A school sponsor run, a benefit night, an online fundraiser for a friend or a donation jar at the entrance can all start quickly. Then the practical question appears: can you raise money without permission?
In the Netherlands, the short answer is: sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on the fundraising format, where money is requested, who receives it and how the money flow is handled. This article is practical orientation, not legal or tax advice.
Start with the format
Many organizers focus on intention: it is for a good cause, so it should be allowed. In practice, rules also look at how the money is collected.
Common formats:
- Public collection: door to door, on the street or in a public square.
- Donation at an event: a jar at the bar, checkout or entrance.
- Online fundraiser: a digital page where people donate.
- Ticket add-on: a voluntary contribution during checkout.
Once an action touches public space, permission often becomes more important than organizers expect.
When is a permit needed?
For physical collections, the municipality is usually central. KVK explains that collecting money or goods for a good cause may require a collection permit. This is especially relevant when the cause does not have CBF accreditation and the collection is not on the national collection schedule; the permit is requested from the municipality where the collection takes place (KVK on fundraising campaigns).
Municipal rules often involve public order, nuisance, safety and use of public space. This matters for:
- door-to-door collections;
- collecting on streets or squares;
- actions at markets, fairs or festival areas;
- active fundraising in public space.
The CBF collection schedule helps identify planned national collections. A small local campaign is not automatically impossible, but it often requires its own check.
Physical versus digital fundraising
Not every fundraiser needs a collection box. For many event organizers, a digital route is clearer because the permit question often appears less quickly than with street collections. That does not make online fundraising careless by default. Transparency still matters.
Make clear to donors:
- who the money is for;
- what it will be used for;
- who manages the money;
- whether the contribution is voluntary;
- how results will be shared afterward.
For events, a voluntary donation during ticket checkout can be practical. Keep the ticket price and donation visibly separate. If you also sell tickets at the door, this guide to ticket sales at the door helps with capacity, payments and flow.
Types of fundraising
A jar on the bar, volunteers with a collection box, crowdfunding or a donation option during ticket checkout may look similar because money is requested. Operationally, they are different.
| Format | Main attention point |
|---|---|
| Donation jar on site | Make purpose and management visible |
| Street collection | Municipality, local rules and possible permit |
| Online crowdfunding | Transparent explanation of purpose and money flow |
| Ticket add-on | Voluntary nature and separation from ticket price |
Personal crowdfunding needs extra care. It feels human and direct, but the recipient may later face tax or administration questions.
Tax and administration
After a successful campaign, money arrives and someone has to manage or receive it. For crowdfunding, administration is especially important. The Dutch Tax Administration explains that individual donations can count as separate gifts and that records should include the amount, date, name and bank account number of the donor (Belastingdienst on crowdfunding and gift tax).
The Tax Administration also states that, when gift tax filing is required, the return must be received before 1 March of the year after the gift (gift tax filing deadline).
Practical administration:
- use a separate account or separated money flow;
- document the goal and responsible person;
- record amounts and origin;
- prepare a final overview;
- check payment details before payout.
For payouts, careful account checks help prevent mistakes. This article on checking an IBAN by name explains why correct payment details matter operationally.
Step-by-step for organizers
- Define the goal concretely. "For charity" is too vague. Name the person, initiative, foundation or project.
- Choose the right format. Public collection, online page, donation jar and ticket add-on have different implications.
- Check permission early. Contact the municipality before arranging volunteers or promotion when public space is involved.
- Set up the money flow cleanly. Keep funds separated and assign one responsible owner.
- Communicate clearly. Explain who receives the money, whether the contribution is voluntary and what happens afterward.
- Close visibly. Share a short update with donors, visitors or volunteers.
For a broader event approach, this connects with our guide to organizing a charity campaign.
Conclusion
You cannot always raise money without checking the rules. Online or private campaigns are often simpler than public collections, but clear communication, administration and money flows still matter. For event organizers, the best question is not only "is this allowed?", but which format fits the goal, place and follow-up?
Tiqqo helps organizers manage ticketing, communication, visitor data and access together, making donation actions around events easier to structure professionally.