Not every collection is the same

Before picking a tool, work out what kind of money you are collecting. In most associations there are two broad types, and they are not handled the same way.

The first is fixed-price contributions: €25 for the museum outing, €60 for the club weekend, €12 for the end-of-season dinner. The amount is known in advance, everyone has to pay it, and the committee needs to know who has paid and who needs a reminder.

The second is open amounts: a kitty to fund a new project, a group gift, a call for donations at a charity event. People give what they want, and the main job is tracking what has been pledged against what has actually reached the bank account.

• Contributions towards an event or outing
• Funding a project, a trip or equipment
• A group gift for a member, coach or volunteer
• A call for donations at a charity event

Option 1: online fundraising platforms

Online fundraising and crowdfunding platforms are convenient: one page to share, card payment in a few clicks, and all the money in one place. For people used to paying online, it is often the smoothest option.

On the other hand, look closely at the business model. Depending on the platform, a commission is taken from the amounts raised, or donors are asked for a voluntary contribution at checkout. That is not necessarily a problem, but it is better to know before you launch and to explain it to your members.

Also, many of these tools are designed for pure donations. They suit a charity appeal very well, but much less an outing with several prices (adult, child, with or without a meal) where you need to know exactly who signed up for what.

Option 2: a spreadsheet and bank transfers

This is how many treasurers have always done it: a sheet listing the members, a "paid" column, and transfers checked by hand against the bank statement. Its big advantage is that it is free, and the money goes straight into the association's account.

The downside is the time it takes. You copy sign-ups from emails and texts, guess who sent the transfer labelled "J SMITH TRIP", chase late payers one by one and share the latest version of the file with the rest of the committee. Beyond twenty or so people, mistakes creep in quickly.

Option 3: Filomy, kitty and collection with 0% fees

Filomy offers two complementary tools, depending on the kind of collection. In both cases the money is paid directly to the association (bank transfer, Wero, Lydia, PayPal, cheque or cash): Filomy takes no commission on these payments.

For open amounts, the kitty with pledges is 100% free, with 0% fees and no limit. Each contributor pledges an amount and chooses how to pay it: a Wero or Lydia link, an IBAN, or cash and cheques handed over in person. You tick off payments as they arrive, add donations received directly, and see the total pledged and the total paid in real time. If you already have another online kitty, its link can sit alongside the pledges.

For fixed-price contributions, sign-up and collection works from a simple link, with no app or account needed. You set options with their prices, the total updates live, and every sign-up gets a unique reference to include with the payment. You send reminders in one click, import your bank statement to match transfers automatically, export to CSV or Excel, ask for a deposit if needed, and share the work with co-managers from the committee.

For a cause or an association, the Solidarity Box is free: it combines a kitty with a space for messages of support, which works well for a charity event.

• Kitty and pledges: free, 0% fees, no limit
• Sign-up and collection: free up to 50 responses, then unlimited by unlocking the mini-site (€39.90 one-off) or with the Event Box
• Association mini-site: Pro subscription at €39.90 per month

Limits to know before you choose

To be clear: Filomy does not issue tax receipts and does not take card payments in the kitty or in sign-up and collection. People pay using the methods you offer, and the money lands in the association's account.

If your association can issue tax receipts for donations and your donors expect them, keep your usual tool for those donations. Filomy is still useful alongside it for everything else: outing fees, group gifts, small projects funded by members.

Which tool for which collection?

In short, start from the need rather than the tool. A few practical pointers:

• Outing, trip or dinner with set prices: sign-up and collection, to know who is coming, at what price, and who has paid.
• Group gift or members' project: kitty with pledges, free and fee-free.
• Charity event: Solidarity Box, with a kitty and messages of support.
• Tax-deductible donations or card payment essential: your usual fundraising platform.
• A very small one-off collection: a spreadsheet may be enough, if you have time to keep it up to date.