[nycbug-talk] [Fwd: Re: FreeBSD Funding]

[dlavigne6 at sympatico.ca]

Forward of Deb's response to this thread.

Dru

> 
> From: Deb Goodkin <deb at FreeBSD.org>
> Date: 2006/04/03 Mon AM 11:31:24 EST
> To: dlavigne6 at sympatico.ca
> CC: Jonathan Vanasco <nycbug-list at 2xlp.com>
> Subject: Re: [nycbug-talk] FreeBSD Funding
> 
> 
> 
> dlavigne6 at sympatico.ca wrote:
> > Top post alert!
> >
> > Deb, is this something that falls under the mandate of the FreeBSD Foundation?
> >   
> 
> Hi Dru,
> I wouldn't say it's a mandate of the Foundation. But, the idea expressed 
> below would fall under our activities as listed to the IRS for our 
> 501(c)(3) filing.
> We stated in our application that we would engage in contracts for 
> development of  software for FreeBSD. The Java binaries are a good 
> example of this. We had a significant amount of customer interest in 
> this project. This is what drove us to find someone to do this work for 
> us. Some large companies have offered to fund this project, but we 
> haven't seen any checks yet.
> 
> We have a grant system in place to fund various FreeBSD projects. There 
> is an application on our website and an individual can use that to apply 
> for a grant. We do not have a formal process of having businesses or 
> individuals donating to specific projects. But, if we have enough 
> interest and people interested in donating for that project, we could 
> earmark specifically for that project.
> 
> We are planning on creating a more formal process for funding projects. 
> It would include starting with a Request for Proposal. People could then 
> submit their proposal, that would then be evaluated by a technical 
> review board.
> 
> As far as what the person stated below regarding a hacker soliciting for 
> funds, that person can apply for a grant to fund his/her project. That 
> person would include in the justification why this is needed and how the 
> FreeBSD Community would benefit. Letting the community know a developer 
> wants to do a project could help find out the interest. It also doesn't 
> hurt, once an application is approved to let the community know you are 
> doing this project and asking people to support you by donating to the 
> Foundation. Most US donations are tax deductible.
> 
> Setting up another non-profit organization to support the FreeBSD 
> Project would be very confusing to the community. There should be a way 
> to do what is being suggested below through the Foundation. We would 
> love to fund more projects!
> 
> Thank You,
> 
> Deb Goodkin
> Director of Operations
> The FreeBSD Foundation
> 
> 
> > Dru
> >
> >
> >   
> >> From: Jonathan Vanasco <nycbug-list at 2xlp.com>
> >> Date: 2006/04/01 Sat AM 12:54:41 EST
> >> To: NYCBUG Talk <talk at lists.nycbug.org>
> >> Subject: Re: [nycbug-talk] FreeBSD Funding
> >>
> >>
> >> On Apr 1, 2006, at 12:28 AM, Pete Wright wrote:
> >>
> >>     
> >>> On Fri, Mar 31, 2006 at 04:46:53PM -0500, Jonathan Vanasco wrote:
> >>>       
> >>>> Is there not a facility within FreeBSD where people can donate to a
> >>>> specific sponsorship/whatever through a proxy non-profit so that
> >>>> donations are charitable?
> >>>>
> >>>>         
> >>> www.freebsdfoundation.org
> >>>
> >>> although, i am not sure if they are able to dole out donations to
> >>> specific hackers.  as of now i know they are working on improving java
> >>> support.
> >>>       
> >> someone should set up some sort of umbrella/shell 501c3 that does this:
> >>
> >> 	lets an individual hacker register and put up a solicitation for  
> >> funding
> >> 	acts as a middleman and
> >> 		a- processes contributions so people get tax deductions
> >> 		b- 'contracts' the hacker to write the code and release it under an  
> >> open source license
> >> 	
> >> it would basically be like a bounty system, but run everything  
> >> through a shell 501c3 so contributions are tax deductable.
> >>
> >> i bet with a kickass accountant, the 'contract' for the hacker to  
> >> code whatever could be specced out so the difference in pay between  
> >> working on it as an open source project ( ~800 wk ) and the market  
> >> value of the work if it were for a company ( ~2-3k a week judging by  
> >> NYT classifieds ) could be made as a tax deduction too.
> >>
> >> i'm gonna ask some lawyer friends how hard that would be to set up  
> >> this weekend.
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >>
> >>     
> >
> >
> >   
> 
>