Please people, DONATE!

[wolfen69]

i think it's time that alot of us should consider donating money to linux/open source projects. it's amazing the amount of time these people take out of their own lives to make sure WE have a good alternative OS/application. developers have families and bills to pay too. if everyone that used linux gave just 2 dollars(insert the currency of your choice), developers would be able to spend more time improving linux/open source. every dollar DOES matter. we can make a big difference just by giving a little.

if it is only 1, 2, 5, 10 or more dollars, please consider giving back this holiday season. and for those that are truly financially strapped, and can't give money, there a other ways you can help. such as beta testing and bug reporting. or even artwork. and most of all, spread the word about linux.

let's do this thing right and give back a little..

[Nano Geek]

I agree, but several people here already donate by, as you said, filing bugs, beta testing, and helping new users to get started with Ubuntu.

[-grubby]

yes, but to which project?

[23meg]

I agree, but several people here already donate by, as you said, filing bugs, beta testing, and helping new users to get started with Ubuntu.

Donations can be a "last resort" means of contribution for many people; if with nothing else, they can contribute with their wallets. Many people state that they're unable or unwilling to file bugs, do testing, so on; it's not unreasonable to think many of these people are in a financial position to donate small amounts.

yes, but to which project?

Whichever project you're interested in, or that you think deserves and/or needs it the most.

[juxtaposed]

i think it's time that alot of us should consider donating money to linux/open source projects. it's amazing the amount of time these people take out of their own lives to make sure WE have a good alternative OS/application. developers have families and bills to pay too. if everyone that used linux gave just 2 dollars(insert the currency of your choice), developers would be able to spend more time improving linux/open source. every dollar DOES matter. we can make a big difference just by giving a little.

I agree :)

[daynah]

where do we donate? The majority (I think...) here is lazy American. Links!

[smartboyathome]

Here you go (http://www.ubuntu.com/community/donations), for all the lazy Americans (which I am not one of).

[Kingsley]

I'm too lazy to move my mouse pointer to the "Make a Donation" button.

[-grubby]

I'm too lazy to move my mouse pointer to the "Make a Donation" button.

:lolflag:

[wolfen69]

where do we donate? The majority (I think...) here is lazy American. Links!

usually every linux/open source website has a donate button or address where to send money to. choose a distro or project, and help out! let's go!

[Nano Geek]

I'm too lazy to move my mouse pointer to the "Make a Donation" button.Uh..can't...quite...reach...

[-grubby]

Uh..can't...quite...reach...

too...much....work....ow....it...hurts....

[dasunst3r]

I, for one, donate $10 to Ubuntu for every release I use. I also donate whenever there are calls for donation.

[wolfen69]

I, for one, donate $10 to Ubuntu for every release I use. I also donate whenever there are calls for donation.

if everyone were like you, linux would have more money to work with than microsoft. good job!

[kopinux]

its hard for people who dont use credit cards or has paypals.

not unless its like those unicef drop box located in the stores cashier everywhere where you just drop any coins or cash on it.
*hinting an idea*

[23meg]

I don't donate to Ubuntu, but to small upstream projects. Ubuntu isn't (http://www.ubuntu.com/news/UbuntuFoundation) really in need of donations at this point.

[wolfen69]

I don't donate to Ubuntu, but to small upstream projects. Ubuntu isn't (http://www.ubuntu.com/news/UbuntuFoundation) really in need of donations at this point.

it's all good, no matter which project receives money.

[Kingsley]

if everyone were like you, linux would have more money to work with than microsoft. good job!

If 1.5 billion Linux users donated $10 each, Linux would probably have more money to work with than Microsoft.
:guitar:

[az]

i think it's time that alot of us should consider donating money to linux/open source projects. it's amazing the amount of time these people take out of their own lives to make sure WE have a good alternative OS/application. developers have families and bills to pay too. if everyone that used linux gave just 2 dollars(insert the currency of your choice), developers would be able to spend more time improving linux/open source. every dollar DOES matter. we can make a big difference just by giving a little.


That's a nice thought, but it's a little off the mark.

There is no relation between what you would donate at random and the effort that a developer would put into writing new code. There are many reasons to write code and many reasons to release that code under a free and open license. If the reason for writing code is money, the developer is probably already being paid by someone to write something. The advantage of the FLOSS model is such that the code gets to be used by everybody, too.

Don't confuse the way proprietary software is developed with FLOSS. It's completely different. FLOSS developers are not making any sacrifices by releasing the code as free software. If that were the case, then the FLOSS model would not be the correct one for them.

I think some recent statistics showed a very high percentage of free-libre software was written by someone who was paid by their full-time employer to write it.

[23meg]

Partly due to the point az has made, my position is that the most efficient targets for donations are projects/developers that have no corporate backing, and have a real, immediate need for funding and are stating this openly.

[wolfen69]

Partly due to the point az has made, my position is that the most efficient targets for donations are projects/developers that have no corporate backing, and have a real, immediate need for funding and are stating this openly.

i agree, but this is not about which project you choose to support, but just making people aware that there are human beings deeply connected to the OS you use. and we all know that open source will only benefit by any donation.

if an extra donation of 5 dollars means that some developer/programmer in germany needs 5 dollars to get a pack of cigs, so he can think clearly, so be it. it's a business expense. whatever it takes to keep these people coding.

i myself, cant do alot besides donate a few dollars now and then. and spread the word.

let's REALLY make this happen. god bless.

[ubuntu27]

ok. I'll give a list of some links directly to the Donation page for some OpenSource/Free Software

GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/donating/)

Ubuntu Linux (http://www.ubuntu.com/community/donations)

OpenOffice.org (http://contributing.openoffice.org/donate.html)

K Desktop Environment (KDE) (http://www.kde.org/support/support.php)

GNOME Desktop Environment (http://www.gnome.org/friends/)

Debian GNU/Linux (http://www.debian.org/donations)

KOffice (http://www.koffice.org/support/)

Qalculate! (http://qalculate.sourceforge.net/donations.html) (the ultimate Calculator)

Mozilla Foundation (http://www.mozilla.org/foundation/donate.html) (Firefox, Thunderbird, etc)

KDE Web Develpment (http://kdewebdev.org/donate.php) (Quanta Plus, Kommander, Kallery, etc)

Thunar (http://thunar.xfce.org/contribute.html)(File Manager for Xfce)

KMyMoney (http://kmymoney2.sourceforge.net/index-devel.html)

GnuCash (http://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Development) (open source personal and small-business financial accounting software.)

jGnash (http://jgnash.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page) (open source personal finance manager)

VirtualDub (http://www.virtualdub.org/donation.html) (open source video processor)

Alvaro's Messenger (http://www.amsn-project.net/donations.php)(aMSN, Instant Messenger for MSN protocol)

Adium (http://trac.adiumx.com/wiki/ContributingToAdium)(open source instant messaging for Mac OS X)

Psi (http://psi-im.org/) ( instant messenger client built for Jabbe protocol)

[wolfen69]

ok. I'll list some links directly to the Donation page for some OpenSource/Free Software

GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/donating/)

Ubuntu Linux (http://www.ubuntu.com/community/donations)

OpenOffice.org (http://contributing.openoffice.org/donate.html)

K Desktop Environment (KDE) (http://www.kde.org/support/support.php)

GNOME Desktop Environment (http://www.gnome.org/friends/)

Debian GNU/Linux (http://www.debian.org/donations)

KOffice (http://www.koffice.org/support/)

Qalculate! (http://qalculate.sourceforge.net/donations.html) (the ultimate calculator)

Mozilla Foundation (http://www.mozilla.org/foundation/donate.html) (Firefox, Thunderbird, etc)

good links thanks

[wolfen69]

we can do this...... i have 32,000 songs. im here. i love linux. i'm cool.

[odiseo77]

I would gladly donate to some open source projects I like and/or need (for example, the serialmonkey project which allows me to use my wireless net card on linux), but the follks from the bank I have an account in don't want to give me a credit card (I've no idea why :|), so I'm seriously considering switching to another bank.

In the meantime, I must conform myself trying to do my best to help other people having problems with Ubuntu, here in the forum :)

[Incense]

ok. I'll list some links directly to the Donation page for some OpenSource/Free Software

GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/donating/)

Ubuntu Linux (http://www.ubuntu.com/community/donations)

OpenOffice.org (http://contributing.openoffice.org/donate.html)

K Desktop Environment (KDE) (http://www.kde.org/support/support.php)

GNOME Desktop Environment (http://www.gnome.org/friends/)

Debian GNU/Linux (http://www.debian.org/donations)

KOffice (http://www.koffice.org/support/)

Qalculate! (http://qalculate.sourceforge.net/donations.html) (the ultimate calculator)

Mozilla Foundation (http://www.mozilla.org/foundation/donate.html) (Firefox, Thunderbird, etc)

Thanks for the links! I think it is easy to remember that even though the software is free in every since of the word, nothing is really free, and every little bit helps.

[toupeiro]

I donate to several opensource projects, like The Peach (http://peach.blender.org/index.php/pre-production-workshop-review/), An animated movie made entirely with open source tools.

I usually stuck to the ones I turn around and use a lot, or have personal interest in.

[ubuntu27]

I modified my previous post (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=3852698&postcount=22); adding more links for opensource project's donation pages :)

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=3852698&postcount=22


I will be adding more little by little.

[wolfen69]

I modified my previous post (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=3852698&postcount=22); adding more links for opensource project's donation pages :)

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=3852698&postcount=22


I will be adding more little by little.

thank you for your effort.

[wolfen69]

let's make today the day that you open your wallet and give a little, instead of just taking.

[ssam]

dont forget the FSF
https://www.fsf.org/associate/support_freedom/donate/index_html
for without GNU there would be no linux

and many foss projects use the infrastructure at sourceforge (source code revision control, bandwidth for downloads, bug tracking etc).
http://sourceforge.net/donate/

also there are the digital rights groups. not directly funding linux, but helping out with open formats, anti-drm, etc
https://secure.eff.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=DON_splash
http://www.openrightsgroup.org/support-org/

[mdpalow]

Good post.

Considering I love the Ubuntu OS and have received two free disks from them in the mail, I think a donation of $10 is a good start.

Only took all of about 1 minute to do.

Now I'm not just a taker of the Ubuntu OS, but a giver too. :)

[23meg]

Here's another good place to donate to: Ubuntu developer Brandon Holtsclaw needs a computer (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=629084). There's a collective pledge for a $250 total donation, and you can pledge as low as $10.

[23meg]

More great places to donate to:

http://www.linux.com/feature/123069
http://mako.cc/copyrighteous/20071214-00
http://whygive.wikimedia.org/

[rune0077]

Oh no, this is just like heroin. First you tell me it's free, then, once I'm hooked, you tell me it's time to start paying for it :).

[Scarath]

Who ever is funding Ubuntu with their $10 million I thank you.

[some_random_noob]

dont forget the FSF
https://www.fsf.org/associate/support_freedom/donate/index_html
for without GNU there would be no linux

and many foss projects use the infrastructure at sourceforge (source code revision control, bandwidth for downloads, bug tracking etc).
http://sourceforge.net/donate/

Nice suggestions. This thread is a really good idea. People just need to remember that FOSS isn't about making money - Ubuntu is fine even without the help of this thread. The most important thing is contributing, helping out and spreading the word.

However, a small amount of money from each person would definitely benefit opensource software. If I donated via paypal & my dads credit card I would probably donate to:

- Ubuntu
- All the major desktop environments
- The FSF
- Sourceforge

Spread it out over various projects. You don't want to be donating all your $ to a single project eh?

[mdpalow]

bump

[Artificial Intelligence]

If someone would write a nice new post about donation, opensource, projects + the donation links, we could properly sticky it.

[some_random_noob]

If someone would write a nice new post about donation, opensource, projects + the donation links, we could properly sticky it.

Preferably someone smarter than me :)

Be sure to write about how feedback is more important than cash when it comes to helping FOSS. Throwing money at something doesn't automatically mean it will become amazing.

[KhaaL]

Thanks for all the links. I was going to donate to compiz-fusion and wine, but didnt find any straightforward links for that... I donated to Teewars and ubuntu foundation instead :)

[Forrest Gumpp]

You gratuitous little necroposter, you!:)

More power to you, and to preceding posters.

Truly, Solomon was right. There is no new thing under the sun. Truly, I did search for what I thought were relevant former postings before posting the 'Thanks Bank' proposal. Providentially, you have resurrected this thread. I cannot escape the sneaking suspicion that more than a few consciences are currently being pricked with respect to the 'free lunch' we can all enjoy on these Forums.

Some of the earlier links provided by posters in this thread with respect to projects worthy of financial support are most appropriately raised up before Forum members at this time. That's the beauty of open source, you can make your investment in an area of interest to you, and then stay on its case. There is no better oversight than that of a voluntary contributor over the project to which he or she contributes. Those dollars are not ordinary dollars. they have a very special power, because of where they come from, and where they are seen to come from by their recipients.

The thing is that the overwhelming feeling for most is " What can I do? Whatever I contribute is just a drop in the ocean, and forces beyond my control just use my contribution for the pursuit of their own agendas." This can so easily be true! But with, and in, these open Forums, whilst you may not be able to direct others contributions into your own favourite area of development, you do have the mechanism to see to it that all contributions are overall reasonably well applied.

By all means donate.

But if you are untrusting or unconfident, at least consider lending in larger lumps. It's a way of ensuring that enough have got together to have a reasonable chance of success before money is put at risk in a potentially irrecoverable way should things not work out well.

Providing a structure for mobilizing and overseeing voluntary financial support is what is really at back of the Thanks Bank proposal. Nobody has to enlist, but if once they do, out of sheer practicality, orders tend to have to be shouted in order that they be heard The proposed rules, governing the intended and statistically probable rip-off of the negligent,are in effect .those shouted orders.

The lip service given to the code of conduct as it relates to the discipline of reading the Stickies and FAQs provides the perfect excuse for some well directed fund raising. Don't waste the opportunity!

Thanks again for the mutually supporting necroposty.

FG

[ssam]

i thought of some more.

the people writing drivers need money to buy hardware (or harware) to test with.
rt2x00 (http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com/wiki/index.php?title=Rt2x00Wiki:Site_support)
drivers for wireless 802.11b/g/i cards based on the following Ralink chipsets: rt2400, rt2500, rt2570, rt61 and rt73.

Mad Wfif (http://madwifi.org/wiki/Donations)
drivers for Wireless LAN devices with Atheros chipsets

[ubuntu27]

I need to bump this thread for some important event that needs our support.

FROM GIMP.ORG (http://www.gimp.org/)

Libre Graphics Meeting 2008

The 3rd annual Libre Graphics Meeting (http://www.libregraphicsmeeting.org/2008) will be held in Wrocław, Poland May 8 - 11. The conference brings together developers and users of free software graphics applications, such as GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/), Inkscape (http://www.inkscape.org/), Scribus (http://www.scribus.net/), Blender (http://www.blender.org/), Krita (http://www.koffice.org/krita/), the Open Clipart Library (http://www.openclipart.org/) and more.

We are trying to raise USD$ 20,000 in the next 16 days before Friday, April 18th in order to support the conference and to help developers with travel and accommodation costs.

[Sporkman]

thank you for your effort.

So write him a check! :D

[ubuntu-freak]

Check out the base of my sig if you wanna know where to donate;-)

[ubuntu27]

Jon Phillips: Support the Libre Graphics Meeting 2008 in Poland (http://rejon.org/2008/04/01/support-the-libre-graphics-meeting-2008-in-poland/)

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:45:43 +0000

We are trying to raise USD$ 20,000 in the next 16 days before Friday, April 18th in order to support the conference and travel from so many Free and Open Source software developers to attend the 3rd Annual Libre Graphics Meeting (LGM) conference in Wroc?aw, Poland May 8 - 11 - the premiere event bringing together free and open source creative software application developers for a productive international conference (emphasis on productivity!).

This is really a big community drive for all you users, supporters, and companies to donate money so that all us free and open source developers may get together to have a productive face to face meeting. The last two LGM’s have been invaluable to coordinate, consolidate and create (http://create.freedesktop.org/) the future in a free and open source way.

For the next 16 days, we want all the supporting projects to put a note about this pledge drive right on their front page of their website! You can use the badge below as well to help us raise money!

You can also help by spreading the url to our pledgie campaign: http://pledgie.com/campaigns/613

And, don’t forget to digg this story: http://digg.com/linux_unix/Support_the_Libre_Graphics_Meeting_2008

[Sporkman]

Anybody seen this?

http://www.linuxfund.org/

[Sporkman]

I just donated $60 (us$) to Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/community/donations).

I hereby challenge somebody to match or exceed it. Anybody?

Only those who meet this donation challenge are allowed to post in this thread beyond this point! :guitar:

[retrow]

I just donated $60 (us$) to Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/community/donations).Being a cash starved grad student, I could afford 1/6th of that for now. So I did.

Only those who meet this donation challenge are allowed to post in this thread beyond this point! Well 6 or more people who contribute roughly what I did would surpass ya easily ...bwhahahaha :KS

[Sporkman]

Being a cash starved grad student, I could afford 1/6th of that for now. So I did.

Good man, well done. :guitar:

Well 6 or more people who contribute roughly what I did would surpass ya easily ...bwhahahaha :KS

I look forward to it - bring it on, beeyatches!

I hereby loosen the rules to allow posting by contributors of any amount...