[Foundation-l] fundraising idea

[Thomas Dalton]

On 18/11/2007, Brian McNeil <brian.mcneil at wikinewsie.org> wrote:
> I've processed direct debits from a programming perspective - i.e. written
> mainframe COBOL code (don't laugh) to produce the tapes you submit to the
> bank (in UK). So, there is an ongoing cost to the Foundation in setting up a
> system to create a request that the bank make the payment and sending the
> list of requests to the bank. There may be other implications in retaining
> the data, perhaps the U.K. Data Protection Act, or similar in other
> countries.
>
> For a number of countries, the alternative is a standing order.
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_order_%28banking%29
>
> Belgium has a mechanism for setting up a recurring payment/standing order,
> but that isn't in the article which is not as comprehensive as [[Direct
> debit]]. Your standing order puts the processing and data protection issues
> in the bank's lap. You just need to be able to publicise a bank account
> number in the country.

Yes, a standing order would also work. Can WMF set up standing orders,
or would that require the donors to handle the paperwork?