Re: [Gnumed-devel] project cost management (was installing and using gnumed)

[Jim Busser]

On Mar 5, 2004, at 10:06 AM, Sebastian Hilbert wrote:
> > The larger issue of supporting costs does make me wonder whether, and
> > when, we should organize whatever monies are gathered. It would be
> > impossible to do any responsible fundraising without a system into
> > which to direct the funds.
> Which funds ? I don't think its a good idea to put up a sign like 
> 'donate
> here'. People will always ask where the money goes and what we do with 
> the money.
> I like the way the guys over at freeb do it. Offer a bounty on a per 
> feature
> basis. People could then donate for a particular feature.

Agree - I myself would be uninterested donating to "unspecified 
expenses" - we should not be looking to achieve a "positive" balance to 
use against (especially unspecified) "future" expenses.

I would suggest:
- keep to a minimum the need to collect and manage any money
- do not accept money, EXCEPT toward specified purposes
- where possible, secure instead non-monetary donation e.g. of 
bandwidth, server space, waivers of fees

If & when we need to collect & manage any money, I suggest that
- authority to transfer any funds require ANY two among a pool of at 
least four or five people with periodic rotation / renewal of the group
- we would need an electronic financial service able to support the 
above (AFAIK banks can only accommodate hard-copy signatures)
- I do like the "bounty per feature" approach but would suggest 
"pledges toward" a feature, and not collecting any real money in 
advance
- any money received should be reported on a monthly(?) basis