Donation portal

A direct donation is the initiation of a donation via an Internet donation portal . Donation portals are websites through which cashless donations can be made. With direct donations, the money goes directly to an aid organization. In contrast, there is indirect donation. First, donations are made to the donation portal. This collects the donations and then forwards them to the previously selected recipient. In this case, the provisions of the Payment Services Supervision Act apply . The largest indirect donation portal is Betterplace . As an alternative to money, time (= work) can also be donated.

When visiting the portal, the donor selects a recipient and specifies the amount to be donated. The method of payment is usually direct debit , sometimes also by credit card . In addition, it is possible to transmit contact details for the purpose of sending a donation receipt .

Some donation portals also offer the option of delivering a gift donation certificate. For example, before a festive occasion, donations can be made and the donation certificate can then be presented as a gift.

Like all charitable donations , direct donations are tax deductible in Germany; Indirect donations also, provided that the payment service provider has been recognized as charitable. Businesspeople can deduct this (in the form of corporate donations) up to a fixed maximum limit of 100 percent, private individuals proportionately.

The first German donation portal HelpDirect.org was founded in 1999 in Munich . In 2012, its founder, Harald Meurer, received the Federal Cross of Merit .