Update on the Auction Closing Procedures

[heidi8]

We haven't figured them all out yet - and nothing below applies to the Lightning Round. We are still testing some processes and procedures but we do know a few things

Comments

[fenris_lorsrai]

If I win multiple auctions do I have to break them up into individual donations for X, Y, ans Z amount or can I do a donation for the total amount if I provide an itemized list to the offerers?

Having to put through a $5, $10, and $15 donation for 3 different auctions instead of a single $30 auctions seems inefficient and like it unnecessarily complicates the accounting for the charity.

[myr_soleil]

I'm wondering about that too, mostly for boring tax reasons.

[heidi8]

Answer now here and in the main post.

[silver_ryu]

For us Europeans there is the currency conversion issue to be considered in this again. So being able to donate one lump sum of all together would be favorable. So there won´t be money lost while converting.

[heidi8]

Understandable - although you can donate to non-US entities. But the answer is now here and in the original post.

[silver_ryu]

You see, I'm a bit miffy about credit cards numbers online, and until now the only paypal-accepting charities we found were US one. Thanks for clarifying though ^^

[heidi8]

Understood. Are any stores/coffee shops/grocers in Europe doing what Starbucks is doing in the US, taking donations for one or two entities in cash, no purchase necessary?

[silver_ryu]

In Spain I know you can donate to several organizations directly, like Red Cross, via bank account (they got the account numbers all over TV in the news). Another issue is the language one. English is universal, you could run into trouble if you had to work on receipts in Spanish, German, French, Italian...

We've checked German and Spanish Starbucks online and none offer the Haiti-donation option.

[unsentimentalf]

Oxfam in the UK takes donations in cash in any of their shops specifically for the Haiti fund and will provide a receipt.

And (she says with tax professional hat on) don't forget to Gift Aid it if you are a UK taxpayer. For a couple of minute's paperwork you can increase the value of the donation to the Haiti fund by around a third.

[silver_ryu]

Not that I'm an UK taxpayer, but maybe you could elaborate a little bit on the Gift Aid? I mean, in case some UK taxpayer needs any pointers. Like, what forms to ask for? (no idea of how that would work, if it's anything like Spain you would have to ask for a numbered form and fulfil it).

[unsentimentalf]

A good idea, thanks. Note below

[silver_ryu]

That took me reading it a couple of times to get it XD" I think for the first time I understood why people blink at my baby equations so much when they see them for the first time. But I guess if you are an UK taxpayer you will be familiar with the terminology. Nice idea though, to increase the actual money.

[heidi8]

Updated! I love the public beta process (no, really, I do!) because it helps suss out all of these issues before the Final Confirmation Procedure And Ancillary Important Stuff doc gets finalized.