Voluntary Support

Support Family Tree Maker

MakeFamilyTree.org is free to use and does not require an account. If the editor, guides, or templates helped you build a family tree, a voluntary tip helps cover maintenance, hosting, screenshots, templates, and new documentation.

Support Channel

Ko-fi is the active support channel for this site. It is a voluntary tip jar; the editor remains free and does not require payment.

Support MakeFamilyTree.org on Ko-fi

Buy Me a Coffee

Recommended for simple one-time tips

Good for small public tips from visitors who want a quick way to say thanks without joining a membership program.

Setup: Create a creator page, add the support URL here, and link it from the footer.

Ko-fi

Good for tips plus lightweight memberships

Useful if you want one-time tips now and may later offer supporter updates, template packs, or behind-the-scenes posts.

Setup: Create a Ko-fi profile and use a direct support button or profile link.

PayPal Donate

Good for broad international familiarity

Many visitors already recognize PayPal. It works well as a fallback channel for people who do not use creator platforms.

Setup: Create a PayPal donation or payment link and make sure the account name matches the site identity.

Stripe Payment Links

Best for owning the checkout flow

A clean option if you want direct card payments, fixed support amounts, and fewer creator-platform branding constraints.

Setup: Create fixed support amounts in Stripe and link to the hosted checkout pages.

GitHub Sponsors

Best if the project becomes open source

Useful when supporters are developers or when the editor code, templates, or issue tracker are public.

Setup: Enable Sponsors for the repository or organization, then add the sponsor link here.

Patreon

Better for recurring supporters

Use Patreon only if you plan to publish recurring updates, templates, or supporter notes. It is heavier than a simple tip jar.

Setup: Create low-friction tiers and explain exactly what supporters are funding.

What Support Funds

  • Keep the editor free and account-free.
  • Improve export quality for printing and sharing.
  • Add more family tree templates for real-world family structures.
  • Write practical guides about privacy, layout, photos, and research notes.
  • Maintain browser-local editing so family data does not need a cloud account.