October 2023 Donations & Finances

[Cipher]

Hello everyone!

 

As always with these posts, I’d like to drop a quick reminder that there are more ways to support Homecoming than just through donations. For a general overview of the different ways you can help Homecoming, check out this thread.

 

---

Last Month: September 2023

 

Last month we accepted $5,070.07 in donations, $6.12 over our target for the month. As always, any additional funding remaining at the end of each month is put towards our operating expenses for the following month or additional expenses for the current month.

 

Update: OVH has increased prices on our additional IP addresses by approx. $0.60 per address. They invoiced us for an additional $18 this month, and the change will be included in our main invoice from them going forward.

 

Here is the breakdown of our expenses in September:

• $4,398.99 for our hardware infrastructure from OVH
  • + $18 due to price increases for our additional IP addresses
• $473.59 to our legal counsel for work completed up to July 31st
  • Shows as transfer to bank account for wire transfer
• $121.19 for our Google G-Suite services
• $25.00 for our Air instance from Paperspace
• $20.82 for the AWS EC2 instance serving our email
• $17.00 for one 1-year domain renewal
  • IONOS has renewed the domain but has not generated an invoice for this yet, I’ll update the post when we’ve received an invoice from them
• $9.73 for security / administration software (redacted)

 

---

This Month: October 2023

 

The donation target for October 2023 is $4,972.83. Here is a breakdown of how the funds are allocated:

• $4,416.99 for our hardware infrastructure from OVH
• $300.00 for our annual DocuSign renewal
• $121.57 for our Google G-Suite services
• $85.37 to our legal counsel for work completed up to August 31st
• $25.00 for our Air instance from Paperspace
• $19.25 for the AWS EC2 instance serving our email
• $9.73 for security / administration software (redacted)

---

 

Our donation system will be open as of the time of this post with a donation target of $4,972.83 and will automatically close once that target is met.

 

- The Homecoming Team

 

[Sabre]

Donation in!

Yay!

[Abraxus]

As always, my pleasure to contribute to a worthy cause.  I do wish there was active advertisement of Homecoming's existence going on.  I feel like the membership numbers (and, by extension, the donation capacity) would be greatly increased.  I don't know how many times a week I see a post by a new member, saying that they always loved this game, and remembered it fondly; but had no earthly idea that it had been resurrected.  I have no doubts that there are many more out there in the same position.  Word of mouth is OK.  But, yelling it from the rooftops in forums where it has the chance to gain traction, would be much better. 

Just my .02 of a dollar's worth.

Edited September 30, 2023 by Abraxus

[Asacledhae]

I'm also here as usual, doing my part. 

As always, a big thanks to those who support and keep our city alive.

[Naa]

Finally made it in time to donate before it closes 😄 

[CoX4ever]

As always a pleasure to make sure HC keeps going. Thanks to the whole team keeping Paragon alive

[Hardship]

Woot! I got a donation in this month!

[ArmyofNone]

Is there a way to donate to avoid the paypal fees?

 

 

[JoeMage]

Donated!

 

[ArtoriosRex]

Recommend adding a system MOTD alerting players that the donation window is open. I bet there's a bunch who have no idea.

[TorontoSunshine]

Doing my donatory part to support my kidnappery and thievery ways, but clowns still hurt. 

[TorontoSunshine]

15 hours ago, ArmyofNone said:

Is there a way to donate to avoid the paypal fees?

 

 

There should be a credit card option. I am not sure if that would help?

[Kinestron]

Finally got a donation in. Thank you for all your hard work, HC Team!

[biostem]

Got mine in this month.  Keep up the great work!

[ArtoriosRex]

10 hours ago, TorontoSunshine said:

There should be a credit card option. I am not sure if that would help?

 

I checked a couple weeks ago; it looks like Paypal and credit card fees are roughly equivalent. Theoretically, we could mail them paper checks, but I don't think they'd want to broadcast a mailing address... unless HC got a PO box, of course.

[TorontoSunshine]

17 minutes ago, ArtoriosRex said:

 

I checked a couple weeks ago; it looks like Paypal and credit card fees are roughly equivalent. Theoretically, we could mail them paper checks, but I don't think they'd want to broadcast a mailing address... unless HC got a PO box, of course.

It would be nice to have many methods of payment for those who don't have Paypal or are uncomfortable using credit cards.

[Zenith Mech Man]

On 9/30/2023 at 3:18 PM, Abraxus said:

As always, my pleasure to contribute to a worthy cause.  I do wish there was active advertisement of Homecoming's existence going on.  I feel like the membership numbers (and, by extension, the donation capacity) would be greatly increased.  I don't know how many times a week I see a post by a new member, saying that they always loved this game, and remembered it fondly; but had no earthly idea that it had been resurrected.  I have no doubts that there are many more out there in the same position.  Word of mouth is OK.  But, yelling it from the rooftops in forums where it has the chance to gain traction, would be much better. 

Just my .02 of a dollar's worth.

 

Indeed If advertisement was possible the player numbers would be higher

[Grotty]

Just joined! Donated, love ya all! thanks for all the work you do! Bringing back my childhood!

[MoggieCanada]

2 hours ago, Grotty said:

Just joined! Donated, love ya all! thanks for all the work you do! Bringing back my childhood!

Welcome back!

 

[MoggieCanada]

Okay I managed to make the window for the first time in a while but only because the window is still open. Whats the deadline to get all those fees paid before we fall behind?

[Abraxus]

I am honestly a little surprised how long it has taken to meet the donation target.  I remember a time when it would complete in 30 minutes, or less.  Here we are a little over two days later, and still at 89%.  I know that gives folks who normally miss the window, a chance they haven't had much, up 'till now.  But, I do wonder if it is a communication issue, a membership issue, or just a reluctance to donate any longer.

[Crystal Dragon]

Donated, going to poke at a couple friends to see if they can help out too. Edit: Okay more than a couple friends but hey, trying to spread the word!

Edited October 3, 2023 by Crystal Dragon

[TorontoSunshine]

14 hours ago, Abraxus said:

I am honestly a little surprised how long it has taken to meet the donation target.  I remember a time when it would complete in 30 minutes, or less.  Here we are a little over two days later, and still at 89%.  I know that gives folks who normally miss the window, a chance they haven't had much, up 'till now.  But, I do wonder if it is a communication issue, a membership issue, or just a reluctance to donate any longer.

I noticed that too but I think (and this is just my opinion) it's because people are feeling the pinch from skyrocketing inflation. My weekly grocery shopping bill went up $20 Canadian since January so it costs me $80 more every month just to buy food. My landlady raised my rent to cover her rising costs as well. I can see how people might not have the money to donate since their disposable income is shrinking. I don't buy new games when they come out any more: I either wait until the price drops or purchase games from independent developers on Steam. 

Edited October 3, 2023 by TorontoSunshine

[MrAxe]

1 hour ago, TorontoSunshine said:

I noticed that too but I think (and this is just my opinion) it's because people are feeling the pinch from skyrocketing inflation. My weekly grocery shopping bill went up $20 Canadian since January so it costs me $80 more every month just to buy food. My landlady raised my rent to cover her rising costs as well. I can see how people might not have the money to donate since their disposable income is shrinking. I don't buy new games when they come out any more: I either wait until the price drops or purchase games from independent developers on Steam. 

It's the same situation here in the UK.