Questions & answers
How CommunityLoop works today — for the people showing a code, the businesses scanning it, and the causes on the receiving end.
In development
CommunityLoop is being built with a small group of local businesses and causes. Check-ins, campaigns, and impact tracking all work today. Automatic billing and payouts are still in development, so donations are currently recorded here and settled directly between the business and the organization.
For supporters
You show a code. Somebody else pays.
- What does it cost me?
- Nothing. Supporters never pay. The participating business funds the donation — you just show your code when you're already buying something.
- How do I check in?
- Open your dashboard and show the QR code at the register. If the camera won't cooperate — bad light, cracked screen, patchy wifi — read out the 6-digit code underneath it instead. Both do exactly the same thing.
- Why does my code keep changing?
- It refreshes about once a minute and stays valid for roughly three. That stops a screenshot being passed around, while leaving plenty of time to get from the queue to the counter.
- Can I check in more than once at the same place in a day?
- One check-in per campaign per day. A second scan the same day is politely refused and nothing is charged to the business — so there's no way to accidentally double-count.
- Do I get a tax deduction?
- No — and this is worth being precise about. The business pays the donation, so the business is the donor of record and receives any acknowledgment from the nonprofit. Your dashboard tracks the impact you generated, which is a record of participation rather than a charitable contribution by you.
- What can I see about my impact?
- Your dashboard shows the total generated for local causes, how many check-ins you've made, and how many different causes you've supported. Browse campaigns to find somewhere to use it.
For businesses
Turn a purchase into a reason to come back.
- What am I committing to?
- You pick an amount per visit and a total budget. The campaign stops itself the moment that budget is used up — that ceiling is enforced in the database, so it cannot be overspent even if two registers scan at the same instant.
- When and how am I actually billed?
- Automatic billing isn't switched on yet.Right now CommunityLoop records every check-in accurately and shows you the running total, and you settle with the organization you're supporting directly. Automated payments are in development — nothing will ever be charged without setting that up first.
- What equipment do I need?
- A phone, tablet, or laptop with a browser. Open the scanner page at the register and point the camera at the supporter's code. There's always a manual 6-digit entry box next to it for when the camera or the wifi lets you down.
- Can my staff scan without access to everything else?
- Staff accounts exist in the system with scanner-only permissions, but the invite flow isn't built yet — for now the owner account does the scanning. This is on the near-term list.
- How long until my business is live?
- Every business and every campaign is reviewed before it appears publicly. You can fill in your profile and set up a campaign immediately; both stay private until approved.
- Does the nonprofit get the full amount I pledge?
- Yes. If you pledge $2 per visit, your chosen organization is credited $2. Nothing is taken out of the donation itself.
For organizations
A network of local businesses, without the fundraising admin.
- What does it cost my organization?
- Nothing. Organizations don't pay to be on CommunityLoop.
- How do we receive the money?
- Automatic payouts aren't live yet. Today the sponsoring business settles with you directly, and CommunityLoop provides the record of exactly how much was generated, by which business, over which period. Automated transfers are in development.
- Do we have to find businesses ourselves?
- No. Once approved, your organization appears on the platform and any participating business can choose to sponsor you. A public page shows your mission and the campaigns currently supporting you.
- Can we see what we have been given?
- Yes. Your dashboard shows every check-in generated for your organization, including which business and which campaign it came from.
- Who can sign up as an organization?
- Nonprofits, schools and PTAs, churches, and similar community groups. Every organization is reviewed before going live.
Still have a question?
We're onboarding founding businesses and causes now, and we'd rather answer directly than guess at what you need.