We’ve noticed that monthly subscriptions are a really valuable and stable source of support for many collectives, and it might be a good moment to re-introduce or promote them more actively. That said, we’re also seeing a number of cancellations and some confusion from donors who didn’t realize they were signing up for a monthly contribution instead of making a one-time donation.
To help avoid confused or unhappy donors in the future, here are a few tips:
1. Check your donation box settings In some cases, a custom donation box may default to a monthly subscription. Since this is pre-selected, some donors don’t notice and proceed, even if they only intended to donate once. 👉 You can change the default to one-time donation, or create two separate options (one-time and monthly) to make things clearer.
2. Share the refund policy when needed If a donor is unhappy or made a mistake, you can direct them to our refund policy: docs.allforclimate.earth/donations/refunds There’s also a reference to this in the payment instructions for manual donations and on the donation page itself.
4. Reminder about optional tips Some donors are currently adding a 15% tip for Open Collective (OC) on top of their (monthly) donation. While appreciated, this is completely optional. 👉 Donors can remove it by clicking “edit” and selecting “I don’t want to contribute.” If relevant, you may want to gently highlight this, as some donors may prefer their full contribution to go directly to your cause.
