First off, let me start by saying I’m a big proponent of donations as a means of supporting platforms like Lemmy, and their hosts. This approach, when carried out in the spirit of transparency and community engagement, can do wonders for the growth and sustainability.
Hosting an instance myself, I’m fully aware of the costs associated with running servers, handling traffic, and providing the best possible experience for users. I am Lucky that im in a position where right now I am able to wear that coat, but I am more than willing to financially support other instances where I find value (and I have), and I have no doubt many of you feel the same way. But while we’re on this topic, I think it’s important to talk about financial transparency.
As users, we entrust these platforms with our time, our discussions, and in the case of donations, our hard-earned money. I believe it’s fair to ask for a little insight into how our contributions are being used. What proportion goes towards server costs, maintenance, development,staffing, or perhaps even community projects?
My hope is for Lemmy instances to set a precedent by adopting an ‘open book’ policy when it comes to spending. It would be a great step towards fostering trust and engagement in our community.
There are plenty of platforms out there which handle donations, but I wonder if there’s one that already facilitates such transparency? If not, I believe it would be a worthy endeavor to find or create one that does.
Would you appreciate more transparency on how donations are spent? And do you know of any donation platforms that encourage this level of openness? Your feedback is always appreciated, as at some point, I may need to do the same.
That is certainly valid and I understand where you’re coming from.
I do agree that if someone enjoys a site and wants to support its maintenance and development, they should feel free to donate. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with an instance making a profit or even a living from their hard work.
However, where I respectfully diverge in opinion is on the aspect of transparency. I see an inherent value in it, particularly in our open-source, decentralized community. I’m not proposing we audit every expense or dictate how someone should be compensated for their time. Rather, I’m interested in fostering a culture of openness, particularly regarding contributions back to the source code development.
This source code is the foundation of all our instances, the very groundwork that allows them to exist. In my opinion, seeing an instance openly contribute back to this vital element is highly commendable. It’s this specific aspect that informs my decision on whether, and how much, I’m willing to donate.
Just like you judge the worthiness of your donations based on the development and maintenance of the site, I make my judgments based on their contributions back to the source code. I’d even love to see big instances donating and growing smaller instances.
It’s simply about differing priorities, and I believe there’s room for all perspectives in our diverse community.