How do you receive money when no invoice has been or will be created (i.e. donations)?

Use Sales Receipt 

Click + New

Under Customer click Sales Receipt

Fill out proper information from there.

Click Save & Close when done. 

It's good to see you here in the Community, @preschool-zionlc.

I'll guide you on how to receive money in QuickBooks without an invoice created.

To do that, you can create a bank deposit  in QuickBooks. Here's how you can do it:

1. Click the +New button.
2. Under Other, select Bank deposit.
3. Select an Account from the drop-down.
4. Enter information in the Add funds to this deposit section.
5. Once done, hit Save and new.

For future reference, you can also combine invoices/transactions with a bank deposit in QuickBooks.

Please keep me updated by replying to the thread. I'm always here to help. Take care and have a good one!