I used to be a member and I'm looking to be again, so I'll throw my 2 cents in the pot as well...
I used to use ALOT of the FTP. I dont know what that other method is or even how to use it. 0_o
Email, Pop3, Spam Filtering... and mayhap someday even alittle PHP.
As for bringing in money,
1) Art community such as dA in which each member would pay a "joining contribution" of say 5-10 dollars for indefinate hosting (website hosting would be free on the side as it is now) this way if people want to be part of a community without knowing html they can, as well as have uniformal access to other artists.
2) this fuels #2, with a dedicated art site, produce community works such as calendars or semi-annual art books, with 50% proceeds going to the artists and 50% going to Xepher, after print costs are out of the way. I know not everyone has the same art style, so mayhap even make a couple different options such as one for "robots," one for "furry/anthromorphic," etc...
3) Throw a raffle! Mayhap invest in a academic edition (often times found for 1/2 the price as the regular version, and just as functional) of something like Photoshop or Painter or something (how bout even a tablet?!) like that as a prize. (or sometimes contacting the company, they might even throw in free promotional copies) Raffle off chances to win at $3-5 an e-ticket.
4) Like 3 but throw a contest! Whoever can pull in the most donations every 3 months would win something ..?
4) Contact well known comic/ art designers commonly found on the comic places and write them personally. Explain what a great site xepher is and what you'd like it to become. I'm sure many would even be flattered and want to join a site like this, which would in turn pull their following with them and bring them here = more donations.
There's got to be more, but I need to find them first.
