Illarion.org

Does donating items help towards your city rank level up?

No.

At least not directly. Always keep in mind that our faction leaders are played by GMs and if you plan a massive donation, it might be a good idea to inform your faction leader about this.

The donations increase the tax amount and thus, the gem yield. It is worth it; for you cannot kill a dragon with a gold coin but you can kill it with a magical fire sword of destruction with six socketed perfect magical gems. Also, keep in mind that all faction members benefit from your donation, so the overall gem yield for your friends and fellow monster kill party members will be higher.

One more question:

Does your city rank influence the amount of gems that you receive?

yes

That kind of puts Galmair at a big dissavantage You can only get to level 2 there through honest questing.

I am only guessing but would say Galmair may need to influence the Don then for levels? Maybe coin under the table, gifts and other means such as player quests?

Sounds good

Honest+Galmair=Contradiction

Please note that the Don can make you rise in his favour and rank. It is all a matter of ingame events; the more ingame events you join, the more rank points you will have. The static quests are just the start, most probably, one will never be able to get to the highest rank without talking to the Don ever; this would be strange, wouldn't it?