[feature] Option to set specific amount donors can give

[philo351]

The idea here for an option to set the amount donors are able to give. This would mean that instead of having individual donors choose the amount they give, creators would choose the single amount all donors give. In this case, a creator could set up their account to take exactly $3.00/wk donations only - nothing more, nothing less.

Reasons this would be helpful: 1) This feature would help simplify the process of giving on the part of donors.

2) A set amount would make it easier to communicate to new donors the exact amount they'll be charged at payment time. For example, when someone decides to give $3.00/wk, they're not charged $3.00, but instead $18.61, which is six weekly $3.00 payments at once with fees for each donation included. The reasons for this are understandable, but all the same, we're working with "microfunding" here, and the extra amount charged at payment time can be a clear barrier that discourages giving on the part of some. IF I can know that there is a single recurring amount donors will be able to give, O can explain to prospective donors the exact figure they'll be charged at the time of payment.

Thanks!

[mattbk]

IF I can know that there is a single recurring amount donors will be able to give, [I] can explain to prospective donors the exact figure they'll be charged at the time of payment.

This only works if you are the only person to whom the donor is giving. As soon as they donate $3.00 a week to you and $0.50 a week to someone else, the math changes.

The payin page seems to make fees pretty clear as well. You could just as easily explain to potential donors the same way you have hear, without needing to set a hard number for everyone.

As you say, we're working with micropayments. Why would you want to put a minimum amount on donations?

[philo351]

Thanks for the reply, mattbk!

Starting with your last point: "As you say, we're working with micropayments. Why would you want to put a minimum amount on donations?" To be clear, rather than accepting a minimum amount from any number of donors, I'd like to be able to set a "fixed" donation amount and to limit to the number of donors my account will carry.

I'm not looking for a mass audience. I just want to build a core of committed donors. This is why I suggest two options be added to Liberapay:

1. The option to limit the amount of donors an account can carry. In this case, I'd set my limit to a certain amount, like 500 donors. After reaching that goal, no more donors would be accepted on my page. The "Donate" button would no longer appear and my account wouldn't be listed in Liberapay's Explore list. (Instead, it would only come up through a direct search or link).

2. The option set the donation rate to a fixed amount. A fixed donation amount coupled with a limited donor count establishes a limit to the amount of funds I'm willing to take.

   I want to be able to incorporate the ethics of "Enough". This measure demonstrations that I'm doing this to make a living, not a profit. This way, each donor knows they are an equal contributor and shareholder in backing my campaign (something I'd personally appreciate as a donor). Instead of my incentives being driven by a pursuit of profit, donors can know my incentives are driven by retaining their support.

These two options would not only help me reach my own goals, but it can allow other Liberapay accounts reach theirs as well. With these kinds of limits, we can make the Explore tool much more effective, we lighten the burden of competition, and we create more diversity by allowing more campaigns to get visibility.

---

On your first point: "This only works if you are the only person to whom the donor is giving. As soon as they donate $3.00 a week to you and $0.50 a week to someone else, the math changes." I appreciate that Liberapay has a such a solid explanation about rates, but I'm concerned that despite that clarity, someone ready to commit to a payment amount of $0.50 /wk might be discouraged or confused by the next page that says they'll be charged $18.84. Even though there's an explanation at the top that says it's a bill for 36 weeks worth of donations. There's more of a chance in this case that a prospective donor will think, "That's a bit much for now. Maybe another time..."

If I were able to set a fixed donation amount, however, I can let prospective donors know ahead of time "exactly" how much they'll be paying up front (and why). It helps, that's all.

---

Any thoughts?

Best wishes, and thanks for your time!

[Changaco]

(Linked issues: #995 and #975.)