diff --git a/components/sidebar.html b/components/sidebar.html
index 46966c9b..a2aa5c9f 100644
--- a/components/sidebar.html
+++ b/components/sidebar.html
@@ -299,6 +299,28 @@
               />
               <span class="sidebar-text">DNS</span>
             </a>
+            <a
+              href="#"
+              data-tip-jar-link
+              class="sidebar-nav-link sidebar-nav-link--sub"
+              title="Tip Jar"
+              rel="noopener noreferrer"
+            >
+              <svg
+                xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+                width="24"
+                height="24"
+                viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                class="sidebar-icon"
+                aria-hidden="true"
+                fill="currentColor"
+              >
+                <path
+                  d="M12 2c5.514 0 10 4.486 10 10s-4.486 10-10 10-10-4.486-10-10 4.486-10 10-10zm0-2c-6.627 0-12 5.373-12 12s5.373 12 12 12 12-5.373 12-12-5.373-12-12-12zm0 18v-1.511h-.5v1.511h-1v-1.511h-2.484l.25-1.489h.539c.442 0 .695-.425.695-.854v-4.444c0-.416-.242-.702-.683-.702h-.817v-1.5h2.5v-1.5h1v1.5h.5v-1.5h1v1.526c2.158.073 3.012.891 3.257 1.812.29 1.09-.429 2.005-1.046 2.228.75.192 1.789.746 1.789 2.026 0 1.742-1.344 2.908-4 2.908v1.5h-1zm-.5-5.503v2.503c1.984 0 3.344-.188 3.344-1.258 0-1.148-1.469-1.245-3.344-1.245zm0-.997c1.105 0 2.789-.078 2.789-1.25 0-1-1.039-1.25-2.789-1.25v2.5z"
+                />
+              </svg>
+              <span class="sidebar-text">Tip Jar</span>
+            </a>
           </nav>
         </div>
       </footer>
diff --git a/config/instance-config.js b/config/instance-config.js
index f2c341d5..93fe02f6 100644
--- a/config/instance-config.js
+++ b/config/instance-config.js
@@ -119,6 +119,17 @@ export const BETA_URL = "https://beta.bitvid.network/";
  */
 export const DNS_URL = "https://bitvid.network/";
 
+/**
+ * Optional external destination for the Tip Jar menu link.
+ *
+ * Configure this with the Lightning tipping experience you want to surface in
+ * the sidebar dropup. When left empty (null or an empty string) the Tip Jar
+ * entry is removed entirely so operators that do not collect donations are not
+ * forced to show the control.
+ */
+export const TIP_JAR_URL =
+  "https://nostrtipjar.netlify.app/?n=npub13yarr7j6vjqjjkahd63dmr27curypehx45ucue286ac7sft27y0srnpmpe";
+
 /**
  * Default image included in automated moderation DMs.
  *
diff --git a/config/validate-config.js b/config/validate-config.js
index f0edc3e0..83118535 100644
--- a/config/validate-config.js
+++ b/config/validate-config.js
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
   GITHUB_URL,
   BETA_URL,
   DNS_URL,
+  TIP_JAR_URL,
 } from "./instance-config.js";
 
 function assertSuperAdminConfigured(value) {
@@ -123,6 +124,7 @@ function resolveConfig(overrides = {}) {
     githubUrl: overrides.GITHUB_URL ?? GITHUB_URL,
     betaUrl: overrides.BETA_URL ?? BETA_URL,
     dnsUrl: overrides.DNS_URL ?? DNS_URL,
+    tipJarUrl: overrides.TIP_JAR_URL ?? TIP_JAR_URL,
   };
 }
 
@@ -178,4 +180,5 @@ export function validateInstanceConfig(overrides) {
   assertOptionalHttpUrl(config.githubUrl, "GITHUB_URL");
   assertOptionalHttpUrl(config.betaUrl, "BETA_URL");
   assertOptionalHttpUrl(config.dnsUrl, "DNS_URL");
+  assertOptionalHttpUrl(config.tipJarUrl, "TIP_JAR_URL");
 }
diff --git a/js/config.js b/js/config.js
index 2864a36d..32c5c207 100644
--- a/js/config.js
+++ b/js/config.js
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
   GITHUB_URL,
   BETA_URL,
   DNS_URL,
+  TIP_JAR_URL,
   MAX_WALLET_DEFAULT_ZAP,
   PLATFORM_FEE_PERCENT,
   PLATFORM_LUD16_OVERRIDE,
@@ -70,6 +71,7 @@ export { NOSTR_URL };
 export { GITHUB_URL };
 export { BETA_URL };
 export { DNS_URL };
+export { TIP_JAR_URL };
 export { MAX_WALLET_DEFAULT_ZAP };
 export { PLATFORM_FEE_PERCENT };
 export { PLATFORM_LUD16_OVERRIDE };
diff --git a/js/index.js b/js/index.js
index c9d5f167..e2189682 100644
--- a/js/index.js
+++ b/js/index.js
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import {
   GITHUB_URL,
   BETA_URL,
   DNS_URL,
+  TIP_JAR_URL,
   isLockdownMode,
 } from "./config.js";
 import AuthService from "./services/authService.js";
@@ -664,6 +665,12 @@ async function bootstrapInterface() {
     label: "Sidebar DNS link",
   });
 
+  bindOptionalExternalLink({
+    selector: "[data-tip-jar-link]",
+    url: TIP_JAR_URL,
+    label: "Sidebar Tip Jar link",
+  });
+
   const headerSearchForm = document.getElementById("headerSearchForm");
   if (headerSearchForm) {
     headerSearchForm.addEventListener("submit", async (event) => {