A UPI QR code for donations

Print an open-amount UPI code so donors choose what to give, register the VPA in the organisation's name rather than a person's, and print that name large beside the code. Donor apps display the bank-registered name on the confirmation screen, which is the trust signal that actually matters.

The shape of a donation code

Donations are the clearest case for an open-amount code: the donor decides, and a locked amount would cap generosity at exactly the number you printed. The payload stays minimal:

upi://pay?pa=trustname@sbi&pn=Shanti%20Trust&tn=Donation&cu=INR

Set tn=Donation so every credit in the statement is labelled, when the same account also receives fees, grants or refunds, that one word keeps the donation ledger clean. If you run multiple boxes or campaigns, give each its own note (tn=Donation%20Gate%202) and generate the set with the bulk tool.

Suggested tiers belong beside the code, printed as text ("₹101 · ₹501 · ₹1,001") anchoring without restricting.

The name is the trust

Here is the donation-specific fact most organisations miss: when a donor scans, their app looks up the name registered against the VPA at the bank and shows it on the confirmation screen. It does not simply trust the pn you encoded. That verified name is the only assurance a donor gets that money is going to the institution and not to a treasurer's personal account.

So the sequence that matters happens before any code is generated:

Open the account, and the VPA, in the organisation's registered name, "Shanti Charitable Trust", not "Ramesh Kumar".
Print that name large on the standee, matching what the app will display.
Check what actually appears by scanning your own code before printing anything. If the app shows something unexpected, start at UPI QR shows wrong name.

A donor who sees "Shanti Charitable Trust" on the standee, then "SHANTI CHARITABLE TRUST" on their phone, completes the payment. A donor who sees a person's name hesitates, and tells other people.

Receipts and 80G

A QR code moves money; it does not do paperwork. If your organisation issues 80G tax-deduction receipts, the donor's statement entry is not one, receipts need the donor's name and PAN, which a scan does not give you. The workable pattern is structural: print "For an 80G receipt, WhatsApp your payment screenshot, name and PAN to …" directly on the standee, and reconcile against the statement. Ask your accountant what your receipts must contain; the code's job is only to make the giving frictionless.

The physical standee

Donation codes live hard lives: outdoors at gates, handled at counters, next to incense. The print rules:

Laminate, matt finish. Gloss under temple lighting reflects straight into cameras, and lamination also makes an overlay sticker lift visibly.
Size by the 10:1 rule: a code scanned from 1 m needs to be 10 cm wide. Full sizing and materials are on printing a UPI standee.
Outdoor placements fade; see outdoor durability before mounting one on a gate.

The fraud you are defending against

Donation boxes are a favourite target for the overlay scam: a fraudster's code stickered over yours, harvesting goodwill until someone notices. The defences are the verified name (above), a daily glance at every standee, and staff who know that a donor mentioning "it showed a different name" is an alarm, not a shrug. The full pattern list is in UPI security and common scams.

FAQ

How do I make a donation QR code for an NGO or temple?

Generate a UPI code from the organisation's VPA with no amount and a note like Donation. Print it with the organisation's registered name in large text, laminate it matt, and check it daily for tampering.

Should a donation QR code have a fixed amount?

No. An open amount lets donors give what they choose. Print suggested tiers as text beside the code. They anchor giving without capping it or excluding small donors.

Why does the app show a different name from our NGO?

UPI apps display the name registered against the VPA at the bank. If the account is in a person's name, donors see that person, not the organisation. Open the VPA in the registered organisational name.

Can donors get an 80G receipt from a QR payment?

Not automatically. The scan gives you a credit, not the donor's name and PAN. Print instructions beside the code telling donors how to send those details, and issue receipts from your reconciled records.