Proof of Attendance: What Digital Receipts Actually Prove

A presence receipt is proof that someone was present at a specific place and time, for a specific purpose — as confirmed by the organization that issued it.

It is not a ticket. It is not an attendance list. It is not a tracking tool.

It is a portable record that a person can keep and share when proof is needed.

What a presence receipt contains

A receipt shows:

• Who it was issued to
• Which organization issued it
• Why it was issued (for example: volunteer service, training, site visit)
• When it was issued
• Whether it is still valid

This is the same kind of information a financial receipt contains — but for participation instead of payment.

Why this matters

Many situations require people to prove that something happened in the past:

• Volunteer hours for schools or scholarships
• Training or safety requirements
• Site visits and inspections
• Regulatory or compliance obligations
• Disputes about whether someone attended or participated

Today, that proof is often emails, screenshots, PDFs, or informal letters — which are easy to lose, hard to verify, and often disputed.

A presence receipt gives people a standard way to hold and share that proof.

What a presence receipt does not do

A receipt does not:

• Track someone's location after the fact
• Monitor people in real time
• Share private information beyond what is on the receipt
• Replace an organization's internal systems

It simply records that something occurred, and lets others verify that record later.

Can I verify a proof of attendance receipt without contacting the organization?

Yes. Presence receipts are designed to be independently verifiable. Anyone with the receipt link can verify its authenticity instantly without needing to contact the issuing organization or have any relationship with them.

Is a digital proof of attendance legally valid?

Digital attendance receipts serve as signed records of presence, similar to digital signatures on contracts. Their legal validity depends on the jurisdiction and context, but they provide tamper-evident proof that is more reliable than traditional paper records or screenshots.

What happens if I lose my attendance receipt?

Receipts are sent to your email and can be accessed anytime via your email archive. Additionally, the issuing organization can resend your receipt if needed, since all issued receipts remain in their system.