Crowdfunding FAQs

What are the benefits of hosting my project on LFX Crowdfunding?

Hosting your project on LFX Crowdfunding offers several benefits:

• Simple and managed fundraising process: Raise funds from donors to reimburse project contributors for expenses.

• Free for open source projects: No fees to use the platform.

• Pass-through funding: Every dollar of the first $10M raised goes directly to your project.

• More money for critical work: Increase your project's budget to support essential tasks.

• Mentorship program support: Use funds raised to support mentorship programs through LFX Mentorship.

How to add LFX Crowdfunding as an option to sponsor your project through GitHub Sponsors?

Here's a rewritten FAQ in a more concise and readable format, following the MSTP style guide:

Adding LFX Crowdfunding to GitHub Sponsors

You can add LFX Crowdfunding as a sponsor option on your GitHub project by editing a Funding.yml file in your repository's .github folder on the default branch.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Edit the Funding.yml file in your repository's .github folder.

• Add a new line to configure the sponsor button and select LFX Crowdfunding.

• Use the following syntax: lfx_crowdfunding: PROJECT-NAME

Example:

sponsor:
  lfx_crowdfunding: My Project

This will add LFX Crowdfunding as an option for sponsors to support your project.

For more details, please refer to GitHub user documentation:

https://docs.github.com/en/github/administering-a-repository/displaying-a-sponsor-button-in-your-repository

Are donors charged fees for donations to a project on LFX platform?

Donor Fees on LFX Crowdfunding

Donors are not charged fees for donations to a project on LFX Crowdfunding, up to a certain threshold.

Fees Waived:

• The Linux Foundation underwrites all platform fees and third-party payment processor fees for the first USD 10M donated to projects through LFX Crowdfunding.

• This means every dollar of the first USD 10M raised will be available to the project.

Fees Applied After $10M:

• Once the $10M milestone is reached, contributions from individual and corporate donors will be subject to a 5% platform fee, plus a payment processor fee.

• This fee will be deducted from the donation amount, making it 5% + payment processor fee.

Does LFX require access to my code repository?

Yes, LFX requires access to your code repository for security vulnerability scanning. During onboarding, you'll need to authenticate with your GitHub ID to grant LFX read-only access to your repositories.

Can I set my own fundraising goals, or does LFX set goals for me?

Yes, you (the project maintainer) can set your own fundraising goals. During the onboarding process, you can set goals and allocate percentages towards different areas, such as development, marketing, and travel. You can also adjust your goals and allocations at any time.

What happens when a fundraising goal is reached?

Fundraising goals are guidelines, not limits. You can continue to raise money beyond your goals. As you make progress, update your goals to reflect how you plan to use the additional funds.

How do projects review, allocate, and spend donated funds?

Projects use a third-party application integrated with LFX to handle expense reporting, approval, and reimbursement. Reimbursed expenses are then synchronized with LFX for full transparency.

Do donors see how projects allocate and spend donated funds?

Yes, donors can see how funds are allocated and spent through a project's public ledger. The Linux Foundation reviews and processes expenditures to ensure transparency and oversight.

Who decides whether a particular use of funds aligns with a donor's allocation?

Donors can suggest how their funds should be used by selecting a project goal at the time of donation. However, project maintainers may use funds according to their allocations, not necessarily what the donor requested.

Can a donor object to a particular use of funds by a project?

No, donors cannot object to a project's use of funds after donating. They can review the project's open ledger to see how funds have been used before donating.

Do donors receive refunds if a project changes its goals or doesn’t allocate funds to specified goals?

No, donors are not eligible for refunds, even if a project changes its goals or doesn't allocate funds as specified.

Are people from Ukraine, Russia, or Belarus allowed to participate in LF Mentorship Program 2022?

Due to current circumstances, the Linux Foundation's 2022 mentorship programs are not accepting applications from Russia, Belarus, Donetsk People's Republic, or Luhansk People's Republic. However, mentees from Ukraine (excluding DNR and LNR) are eligible to apply.