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 debits. So that donors can deduct their contributions for tax purposes, the association must be recognised as charitable and tax-exempt by the cantonal tax authority.

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

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

Fundraising means the systematic raising of financial and material resources for charitable 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 select a suggested amount), choose TWINT, credit card or PostFinance and donate within 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, e-mails and social media posts. The fourth channel is recurring donations (Recurring Donations) – monthly patron contributions that are debited automatically.

2. Set up an online donation form: what you need

A donation form is a payment page embedded in or hosted on your website, specifically configured for donation receipts. In contrast to a normal webshop, there is no shopping cart, but an amount selection field and optional personal details of the donor for the donation receipt.

2.1 Elements of a good donation form

The form should display the association logo and association colours so that donors can immediately assign it to the association. Offer 3–4 suggested amounts (e.g. CHF 20, CHF 50, CHF 100, CHF 200) plus a free field for individual amounts. Allow selection between one-time and recurring donations (monthly, quarterly, yearly). After payment, show a thank-you page with confirmation and the reference to the donation receipt.

2.2 Providers for 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 integrated donation form is often the simplest and most cost-effective solution. Professional fundraising platforms are worthwhile from an annual donation volume of several tens of thousands of francs.

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

A QR code that leads to a donation form or a payment page is the simplest way to collect cashless donations on site. The donor scans the code with the smartphone, chooses the amount and the payment method and donates within 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 HypiPay) 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 the border), 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 the QR code». Test the code before printing with different smartphones. Laminate printouts at the stand against weather.

4. Recurring donations: automate patron contributions

Recurring donations (Recurring Donations) are the most valuable type of donation for charitable associations: They provide predictable, regular cash flow. A patron who donates CHF 20 per month brings the association CHF 240 per 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) debits the amount automatically. On the donation form you offer the option «Donate monthly» next to «Donate once». Most fundraising platforms and PSPs like RaiseNow, FundraisingBox or Payrexx support this function.

For communication, it is recommended to use the term «patron» or «godparent» instead of «subscriber». This creates an emotional bond. Offer different patron levels – e.g. «Bronze patron: CHF 10/month», «Silver patron: CHF 25/month», «Gold patron: CHF 50/month» – and communicate what each level 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 in every digital channel: newsletter, e-mail 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. «verein-name.ch/donate»), which redirects to the donation form. Tell a concrete story in the message: «With CHF 50 you finance one month of food for a foster animal» has a stronger effect than «Please donate». Use the link also in automated thank-you e-mails: «Thank you for your donation! Would you like to support us regularly? [Link]».

6. Tax basics: donation receipt and charitable status

So that donors can deduct their contributions in their tax return, the association must be recognised as charitable and tax-exempt by the cantonal tax authority. Tax exemption due to charitable status is not automatic – the association must submit an application to the cantonal tax administration at its place of registered office.

6.1 Requirements for tax exemption

The association purpose must serve the common good (principle of altruism) – meaning the activity benefits not only the members themselves. No profit may be distributed to members (disinterestedness). If the association is dissolved, the association assets must go to another charitable organisation (irrevocability). Sports and cultural associations that primarily serve their members usually do not meet these criteria.

6.2 Issue a donation receipt

Only tax-exempt associations may 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 contributions to charitable organisations from federal tax and in most cantons up to 20 % of net income. The minimum amount is usually CHF 100 per year.

Important: This section does not replace tax or legal advice. Cantonal regulations differ considerably. Check the current requirements with the cantonal tax administration of your canton of registered office or with the ZEWO directory of tax-exempt organisations.

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

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

Note: The fees are guideline values for Swiss domestic transactions (as of 2026). TWINT transactions usually 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

• Check the association purpose in the statutes: Is the purpose formulated as charitable?

• Tax exemption applied for or already in place with the canton? (Prerequisite for donation receipts)

• Association account (IBAN) opened with a Swiss bank

• PSP or fundraising platform account opened 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 (min. 5 × 5 cm)

• Paylink embedded in newsletter, e-mail 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 associations a customisable donation form with TWINT, credit card, PostFinance and mobile wallets – hosted without your own website. The form can be configured with logo, colours and individual donation amounts and supports recurring donations.

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