QR codes for thank you cards sent to donors.
Turn a printed thank-you card into a moment that surprises donors with a video, impact report, or way to give monthly.
To add a QR code to a thank-you card, decide what the code should link to (impact report, video, recurring giving signup, or short survey), generate a dynamic QR code with our free generator, download the SVG, and place a 1 inch code on the inside-right panel of the card with a short label like "Watch our thank you."
Decide what the code should link to.
The QR code on a thank-you card is not a donation ask. The donor already gave. The code is your chance to deepen the relationship and make the gift feel meaningful. Pick one of these targets, not all of them:
- Impact report. A simple page or PDF that shows what the gift funded. Photos, a short story, one chart.
- Video message. A 30 to 60 second clip from your team or a beneficiary saying thank you on camera.
- Recurring donation signup. A page where the donor can convert a one-time gift into a monthly contribution.
- Short survey. One or two questions about what motivated the gift or what the donor would like to hear about next.
One purpose per card. If you try to do all four, donors will scan, hesitate, and bounce. Pick the target that fits your moment in the donor journey. New donor? Lead with a video. Mid-level donor? Impact report. Repeat donor? Monthly conversion. The Wikipedia overview of donor stewardship covers the broader cycle this card sits inside.
If your nonprofit already has dedicated landing pages for donors, use them. If not, start by reading the QR codes for nonprofits guide for setup ideas.
Generate a dynamic QR code in under a minute.
Open the free QR code generator and paste the URL you picked. Always pick "Dynamic" for thank-you cards. Here's why:
- You can change the destination later without reprinting cards.
- Last year's impact report can be swapped for this year's.
- You can see scan counts to know whether donors actually engage.
Set a memorable slug with our custom short URL tool, like /thank2026 or /impact-q4. The slug also doubles as a printable backup link beneath the code for donors who prefer to type.
Download the file as SVG. SVG scales without blur, which matters when the print shop resizes the artwork to fit a tight card layout. Keep a PNG copy too if your designer prefers raster files. The PNG and SVG download page explains when to pick which.
Place the code where it feels like a gift, not an ad.
A standard folded thank-you card has four panels: front, inside-left, inside-right, and back. Each spot sends a different message.
| Panel | Best for | Avoid if |
|---|---|---|
| Inside-right | Video, impact report | Card has a long handwritten note |
| Back panel | Recurring giving, survey | Card already has logo and contact info there |
| Inside-left | Secondary CTA | You want it to feel personal |
| Front panel | Almost never | It hijacks the warm headline |
Sizing: on a 4.25 x 5.5 inch A2 card, a 0.75 to 1 inch QR code is plenty. On a 5 x 7 inch card, go up to 1.25 inches. Always leave a quiet zone of at least 1/8 inch around the code.
Contrast: dark code on a light background. Cream paper works fine. Avoid printing the code over a watermark, photo, or pattern.
Type: pair Space Grotesk for the headline with IBM Plex Sans for body copy. Use a single mono label in small caps next to the QR code itself. The clean, minimal look reads as professional, not gimmicky.
Write three or four words next to the code.
The label should match the link. Donors decide whether to scan in less than two seconds, so the words have to earn the action.
Match the label to the destination:
- Video: "Watch our thank you" or "A message for you"
- Impact report: "See your impact" or "What your gift did"
- Recurring giving: "Give monthly" or "Make it ongoing"
- Survey: "Tell us one thing" or "Share your thoughts"
Skip "Scan our QR code." Donors know what a QR code is. Tell them what's on the other side. The card itself should still carry a real handwritten or printed thank-you message. The QR code is the bonus, not the headline.
If the card is part of an event campaign, you can also point to your fundraising event QR code system so the recipient sees the wider story. For ongoing donor programs, the dynamic QR code for donations page shows how to keep the destination fresh year over year.
Print, mail, and watch the scans.
Before you print 200 cards, run a single test:
- Print one card on the same paper stock you'll use for the run.
- Scan with an iPhone Camera app from 6 inches away.
- Scan with an Android Camera or Google Lens.
- Scan in dim light to simulate a desk lamp at home.
- Tap through and verify the destination loads in under 3 seconds.
If a scan fails, the most likely fix is: bigger code, more quiet zone, or higher contrast. After the test passes, send the artwork to print. Uncoated card stock scans more reliably than glossy because there's no glare. The ISO QR code standard defines the printing requirements if you want to go deep.
Mail the cards. Then watch the dashboard. Scan counts tell you which campaigns work. City and device data tell you whether donors are scanning at home or on the go. Use that to refine the next batch. If scans are flat, the issue is usually the label copy or the destination page, not the code itself.
One more tip: keep cards small enough that the postage stays at standard letter rate. A 4.25 x 5.5 inch card and a #4 envelope is the sweet spot for most postal services.
Make a donor thank-you QR code.
Free SVG and PNG download. Edit the destination anytime. Track scans by city and device.
Open the generatorFrequently asked questions.
What should a donor thank-you card QR code link to?
Link to an impact report, a short video message, a recurring donation signup, or a one-question survey. Pick one purpose per card.
Where should I place the QR code on a thank-you card?
Inside the card on the right-hand panel works best. The back panel is the second-best spot. Avoid the front because it competes with the headline.
How big should the QR code be on a thank-you card?
On a 4.25 x 5.5 inch card, 0.75 to 1 inch wide is enough. On a 5 x 7 inch card, go up to 1.25 inches. Always include a quiet zone.
Can I track who scanned the thank-you card?
You can track total scans, city, country, device, and timestamp through the dynamic QR code dashboard. To tie a scan to a specific donor you'd need a unique code per recipient.
Should the QR code on a thank-you card ask for another donation?
Not directly. Lead with gratitude and impact. A soft option to start a monthly gift is fine, but the card should feel like a thank you, not a pitch.
Make a thank-you card QR code now.
Free, scales for print, edit the destination anytime, track scans.