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As a result of last month’s announcement (see: Awakening Needs You!), Dirge is no longer in a position to cover the monthly shortfall after donations. We put out the call, and you all came together in an incredible way - so much so that The Galaxy Thrives On!
As part of our ongoing commitment to the community, the Admin team will now be posting a monthly balance sheet where you can review our incomings and outgoings. My real life job is in accounts and finance within small business and the not-for-profit sector, so I naturally put my hand up for this role - accountability is paramount when it comes to community-funded initiatives!
I'd like to run through a few key points before posting our first monthly review.
- All incoming and outgoing expenses listed are those charged to the Awakening PayPal account. This account remains tied to Dirge’s personal information, so we do not have direct access to it. 2FA and other security features prevent shared logins. We do, however, receive the automatically forwarded notification emails for donations and expenses. Dirge will also forward the monthly PayPal reports when time permits so we can reconcile the running balance sheet.
- PayPal fees vary based on the donor’s location. PayPal charges a 2.89% + $0.49 USD fee for U.S. donations; international donations incur an additional 1.5%. For simplicity, we have calculated all fees at the maximum possible rate (2.89% +1.50% + $0.49 USD). Actual fees will be lower, so the balance sheet reflects a conservative estimate. If you would like to view PayPal's merchant fees, please see PayPal Merchant Fees.
- Expenses will vary month to month depending on when quarterly or annual costs fall due, in addition to our regular monthly expenses. Based on Dirge’s historical averages, our expected monthly cost is $220 USD, which is why our goal is currently set at this amount. This figure may change after our server migration, at which point we will reassess our projected yearly expenses to determine an updated donation goal that covers expected costs and includes a buffer to provide a safety net for any one-off payments that may arise.
- Any savings listed on the balance sheet will be carried over as the starting balance for the following month. Once the PayPal reports are received, we will adjust the values to reflect the lower actual fees. The donation tracker on the website may differ because it will reduce by $220 each month to cover average expenses and maintain a buffer for irregular costs.
- Expense and income categories will vary each month depending on what comes in and what goes out. Our two regular expenses are server hosting and PayPal fees. Donations are split into one-off and renewal contributions.
- Please note: All donations are treated with strict privacy. Admin and Staff will not answer questions about the origin of any donation.
To have your donation contributions recognised within the community (cosmetic forum & Discord ranks), please follow the steps listed on the Donation page.
