The Collective Impact of #OpenCode4BetterScience
Scientific progress depends on robust, accessible tools — and many of these tools are powered by scientific open source software (scientific OSS). From breakthroughs in healthcare and climate science to advances in artificial intelligence and astronomy, scientific OSS forms the backbone of modern research and innovation.
NumFOCUS is proud to support this vital ecosystem through funding, community building, and advocacy. But we can’t do it alone. Your contributions before the end of 2024 are essential to empowering the discoveries in 2025 that shape our world.
Empowering Scientific Discovery for Real-World Impact
NumFOCUS doesn’t just fund scientific OSS — we foster an ecosystem where innovation thrives. By supporting maintainers, contributors, and users, we ensure scientific OSS remains the foundation of breakthroughs in fields like astronomy, biotech, climate science, and artificial intelligence.
Comprehensive Support for Scientific OSS Sustainability
We provide the resources and networks that scientific OSS projects need to succeed:
- Administrative Support: Offering legal, financial, and operational services to over 140 projects, freeing developers to focus on innovation.
- Small Development Grants (SDG): Funding over 30 projects through Q3–2024 with an average of $9,000 each — a significant increase over 2023 — covering critical needs like usability enhancements, documentation, and community growth.
- Community Building & Education: Hosting events like PyData, NumHack, SciPy, and JuliaCon to foster collaboration, skill-building, and mentorship within the scientific OSS community.
Funding Transformative Innovation
Your support fuels tools that enable groundbreaking discoveries:
- Healthcare: Accelerating vaccine development and personalized medicine with precise data analysis.
- Climate Science: Equipping researchers to combat climate challenges through weather prediction and environmental monitoring.
- Artificial Intelligence: Democratizing AI research with open frameworks like PyTorch, advancing fields from autonomous vehicles to natural language processing.
Examples of Impact
Here’s how your contributions empower scientific OSS projects:
- Stan: Usability updates for this Bayesian modeling tool, impacting fields from sports analytics to public health.
- Astropy: Community growth for this astronomy toolkit, cited in over 10,000 academic papers.
- mlpack: Code and documentation improvements pivotal for NASA projects.
- NumPy and SciPy: Updates that supported Nobel Prize-winning research in chemistry.
Together, we’re building the future of open science, ensuring these tools and communities remain impactful for generations.
Sustaining Scientific OSS: The Power of Your Support
Scientific OSS drives progress across industries, but sustaining these tools requires ongoing financial backing. That’s where we step in — bridging the gap with funding and resources for over 140 scientific OSS projects.
Your support during our #OpenCode4BetterScience end-of-year fundraising campaign ensures the foundation of open science remains strong. Here’s how you can help:
- Make a Donation*: Directly support our end-of-year fundraising campaign and critical scientific OSS projects in 2025.
- Leverage Matching Funds: Maximize your impact by encouraging your employer to match your contribution.
- Advocate for Organizational Support: Inspire your workplace to allocate unused budgets to support scientific OSS innovation.
Every dollar you contribute strengthens the ecosystem that keeps scientific OSS thriving. Together, we can drive global scientific progress.
Donate for the Future of Open Science
Open source scientific software is more than code — it’s a catalyst for discovery, innovation, and collaboration. These tools empower researchers to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges.
But progress doesn’t happen on its own. It’s fueled by the dedication of maintainers, contributors, and advocates — and by the generosity of people like you. Your support sustains not just the software, but the communities that make breakthroughs possible.
By donating to our #OpenCode4BetterScience campaign, you’re investing in tools and people that drive progress. You’re empowering a future where science is open, reproducible, and impactful for all.
We humbly ask for your support:
- Make a donation* to sustain vital projects and initiatives.
- Share this mission with colleagues and peers to amplify our reach.
- Encourage your organization to join our efforts through matching funds or corporate giving.
Every action creates ripple effects that strengthen this ecosystem and extend its impact. Together, we can ensure scientific OSS remains accessible, adaptable, and transformative for generations.
Let’s build a brighter future, one line of open code at a time. Please support #OpenCode4BetterScience today.
* All donations, except those directed to specific projects, support our Small Development Grants. NumFOCUS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
