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Ask HN: Advice in collecting dues from a membership organization/club?

I help out with a 500 member organization, an alumni-type of group. Everyone in this organization is a volunteer. We don't have a lot of funds at the moment, we are just now moving from a loose unorganized collection of people with a similar background to an actual orgnization.

* Can you please recommend a service to automate the collection of dues from members of an organization? We'd like to offer them the option of having a $5 - $20 per month taken out of their checking account. Obviously participation is voluntary and opt in.

I have seen what PayPal and BlackBaud have to offer. Other options? Can we get a better rate than having the provider take 4.9% and $.30 per transaction?

I'd love to hear your recommendations and experience if you have had it in this area.

Thanks!

( 4 comments | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: Advice in collecting dues from a membership organ... by johnny22 on Friday December 03, 2010 @03:00PM (#1967243)
just depends on if you want to build it, or let somebody else run it. Off the top of my head.

1. "web 2.0" SaaS like recur.ly

2. wepay.com

3. whatever your merchant account offers - they are all starting to offer recurring subscription as part of their API. (perhaps for an extra fee)

Re:Ask HN: Advice in collecting dues from a membership organ... by middlegeek on Friday December 03, 2010 @03:42PM (#1967362)
We are definitely looking for something pre-built and do not have a merchant account.

Recur.ly looks a little pricey. Wepay does recurring billing, but not recurring payments.

Thanks, though!

Re:Ask HN: Advice in collecting dues from a membership organ... by motvbi on Friday December 03, 2010 @02:59PM (#1967238)
wepay.com is one option, their fees are listed here wepay.com/about/fees
Re:Ask HN: Advice in collecting dues from a membership organ... by middlegeek on Friday December 03, 2010 @03:43PM (#1967367)
They do recurring billing, but not recurring payments. We want a "set it and forget it" option for people to choose.

Thanks, though!