Collect donations as a Swiss association – online, on site, and in a tax-compliant way

Swiss associations collect donations most efficiently via an online donation form featuring multiple payment methods (TWINT, credit card, PostFinance), complemented by on-site QR code donations at events and in print materials. Recurring patron contributions can be set up via automated monthly debits. For donors to deduct their contributions from taxes, the association must be recognized as non-profit and exempt from tax by the cantonal tax authority.

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

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

Fundraising refers to the systematic acquisition of monetary and non-monetary resources for charitable purposes. Today, four central donation channels are available to Swiss associations, which complement each other and should be operated concurrently.

The first and most important channel is the online donation form on the association's website. Donors enter the amount (or select a suggested amount), choose TWINT, credit card, or PostFinance, and donate in just a few seconds. The second channel is the on-site QR code – printed on flyers, posters, at the information desk, or in shop windows. 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 debited automatically.

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

A donation form is a payment page embedded or hosted on your website, configured specifically for incoming donations. In contrast to a normal web shop, 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 feature the association's logo and corporate colours so donors immediately identify it with the association. Offer 3–4 suggested amounts (e.g. EUR 20, EUR 50, EUR 100, EUR 200) plus an open field for custom amounts. Enable the choice between one-off and recurring donations (monthly, quarterly, annually). Display a thank-you page after payment with confirmation and a note regarding 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 most cost-effective solution. Professional fundraising platforms are worthwhile starting from a donation volume of several tens of thousands of francs annually.

3. On-site QR code donation: At the booth, on flyers, in shop windows

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

There are two variants. A TWINT-only QR (e.g. via RaiseNow) functions exclusively with the TWINT app. A multi-payment-method QR (e.g. via a PSP like 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 at a minimum of 5 × 5 cm on flyers, posters, roll-ups, or stickers. Label it clearly: "Donate now – scan QR code". Test the code with different smartphones before printing. Laminate prints at the booth to protect against the weather.

4. Recurring donations: Automating patron contributions

Recurring donations (Recurring Donations) are the most valuable type of donation for non-profit associations: they provide plannable, regular cash flow. A patron who donates EUR 20 monthly generates EUR 240 per year for the association – often more than a one-off spontaneous donation.

Technically, Recurring Donations work via credit card tokenization or a direct debit mandate. The donor authorizes the recurring charge once, and the payment service provider (PSP) debits the amount automatically. On the donation form, offer the option "Donate monthly" alongside "Donate once". Most fundraising platforms and PSPs like RaiseNow, FundraisingBox, or Payrexx support this feature.

For communication, it is recommended to use the term "Patron" or "Sponsor" instead of "Subscriber". This creates an emotional connection. Offer different patron tiers – e.g. "Bronze Patron: EUR 10/month", "Silver Patron: EUR 25/month", "Gold Patron: EUR 50/month" – and communicate what each tier specifically achieves.

5. Paylink in newsletters and social media

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

For social media campaigns, a descriptive link is recommended (e.g. "association-name.ch/donations") that redirects to the donation form. Tell a specific story in the message: "With EUR 50, you fund one month of food for a rescue animal" has a stronger impact than "Please donate". Use the link in automated thank-you emails as well: "Thank you for your donation! Would you like to support us regularly? [Link]".

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

For donors to deduct their contributions on their tax returns, the association must be recognized as non-profit and exempt from tax by the cantonal tax authority. Tax exemption due to non-profit status is not automatic – the association must submit an application to the cantonal tax administration at its registered seat.

6.1 Requirements for tax exemption

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

6.2 Issuing donation receipts

Only tax-exempt associations are permitted to issue donation receipts. The format is not prescribed, but the receipt must contain the name of the association, the name of the donor, and the amount. Donors can deduct contributions to non-profit organizations from direct 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 vary considerably. Check the current guidelines with the cantonal tax administration of your registered canton or in the Zewo directory of tax-exempt organizations.

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

The following example calculation shows the annual costs for an association collecting EUR 15,000 in donations per year (approx. 200 individual donations averaging EUR 75).

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

8. Checklist: Collecting donations as a Swiss association

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

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

• Association account (IBAN) opened with a Swiss bank

• PSP or fundraising platform account opened and verified

• Donation form configured: logo, colours, 3–4 donation amounts, open field, thank-you page

• Recurring donations activated (monthly, quarterly)

• QR code created, tested, and prepared for print (min. 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 defined for annual consolidated donation receipt (e.g. in January for the previous year)

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

Recognized non-profit organizations receive a 50 % discount on all paid subscriptions. The Free subscription has no monthly fixed costs – the association pays only transaction fees on actual incoming donations.