. The payment processes through Stripe. If they tick the Gift Aid box, their declaration is captured and can be submitted to HMRC automatically. The entire transaction takes 15 seconds. No app. No login. No friction.
Why Churches Choose QR Codes
QR codes remove barriers to giving. Older congregants who don't own apps can give. Visitors unfamiliar with your church's systems can give. People who forgot their wallet can give. The method is also hygienic: no shared collection plates or card readers. For church treasurers, QR-based donations create clean digital records. Every donation is logged, donors are identified, and Gift Aid eligibility is recorded. This makes accounting simpler and helps churches claim the £560M in Gift Aid that goes unclaimed across the UK each year.
QR Donations vs Other Giving Methods
Collection plates require cash handling and provide no donor data. Card readers need physical contact and don't capture Gift Aid. Apps require congregants to download software before they can give. QR codes work on any smartphone with a camera, require zero setup from the giver, and integrate Gift Aid capture into the flow. For UK churches, QR codes are the fastest bridge between intent to give and a completed, Gift-Aid-eligible donation.
Gift Aid and QR Code Giving
Gift Aid is a UK tax relief scheme: if a congregant is a UK taxpayer, the church can claim 25p extra for every £1 donated. When a congregant scans a QR code and ticks 'I am a UK taxpayer', Givr captures their declaration and submits it to HMRC Charities Online automatically. Churches don't need to chase paper forms. The declarations are validated against HMRC records and the extra funding arrives in the church's account within weeks. This is why QR code giving is particularly powerful in the UK context.
Setting Up QR Code Giving in Your Church
Churches using Givr set up their account in minutes through Stripe Connect Express, with no FCA licence required. Once live, the church generates a QR code from their Givr dashboard, prints it, and displays it. The code is permanent and reusable across services. Churches can create separate codes for different funds (general offering, building fund, mission) and track giving by fund, donor, and donation amount. The Free tier supports basic QR giving; the Gather tier adds automated Gift Aid submission and recurring giving options via GoCardless.
How Churches Claim Gift Aid from QR Donations
When congregants scan the QR code and declare Gift Aid, Givr stores their data (name, postcode, donation amount, date). At month-end or on a schedule the church chooses, Givr submits all declarations to HMRC Charities Online on the church's behalf. HMRC validates the claims (checking the postcode and tax record match). Approved claims pay out to the church's bank account. Churches pay a 2% performance fee on the amount claimed, so they only pay when Gift Aid actually arrives. This removes the admin burden from volunteer treasurers.
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Frequently asked questions
Do congregants need an app to scan and donate?
No. Their phone's built-in camera app scans the QR code, and the donation page opens in their browser. They donate and leave. No app download required.
What payment methods do QR code donations accept?
Givr uses Stripe to process card payments (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, Google Pay). One-off and recurring donations via GoCardless (Gather tier) accept bank transfers.
Can we create multiple QR codes for different giving funds?
Yes. Churches can generate separate codes for general offerings, building funds, mission giving, or any other fund and track giving by fund from the dashboard.
Is Gift Aid automatic or does the church still claim manually?
Givr captures the Gift Aid declaration when the congregant donates, then submits it to HMRC Charities Online automatically. The church treasurer doesn't file forms; Givr handles the submission.
What does Givr charge for QR code donations?
The Free tier (up to £5,000/month volume) charges 1% platform fee. The Gather tier (£25/month or £245/year) charges 0.5% and includes Gift Aid submission. A 2% performance fee applies when Gift Aid is claimed, charged only on the amount received from HMRC.
Can visitors or non-members give via QR codes?
Yes. Anyone with a smartphone and a camera can scan the code and donate in seconds. They don't need to be registered members or have prior involvement with the church.