tzippi,
If there are no sources for paying for unsuccessful efforts, and though I don’t know too much, I’ve never heard of one, do you think it would be a good thing if it became “the norm” to pay a minimal amount of money per “episode” of shidduch efforts? (episode meaning as relates to one specific shidduch suggested and worked on.) Do you think it would encourage more people to become shadchanim, or the flip side, perhaps discourage people from making an all-out effort on their child’s behalf, because the process, which can sometimes drag on for years unfortunately, can get too expensive? I’m not sure on which side I stand on this, other than a mentchlich expression of hakoras hatov which can of course include a monetary gift at the discretion of the family. What do you think?