Meanwhile, I'm not sure how to effect the actual PayPal transaction. There is no mention of PayPal on the actual donation form on the website. They mention something called BPAY and give an account number, but PayPal asks only for an email or phone number when you say you want to send money.
Phillip, do you think it will be sufficient to enter their email? I don't want the funds to go astray. I might wait til all the funds are available and try a test run for $10.00 and see if it goes through. I'll fill out the donation form and fax it so they have all our info. Did you get charged for your faxes?
I have researched the various funding options we have to get our contribution to them. All have fees. Wiring money internationally direct to their account is probably going to be the most expensive, but each bank is different. Their bank account info is on the link below. Using Paypal for funding from a eCheck (your checking account) or from the Paypal balance already on your Paypal account involves a 2.5% currency conversion fee and a $5 transaction fee which is taken from the contribution. They also take credit cards, and if your bank is a credit union or at least not a money grabber, they may only charge a 1.5-2% foreign currency conversion fee, making it the cheapest option. I don't recommend mailing them a check or money order drawn in Australian dollars - that can get expensive and complicated to handle in both directions.
So, if the funds are primarily in your Paypal account already and not in a checking or savings account, I recommend simply using Paypal to transfer the funds drawn on your available Paypal balance (there are no additional fees beyond the currency conversion and transaction fee). If you have the money primarily in your checking account, then doing a Paypal eCheck or debit Visa/Mastercard transaction are the best options because both charge similar fees. It's also possible to do a combinaton of the two. The fees seem mostly percentage-based, not flat rate.
The exchange rate is a factor. As of today, based on the amount earlier in the thread, you'd enter $1313.74 AUD. Any fees are deducted from that amount when sent on to the recipient when using Paypal.
So here are instructions:
Start here.PAYPAL METHOD: ECHECK
Click Donate button.
Enter dollar amount of contribution in Australian dollars and then login to Paypal account.
Under the confirmation screen, verify exchange rate. If wildly off, start over at the original link.
Choose "change payment method" and select eCheck option, which will associate with the checking account you configured Paypal with.
Confirm transaction and send.
PAYPAL METHOD: USE PAYPAL BALANCE
Click Donate button.
Enter dollar amount of contribution in Australian dollars and then login to Paypal account.
Under the confirmation screen, verify exchange rate. If wildly off, start over at the original link.
By default, funds transferred come from your Paypal account balance.
Confirm transaction and send.
PAYPAL METHOD: COMBINATION OF THE TWO
(If you have some money in your Paypal account and the rest in your checking account, this option will work)
Click Donate button.
Enter dollar amount of contribution in Australian dollars and then login to Paypal account.
Under the confirmation screen, verify exchange rate. If wildly off, start over at the original link.
By default, Paypal will first exhaust all available funds in your Paypal account. The remaining balance will be drawn from the checking account associated with your Paypal account.
Confirm transaction and send.
USE A CREDIT/DEBIT CARD
Click on PDF contribution form.
Enter pertinent details with Visa or Mastercard number.
Fax it to them at 011-61-8-9381-5991, or you can fax or e-mail it to me and I can forward it on to them. My 24 hour fax is 585-935-7196.
