SafeDonations

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  Landing page

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  campaign list page

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  login page

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  upload/create /verify qr page

Inspiration

QR codes made donating effortless—but that same simplicity opened doors for scammers. Fake “charity” QRs started appearing online and in public places, collecting money for causes that didn’t exist. I kept seeing posts from people who donated in good faith, only to learn they’d been tricked. That gap between kindness and caution is what sparked SafeDonations. The idea was simple: help people give safely, without fear or doubt.

What it does

SafeDonations is a verification layer for QR-based donations. Users scan or enter a QR donation code, and the system instantly checks whether it’s legitimate. It cross-references verified recipients, official registries, and community reports, returning one of three results: Verified, Caution, or Flagged. The goal: make trust a built-in feature of generosity.

How we built it

We developed a clean, minimal web interface where users can scan or paste a QR code, view verification results, and report suspicious links. The backend API parses QR data, checks a verification database, and returns recipient details and status in seconds. The data layer stores verified charities, donation records, and user reports. Everything is modular, so it can later integrate with NGO registries, e-wallet APIs, or bank systems.

Challenges we ran into

The biggest challenge was inconsistency in QR structures—different banks and wallets use different formats. Handling those gracefully while still returning useful feedback was key. Another challenge was finding the right balance between simplicity for donors and detailed transparency for NGOs. Time was also tight, so we focused on a stable MVP instead of chasing too many features.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We turned a real social issue into a functional prototype that can genuinely prevent fraud. We designed a clean user experience that builds trust, and an early-stage verification engine that works across multiple QR formats. Most importantly, we made donation safety accessible to anyone—no app installs, no friction.

What we learned

Building for trust means designing beyond code—it’s about psychology and clarity. We learned how language, color, and feedback timing can change how safe users feel online. Technically, we deepened our understanding of QR parsing, data validation, and how to structure future integration points for financial APIs.

What's next for SafeDonations

Next steps include connecting to real NGO registries for automated verification, offering an API for banks and e-wallets, and adding AI-driven fraud pattern detection to identify suspicious campaigns early. The long-term goal: make SafeDonations the global “Trust Layer” for all digital giving platforms—so every tap, anywhere, is a safe one.

Built With

• convex
• groq
• lucide
• next.js
• pwa
• tailwind
• typescript