Why should I donate to Protagonize?

Protagonize is an independently-owned web site based in the Vancouver, BC, Canada area. The site was developed and is currently operated and maintained by a single individual, and until our subscription system (currently under development) is ready, we have very few sources of income from the site at the present time.

With over 19,800 members from around the world, running the site requires a lot of time and, unfortunately, money. A significant amount has been invested into paying for the site's hosting and servers, the minimal marketing/advertising to bring in new authors from other sites, and other day-to-day operating costs. Although the site is free for our members to use, it's not free for us to run.

For those of you wondering how these optional subscriptions will work, please check out the FAQ!

What's in it for me?

Making a financial contribution to help keep Protagonize running smoothly would be much appreciated! Depending on the amount you contribute†, we'll provide you with a spiffy profile badge and some other handy features:

• Over $10: Community supporter badge (yay!)
• Over $25: No ads, 2 recommendations per day, create up to 10 groups, Pro account‡ and badge
• Over $50: No ads, 3 recommendations per day, create up to 20 groups, Plus account‡ and badge, beta access

† All donations are processed via PayPal (which accepts credit cards) in Canadian Dollars (CAD).
‡ One-year subscriptions will be activated once our subscription system is in place.

Note: When donating, please use the "notes" field to let us know your account handle, so we can upgrade your account accordingly.

As a bonus, donations over $25.00 CAD will receive a free one-year Pro membership on Protagonize once our subscription system is complete. Donations over $50.00 CAD will receive a free one-year Plus membership, which includes additional features over the regular Pro account. That's a discount of $5.00 (Pro) and $10.00 (Plus) over our subscription rates once the system goes live.

I don't use Paypal — are there other ways to donate?

To clarify, making a donation via PayPal doesn't require an account there. You can use it strictly as a secure online payment service without actually registering.

Still unable to use PayPal? Here are a few alternative ways to contribute:

• Email money transfer (an option at some Canadian and foreign banks)
• Wire transfer (may include additional bank fees)
• Certified/cashier's cheque or money order via postal mail
  (no cash or personal cheques, please!)

If you're interested in any of these other donation options, please contact us via email and we'll provide you with the necessary details.

Can I donate a gift membership to a friend?

Yes, of course you can! :) If you're feeling charitable, you're welcome to donate on behalf of a friend on the site. When you're making your donation, simply put in the account of the user you're donating in the "notes" field instead of your own. We'll make sure your friend receives their gift account in all haste!

Do you offer refunds?

Unfortunately, donations and subscription payments are non-refundable. Please keep this in mind before making a donation.

Have a question about donating? Please email us and we'll help you out.