CiviCRM Community Forums (archive)

So, I just searched and scanned the multiple years of posts in the various child boards (Using CiviContribute, Using CiviMember, UsingCiviEvent, APIs/Hooks) about Other Amounts / Variable amounts for memberships, event fees, etc. Seems there is not yet a good fix but a lot of requests for that and some decent workarounds.

Our scenario (and that of many others, from the posts): we have Annual and Monthly Sustaining membership types.  Often, people want to give amounts outside of our price sets - like, say, $200 one time for an Annual membership, or $10 a month for 12 months, etc etc.

Yes, we could add more Price Set options, and clutter the page, but we want anyone to be able to join as a Member in whatever amount they choose - especially if choosing a larger amount!

We have a temporary workaround for Annual memberships in any/Other Amount - we created an option in the Price Set of $0.00, with a label of "Other Amount (enter Other Amount below)" and below that we have a label with Other Amount (of field type Text/Numeric Quantity with a Price of $1) with a box  to enter a number which is multiplied X $1 (our page is here if you want to take a look - http://goo.gl/Lb6XNh ).

Unfortunately, that workaround does not create a membership, it records the Other Amount as a Contribution with type Member Dues, so I will have to add a Membership for those joining using the Other Amount option.   

I have not yet tried  the same temporary workaround for Monthly sustaining memberships, and will, but the problem with Other Amount is compounded potentially 12 times (for each month in a year) if I have to manually add a Membership update based on Other Amount for monthly sustainers.

Ideally, we should be able to let anyone join or attend a paid event or contribute in any Other Amount if we choose to do that, and that Other Amount gets recorded just as any other in a Price Set

So - ideas on any better workarounds are appreciated - but since this may take some doing, I'm organizing a Make It Happen and recruiting others who have raised the issue over the years.  I'll post an update here soon with a link to the Make It Happen. Feel free to contact me directly if you desire.

Joe McLaughlin
Citizen Action of New York