Try to get more donations by re-thinking the way Backdrop gathers them

[indigoxela]

This is a copy of a question in backdrop-issues

There has been a longer discussion in our Zulip chat regarding how we could improve the way Backdrop collects donations: https://backdrop.zulipchat.com/#narrow/stream/218635-Backdrop/topic/monetizing.20Backdrop

Currently the Donate button is hidden away on a subpage. Suggestions have been made to add a "Pay what you want" button (including 0$ option) next to the download link.

Please note

Actually the discussion started as another "monetizing" thing, but that has been objected.

But then, inspired by the elemtaryOS approach which seems to be successful, the direction of the discussion changed.

That's why we didn't re-open existing issues (#2419, #3757), but started a fresh one.

The focus here is different

We're trying to evaluate a different design/wording for our donation button and where to put it so it gets more attention.

[yorkshire-pudding]

@indigoxela
That is a really interesting article and idea and I can see how that would work. That suggestion also gets round one of my bug bears with donating to open source; most open source projects are US based so donations are only eligible for tax relief (whether an individual or a business) if you're US based. A pay now button, especially if it generates a valid receipt should be valid expenditure for any business regardless of where they are in the world. Need to make it clear that it will generate a valid receipt.

I don't know where it should be positioned though, as many people (myself included) spent a good bit of time trying it out before deciding to use it. Now I have decided, I would be happy to pay for it. As I've also mentioned, I would be happy to pay a small percentage of any profit that I make through using it. For the reasons stated above, making it pay now rather than donate is better for non-US businesses as it is a business cost rather than a non-eligible donation that is excluded from expenditure in UK corporation tax and can't be added back in as a deduction because it doesn't meet the legal requirements.

[indigoxela]

many people (myself included) spent a good bit of time trying it out before deciding to use it. Now I have decided, I would be happy to pay for it.

@yorkshire-pudding good point. 😄

But even after that, this button currently is hard to find. A slightly more prominent place might be helpful.