The Financial Impact of Supporting Open Source Scientific Software
Scientific breakthroughs rely on powerful tools — and behind those tools are open source scientific software projects supported by NumFOCUS. These projects drive discoveries across disciplines, from artificial intelligence, astronomy, and biotech to climate science, finance, and healthcare.
That’s why we’re asking for your support in our #OpenCode4BetterScience year-end campaign — because your donation powers tools, communities, and discoveries that benefit us all.
Donate and Join the #OpenCode4BetterScience Movement
Read on to learn how your contribution powers progress and why your involvement is essential to sustaining this vital ecosystem.
Driving Innovation Through Targeted Support
NumFOCUS is a steadfast partner to the scientific open source software (OSS) community, ensuring these vital tools continue to thrive. We provide holistic, targeted support that enables projects to grow, innovate, and meet the evolving needs of the research world.
Our Impact
- Fiscal Sponsorship: Offering financial management and administrative support to over 140 Sponsored and Affiliated projects to ensure sustainability.
- Small Development Grants (SDG): Providing microgrants that fund critical enhancements, community expansion, and new capabilities.
- Community Building: Organizing global educational events like PyData, JuliaCon, and the DISC program to connect and inspire contributors.
- Promotion and Advocacy: Elevating the visibility of scientific OSS projects and their contributions to science and society.
- Affiliation: Creating a professional home for projects, fostering collaboration and long-term stability.
Through these initiatives, we empower the scientific OSS community to drive scientific discovery and innovation worldwide.
The Transformative Power of Your Support
Financial backing is the foundation for innovation in the scientific OSS sphere. Your contributions directly enable the development, sustainability, and evolution of tools that power breakthroughs across disciplines — from biotech, climate science, and healthcare to artificial intelligence, astronomy, and finance.
Fueling Critical Advancements
Every dollar invested in scientific OSS strengthens the infrastructure behind modern science. From precision agriculture to climate modeling, the tools you support allow researchers to tackle complex global challenges. In 2023 alone, our Small Development Grants (SDG) program funded over 30 projects with an average award of $8,000 each — enabling improved release cycle speed and usability improvements, supporting important yet often unfunded needs like documentation, and helping grow the community.
Empowering People, Not Just Code
Your support goes beyond funding software; it empowers the dedicated maintainers, contributors, and users who innovate, teach, and collaborate globally. It enables educational events like PyData and JuliaCon, fostering the next generation of scientific thinkers. By investing in people, you amplify the ripple effects of their work, ensuring long-term impact for science and society.
Investing in Open Science for a Brighter Future
Your support fuels the advancement of scientific discovery by empowering open source software projects. Tax-deductible donations* directly sustain the developers, communities, and tools driving innovation across fields like healthcare, climate research, and artificial intelligence.
How You Can Help Sustain Open Science
Your contribution powers the ecosystem that keeps open source scientific software thriving. Here’s how you can make a difference today:
- Make a Tax-Deductible Donation: Support our year-end #OpenCode4BetterScience campaign to fund vital projects and initiatives in 2025.
- Leverage Matching Funds: Check with your organization if they will match donations to qualified nonprofits such as NumFOCUS.
- Spread the Word: Share this mission with your network of colleagues and peers to amplify our impact.
- Get Your Organization Involved: Encourage your organization to allocate budgeted-yet-unspent funds toward advancing open source science.
Corporate and Institutional Giving Opportunities
Join our 20@5K Initiative by becoming one of the first 20 organizations to pledge $5,000 by December 20. Your support includes:
- 2025 Invite-Only AI Thought Leader Roundtable. Connect with industry leaders shaping the future of AI at our online discussion with UN Special Advisor Radia Funna, an internationally recognized futurist, theorist, strategist, and humanist.
- Quarterly Project Leader Discussions. Engage with scientific OSS pioneers and project leaders to delve into topics such as development and strategy.
Every action helps sustain the tools and communities driving breakthroughs in research and innovation. Together, we can ensure these vital resources remain accessible, adaptable, and impactful for years to come. Join us in shaping a brighter future through the power of open science — make your gift today.
Investing in the Future of Science Starts with You
Open source scientific software transforms the way we approach research, enabling discoveries that address humanity’s biggest challenges. But this progress isn’t free — it’s fueled by the dedicated work of individuals and communities, supported by people like you.
Your donation isn’t just a gift; it’s an investment in a brighter future. It powers the tools that researchers use to solve real-world problems, sustains the collaborative communities that innovate, and supports the global partnerships that push science forward.
By giving today, you ensure that critical projects continue to thrive, inspire, and make a difference for years to come. Whether you contribute as an individual, rally your peers, or advocate for institutional support, your action has a ripple effect that benefits us all.
Let’s shape the future together. Support the #OpenCode4BetterScience campaign today — and be part of the movement that’s driving discoveries and changing lives.
* All donations, except those directed to a specific project, will go toward our Small Development Grants. NumFOCUS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
