The FreeBSD Foundation has recently asked me to write an endorsement for FreeBSD. I’ve done so (as Netgate, but prominently mentioning the pfSense® project) and it will probably appear soon, but part of that endorsement had to do with donations.

It’s likely obvious by now that we’ve donated to the FreeBSD Foundation again this year. We get a lot from FreeBSD, and we feel the need to give back to the FreeBSD project in many ways. It should also be obvious that, while the pfSense project used to take donations, we no longer do. Indeed, while similar projects ask for donations, we instead ask that, if you are inclined to donate to pfSense, that you instead donate to the FreeBSD Foundation. For 14 years, the FreeBSD Foundation has been providing funding and support for the FreeBSD Project and community worldwide. They are fully funded by donations from people like you as well as organizations such as: VMware, NetApp, Tarsnap, Cavium, Xinuos, Netgate and others.

The reasons for this decision are too long to list here, but the most prominent reason is that we believe that your donation is better directed at FreeBSD. Your support of the FreeBSD Foundation advances FreeBSD so that it is a perfect research and development platform, and pfSense benefits directly from these advances. By donating to the foundation, you are helping fund and manage projects, sponsor FreeBSD events, and provide travel grants to FreeBSD developers. You are also helping the FreeBSD Foundation represent the Project in executing contracts, license agreements, copyrights, trademarks, and other legal arrangements that require a recognized legal entity. I know that we have leveraged the Foundation in several matters that fall under this last bit.

Of additional benefit, if you are in the US, the FreeBSD Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. US-based donations should be fully tax-deductible on your federal return.

Thank you for your support.