1362860 - Update and extend donation-related information on the seamonkey-project.org website

Status: RESOLVED FIXED

(SeaMonkey :: Project Organization, defect)

Description

[rsx11m]

Tasks for this bug:
 - change references from "Mozilla Foundation" to "SeaMonkey e.V."
 - explain incorporation status (legal consequences = tax status for donations?)
 - explain what donations are intended and used for.

Comment 1

[rsx11m]

Attachment: Development main page [comment #3]

https://www.seamonkey-project.org/dev/#marketing

I didn't find any other occurrences/references in the tree related to donations. There are a couple of references to "Mozilla Foundation" in other contexts, like legal backing and hosting. Those still seem to be valid.

Comment 2

[Frank-Rainer Grahl (:frg)]

Comment on attachment 8865516 [details] [diff] [review]
Development main page [comment #3]

Looks good.

This should also be expanded:

https://www.seamonkey-project.org/donate/

In Europe SEPA transfer in Euros is the best way. Uses only the IBAN.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_Euro_Payments_Area

Comment 3

[rsx11m]

Comment on attachment 8865516 [details] [diff] [review]
Development main page [comment #3]

https://hg.mozilla.org/SeaMonkey/seamonkey-project-org/rev/73930a3b450f

Comment 4

[rsx11m]

(In reply to Frank-Rainer Grahl from comment #2)
> This should also be expanded:
> https://www.seamonkey-project.org/donate/

Yes, thanks. As discussed, I've pushed that simple change first given that the main donation page quite likely needs some discussion.
 
> In Europe SEPA transfer in Euros is the best way. Uses only the IBAN.
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_Euro_Payments_Area

So, this also includes countries not using the Euro then?

Another question, are donations tax deductible in Europe? Mozilla Foundation as such is a 501(c)(3) organization, but I'm wondering if that extends to the SeaMonkey Association which is in a different country. This probably only counts as a tax-deductible donation in the U.S. if donations were made through the Mozilla Foundation and then forwarded to SeaMonkey (I don't know how it worked in the past when that was still an option on their donation page).

Comment 5

[rsx11m]

Needs coordination with bug 1165707. I'd concentrate here on the basic donation scope, thus not go into general goals, statutes, or finances.

Comment 6

[Frank-Rainer Grahl (:frg)]

>> thus not go into general goals, statutes, or finances.

That would be mcsmurf territory anyway.

>> So, this also includes countries not using the Euro then?

Yes. Although I am unfamiliar with the actual cost for these. For SeaMonkey e.V. it would still be cheaper than PayPal for sure but the originating account holder might be charged a fee. I would probably try to recommend only transfers from SEPA countries which use the Euro on the website to avoid any surprises.

Comment 7

[rsx11m]

Attachment: Donation main page

Ok, so here the first attempt. I'm a bit light on the "use for" paragraph since much more than "infrastructure" didn't come into my mind (and is the most current motivation right now).

I've added a link to the SEPA description on Wikipedia for donations from Europe, and added that PayPal donations will be in Euro regardless of your own country (we may still have to fix the "U.K. Regions" only dropdown menu bug with PayPal).

New is the section on Tax Status. As far as I can tell, assuming that SeaMonkey e.V. is legally independent from the Mozilla Foundation, it doesn't qualify as a 501(c) organization (not incorporated in the U.S.). I don't know if donations can be deducted in Europe, thus left that open.

Comments welcome. :-)

Comment 8

[Frank-Rainer Grahl (:frg)]

Comment on attachment 8869752 [details] [diff] [review]
Donation main page

Looks like a good start. I would emphasize the Sepa transfer method for countries where it can be done in Euros. Doing it this way means we get the full amount with the least expenses for both us and the originating account holder

Comment 9

[rsx11m]

Attachment: Donation main page (v2)

Made the recommendation on SEPA transfers a bit stronger, next level would be "Please use this method for donations in Euro..."

Waiting for mcsmurf's feedback or any other comments.

Comment 10

[rsx11m]

Comment on attachment 8870070 [details] [diff] [review]
Donation main page (v2)

Ian, is this ok to be pushed?
No response from mcsmurf in a month now...

Comment 11

[Ian Neal]

Comment on attachment 8870070 [details] [diff] [review]
Donation main page (v2)

> Donating is the fastest way how you can efficiently support SeaMonkey.
>+Your donations will only be used for expenses directly related to the project
>+(e.g., infrastructure)
At what point does something change from directly to being indirectly related to the project?
I'd not want to tie our hands too much.

Comment 12

[rsx11m]

(In reply to Ian Neal from comment #11)
> At what point does something change from directly to being indirectly related to the project?

Hmm, not sure - I could just get rid of the "directly" part and simply leave it as "related" which should still be specific enough.

Comment 13

[Ian Neal]

Comment on attachment 8870070 [details] [diff] [review]
Donation main page (v2)

r=me with directly removed

Comment 14

[rsx11m]

Attachment: Donation main page (as landed)

https://hg.mozilla.org/SeaMonkey/seamonkey-project-org/rev/afe21d0ddcb2