Swiss associations collect donations most efficiently via an online donation form with multiple payment methods (TWINT, credit card, PostFinance), supplemented by QR code donations on site at events and in print materials. Recurring patron contributions can be set up via automatic monthly direct debits. To enable donors to deduct their contributions from their taxes, the association must be recognised as a non-profit organisation and be tax-exempted by the cantonal tax authority.

This guide shows you how to set up a donation form as a support association, animal association, parents' association or social project, offer QR code donations on site, activate recurring donations and fulfil the tax baselines for donation receipts.

1. Donation channels for Swiss associations: Online, on site and in print

Fundraising refers to the systematic sourcing of funds and resources for non-profit purposes. For Swiss associations, four central donation channels are available today, which complement each other and should be operated in parallel.

The first and most important channel is the online donation form on the association website. Donors enter the amount (or choose a suggested amount), select TWINT, credit card or PostFinance and donate in a few seconds. The second channel is the QR code on site – printed on flyers, posters, at the information stand or in the shop window. The third channel is the payment link (Paylink) in newsletters, emails and social media posts. The fourth channel is recurring donations (Recurring Donations) – monthly patron contributions that are automatically debited.

2. Setting up an online donation form: What you need

A donation form is a payment page embedded or hosted on your website, specially configured for incoming donations. Unlike a normal webshop, there is no shopping cart, but an amount selection field and optionally personal details of the donor for the donation receipt.

2.1 Elements of a good donation form

The form should display the association's logo and colours so that donors immediately associate it with the association. Offer 3–4 suggested amounts (e.g. EUR 20, EUR 50, EUR 100, EUR 200) plus a free field for custom amounts. Enable the selection between one-time and recurring donation (monthly, quarterly, annually). After payment, show a thank you page with confirmation and reference to the donation receipt.

2.2 Providers of donation forms in Switzerland

The following table compares the most common solutions for Swiss associations.

Tip: For associations with fewer than 500 donors per year, a PSP with an integrated donation form is often the simplest and cheapest solution. Professional fundraising platforms are worthwhile from a donation volume of several tens of thousand francs annually.

3. QR code donation on site: At the stand, on the flyer, in the shop window

A QR code leading to a donation form or a payment page is the simplest way to collect cashless donations on site. The donor scans the code with their smartphone, selects the amount and the payment method and donates in seconds – without cash, without a donation box.

There are two variants. A TWINT-only-QR (e.g. via RaiseNow) works exclusively with the TWINT app. A Multi-payment-method-QR (e.g. via a PSP like Payrexx or Payrexx) leads to a payment page that accepts TWINT, credit cards, PostFinance and wallets. For associations with an international audience (e.g. animal shelters with tourists, cultural associations near borders), the multi-payment-method-QR is the more flexible choice.

Print the QR code in at least 5 × 5 cm on flyers, posters, roll-ups or stickers. Label it clearly: "Donate now – scan QR code". Test the code before printing with various smartphones. Laminate printouts at the stand against the elements.

4. Recurring donations: Automating patron contributions

Recurring donations (Recurring Donations) are the most valuable donation type for non-profit associations: They ensure predictable, regular cash flow. A patron who donates EUR 20 monthly brings the association EUR 240 a year – often more than a one-time spontaneous donation.

Technically, recurring donations work via credit card tokenisation or a direct debit mandate. The donor authorises the recurring charge once, the payment service provider (PSP) automatically debits the amount. On the donation form, you offer the option "Donate monthly" next to "Donate once". Most fundraising platforms and PSPs such as RaiseNow, FundraisingBox or Payrexx support this function.

For communication, it is recommended to use the term "patron" or "sponsor" instead of "subscriber". This creates an emotional connection. Offer different levels of patronage – e.g. "Bronze patron: EUR 10/mth.", "Silver patron: EUR 25/mth.", "Gold patron: EUR 50/mth." – and communicate what each level specifically achieves.

5. Paylink in Newsletter and Social Media

A Paylink is a URL that leads directly to your donation form. You can embed it in any digital channel: newsletter, email signature, Facebook post, Instagram bio, WhatsApp message. The advantage over a QR code: The recipient does not have to scan, but simply clicks on the link.

For social media campaigns, a descriptive link is recommended (e.g. "association-name.ch/donate"), which redirects to the donation form. Tell a concrete story in the message: "With EUR 50 you fund animal feed for a month for a foster animal" has a stronger effect than "Please donate". Use the link also in automated thank-you emails: "Thank you for your donation! Would you like to support us regularly? [Link]".

6. Tax baselines: Donation receipt and non-profit status

To enable donors to deduct their contributions on their tax returns, the association must be recognised as a non-profit organisation and be tax-exempted by the cantonal tax authority. A tax exemption due to non-profit status is not automatic – the association must submit an application to the cantonal tax administration at its seat.

6.1 Prerequisites for tax exemption

The association's purpose must serve the public good (altruism principle) – meaning that the activity does not only benefit its own members. No profit may be distributed to members (desinteressement). Upon dissolution, the association's assets must transfer to another non-profit organisation (irrevocability). Sports and cultural associations that primarily serve their members do not usually meet these criteria.

6.2 Issuing a donation receipt

Only tax-exempted associations are allowed to issue donation receipts. The form is not prescribed, but the receipt must contain the name of the association, the name of the donor and the amount. Donors can deduct donations to non-profit organisations for federal tax and in most cantons up to 20 % of net income. The minimum amount is usually EUR 100 per year.

Important: This section does not replace tax or legal advice. Cantonal regulations differ significantly. Check the current guidelines with the cantonal tax administration of your canton of seat or with the Zewo directory of tax-exempted organisations.

7. Cost comparison: How much does a digital donation system cost?

The following sample calculation shows the annual costs for an association that collects EUR 15,000 in donations per year (approx. 200 individual donations with an average of EUR 75).

Note: Fees are guidelines for Swiss domestic transactions (as of 2026). TWINT transactions usually cost 1.3–1.5 %, credit card payments approx. 1.65 % + fixed fee. TWINT QR Pay Plus via RaiseNow is approx. 2.5 %. Check current conditions with the provider.

8. Checklist: Collecting donations as a Swiss association

• Check association purpose in the statutes: Is the purpose formulated as a non-profit?

• Tax exemption applied for or present with the canton? (Prerequisite for donation receipts)

• Association account (IBAN) opened with a Swiss bank

• PSP or donation platform account starch and verified

• Donation form set up: Logo, colours, 3–4 donation amounts, free field, thank-you page

• Recurring donations activated (monthly, quarterly)

• QR code created, tested and prepared for print (at least 5 × 5 cm)

• Paylink embedded in newsletter, email signature and social media profiles

• Donation receipt prepared (if tax-exempt): Template with association name, donor name, amount

• Process for annual collective donation receipt defined (e.g. in January for the previous year)

Payrexx offers a customisable donation form with TWINT, credit card, PostFinance and mobile wallets for associations – hosted without their own website. The form can be configured with a logo, colours and custom donation amounts and supports recurring donations.

Recognised charitable organisations receive a 50 % discount on all paid subscriptions. The Free subscription has no monthly fixed costs – the association only pays transaction fees on actual incoming donations.