Caudata.org funding – Donations re-instatement

[Mark]

Dear All,

After much deliberation the decision has been made to re-instate donation funding for caudata.org. Recent shortfalls in support and some minority attitudes led to a thorough review of funding options which also included a member’s poll. Thank you to all who voted and expressed an opinion.

One option available is the use of advertising revenue, and a number of you indicated that this would be acceptable if donations were no longer viable. We would like to avoid advertising if possible but recognise that it’s a realistic option should member support fall short.

Our intention is to make monthly donation income and spending figures available to forum members. This not only provides accounting transparency but gives a clear view of the donation scheme feasibility.

At minimum this site costs £50 ($77) a month to host, although there are ad hoc fees such as domain renewals and upgrades. We hope the generosity of members will continue to keep this wonderful forum ad free for many more years.

-Mark

[John]

April 2010
Total money received after paypal fees: US$ 106.00*
April Hosting cost (converting $ to £): - US $ 78.47
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Remainder carried forward to May: US $ 27.53
Money received so far in May: US $ 4.50**
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Total money available so far for May costs: US $ 32.03
Approximate difference with May hosting fee: - US $ 46.44

* Denotes amount is approximate due to single € donation (yes, only one person donated in €uro for the whole of April - sadly, the vast majority of the money came from the US members in April).
** Denotes amount is approximate due to another € donation

[Eric]

Originally Posted by John

sadly, the vast majority of the money came from the US members in April).

Why did you put "sadly" in there?

[Joe Blecha]

I figure even a $10 donation is cheaper than buying a book. I personally have never seen a book with even a fraction of the information available on this site. Well worth the money to keep the site up and running...

Cheers,
-Joe-

[John]

Originally Posted by Shizeric

Why did you put "sadly" in there?

It just seems like Europeans are much less willing to donate, despite the huge silent membership we have from mainland Europe (hello in particular to our German and Dutch anonymous members).

Originally Posted by Joe Blecha

I figure even a $10 donation is cheaper than buying a book. I personally have never seen a book with even a fraction of the information available on this site. Well worth the money to keep the site up and running...

Very kind words - thank you!

[John]

This is an updated version as of Thursday May 13th 2010

April 2010
Total money received after paypal fees: US$ 106.00*
April Hosting cost (converting $ to £): - US $ 78.47
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Remainder carried forward to May: US $ 27.53

May 2010
Money received so far in May: US $ 186.36**
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Total money available so far for May costs: US $ 218.39
Approximate difference with May hosting fee: US $ 139.92

* Denotes amount is approximate due to single € donation (yes, only one person donated in €uro for the whole of April - sadly, the vast majority of the money came from the US members in April).
** Denotes amount is approximate due to another € donation

[deliriah]

Are June's totals not available yet? so far this looks good. Also I would like to donate as well, but I am not sure how I should go about it. I agree with Joe Blecha on this. The information I've found here is well worth donating, especially if it helps to keep this information open to others who may find it helpful.

[John]

Update as of Monday July 12th 2010

May 2010
Money carried forward: US $ 218.39*
Money received in May: +US $ 93.33*
Total Money available at the end of May: US $ 311.72
Hosting fees end of May: -US $ 76.00**
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Total money available carried forward to June: US $ 235.72

June 2010
Money carried forward: US $ 235.72*
Money received in June: +US $ 123.84*
Total Money available at the end of June: US $ 359.56
Hosting fees end of June: -US $ 76.00**
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Total money available carried forward to July: US $ 283.56

July 2010 (as of July 12th 2010)
Money carried forward: US $ 283.56*
Money received so far in July: +US $ 13.31*
Total Money available at the end of June: US $ 296.81


There have only been 2 donations so far in July, so all that early enthusiasm from when we re-instated donations seems to be waning.

* Denotes amount is approximate due to € donations
** Amount is approximate due to currency conversion

[hendrixtheaxie]

Just an idea but how about ask members to participate in surveys that Caudata.org gets paid for by marketing companies I would assume that there would be a market for opinions for the demographic of people that are using this site. Its just a thought.Ps I wouldn't mind
advertising on the site even though the site looks great without it. These days everyone
is selling ad space on the site and it is a great way to pay for hosting etc.

[John]

That's a bit on the hokey side. Please stay on topic of the thread - if you have further ideas then start a new thread.

[John]

July 2010
Money carried forward from June: US $ 283.56*
Money received in July: +US $ 198.77*
Total Money available at the end of July: US $ 482.33
Forum Softwares fees: -US $ 35.00**
Hosting fees end of July: -US $ 82.00**
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total money available carried forward to August: US $ 365.33

* Denotes amount is approximate due to € donations
** Amount is approximate due to currency conversion

[John]

With only a few days left in August, you can see that this has been by far the worst month for donations since we reinstated the system.

[Zoe]

Sorry I missed August but will be donating for September!! I am new to the axie world and love this site it is my new facebook!!! The people on here are not only fantastically helpful but its nice being able to chat and appreciate everyone elses pets I could not have done without this site for quite a few things when I got my axies due to bad advice I got from the shops I purchased them from so thank you Caudata & Caudata Members!!!

[John]

August 2010
Money carried forward from July: US $ 365.33*
Money received in August: +US $ 70.04*
Total Money: US $ 435.37
Domain Fees: -US $ 20.00**
Forum Softwares fees: -US $ 30.00**
Hosting fees end of July: -US $ 80.00**
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total money available carried forward to September: US $ 305.37

* Denotes amount is approximate due to € donations
** Amount is approximate due to currency conversion

[Heather at HMSG]

Hi John - I have only just found this thread (sorry - Autumn Term here is so manic I rarely have time to log in).

Any update since August?

I did wonder what was happening donor-wise some months back, when the system was 'withdrawn'. I think I have a part of the picture now.

I love & appreciate this resource.

Heather

[Eric]

Any particular reason there haven't been updates for Sept/Oct/Nov?

[John]

Sorry for not updating since last August. Here's a complete summary for September 2010 - May 2011 inclusive. These numbers are somewhat approximate due to currency changes over the past 9 months.

Money carried forward from August 2010: US $ 305.37
Money received from Sept. 2010 - May 2011 inclusive: +US $ 1236.85
Total Money: US $ 1542.22
Domain Fees: -US $ 45.00
Software Fees: -US $ 35.00
Hosting fees paid in period (approx): -US $ 800
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total money available carried forward to June: ~US $ 662

Sounds good but I've been letting it build up in order to pay for vBulletin 4 and some vB 4 related accoutrements. That will likely take out $400 or slightly more.

By the way, because of the headache of managing multiple currencies, I've removed Euros as an option of donating. This is simply because most of the donations come in as US dollars. The only currency issue I have to keep track of now is when changing $$ to Pounds to pay for the hosting (we are a UK site).

[François]

I will be happy to recommend to you a Company / Site where you can host for $9.95 / month and re-register every year for about $12
Your hosting seems very expensive and way more than you should pay. And, the hosting Company I use is very reliable, site is never ever down.
Cheers
Francois

[Aaron >( ' - ' )<]

Dont forget francois, its also to do with how many visits the website gets the more you get = the more you pay for hosting.

[François]

Depends on the hosting plan you get.