For the next three months, you'll see a request for a 'platform tip' on contributions to projects hosted by Open Source Collective.
Over the course of the past 3 years Open Collective, the platform we use to host thousands of open source projects, has gradually replaced a fixed, 5% fee on contributions through https://opencollective.com with an optional tip: Now, three years after its introduction, Open Collective are confident that platform tips could provide enough financial support to make their community fundraising tools free for hosts like us. So, between 15th January and 15th April, you'll see a platform tip request on every new contribution on projects hosted by Open Source Collective.
If the trial is a success Open Source Collective will lower our fee on contributions through https://opencollective.com, making donations more cost-effective for our Collectives.
This is a disgusting overuse of tipping culture. Open Collective should charge what is needed to run the business and pay employees a living wage. Donors shouldn't be guilt tripped into donating more than they had planned. Open Collective should not turn into Ticket Master with fees on top of fees.
As a maintainer hosted by Open Source Collective, I'm interested to see how this might be an option for replacing the fees that we are already charged to use Open Source Collective. I like the idea of operating on a basis of generosity, encouraging those who can add a bit more to support the platform to do so, but allowing those who can't or don't want to, to not include a tip.
I guess the challenge will be seeing if it's practical from the funding perspective of what the Open Source Collective needs to operate, and that will be based on how well it's communicated to people as to what the tip goes towards, and how their contribution supports the projects that are hosted by Open Source Collective.
Folks, you may have noticed that, as of today, we have not rolled out tips to Collectives hosted by Open Source Collective.
The feedback that we received (thanks MCHamster) made it obvious that we needed more clarity around the fees that are charged, and who they're charged by, on crowdfunding contributions through the Open Collective platform. So we're working with Open Collective Inc. who maintain the platform, to give each Collective the choice of a 5% platform fee, or the ability to collect a tip, covering the platform fee.
This change will unbundle the single 10% fee that you see today for crowdfunded donations through the Open Collective platform into a fee for fiscal hosting services to Open Source Collective (5%) and a fee for use of the Open Collective platform.
MC Hamster
Posted on January 12, 2024