Free Software Foundation receives historic private donations — Free Software Foundation — Working together for free software

These extraordinary donations, both made to the FSF in the
cryptocurrency Monero, are among some of the largest private
gifts ever made to the organization. The donors wish to remain
anonymous.

“These incredible acts of generosity are a true gift in a
challenging time for many, including many organizations like
ours,” said Zoë Kooyman, executive director of the FSF. “It
proves that software freedom is recognized more and more as a
principal issue today, at the core of several other social
movements people care about like privacy, ownership, and the
right to repair.”

The organization is in its annual winter fundraising drive,
currently at three-quarters of its $400,000 USD winter goal, and
will now switch its focus to a member drive thanks in part to
these donations. Contributions to the FSF have always been
driven by individual giving and a strong supporter base of
associate members.

“We are proudly supported by a large variety of contributors who
care about digital rights. All donations matter, whether $5 or
$500,000,” Kooyman added. “Naturally, a large donation of this
size boosts our work tremendously, but year after year we rely on
a considerable number of donations, which maintains our
independence. It makes it all the more special that these donors
did not ask to be recognized.”

The donation will support the organization’s technical team and
infrastructure capacity, as well as strengthen its campaigns,
education, licensing, and advocacy initiatives, and future
opportunities.

The FSF is seeking donations until year-end after which they
aim to gain 100 associate members through its year-end
fundraising ending January 16. Ways to contribute to the FSF
are published on its site.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to
promoting computer users’ right to use, study, copy, modify, and
redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development
and use of free (as in freedom) software — particularly the GNU
operating system and its GNU/Linux variants — and free
documentation for free software. The FSF also helps to spread
awareness of the ethical and political issues of freedom in the
use of software, and its websites, located at https://fsf.org
and https://gnu.org, are an important source of information
about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF’s work can be made
at https://donate.fsf.org, or become an associate member at
https://fsf.org/join. The FSF is a remote organization,
incorporated in Massachusetts, US.

More information about the FSF, as well as important information
for journalists and publishers, is at
https://www.fsf.org/press.

Media Contact

Greg Farough
Campaigns Manager
Free Software Foundation

+1 (617) 542 5942
campaigns@fsf.org