Becoming an pfSense Patron

We ask that all potential sponsors answer the following brief questions in their email to patrons@pfsense.org:

1. In a paragraph, could you tell us a bit about your organization?
2. Why would you like to become a patron of pfSense?
3. What efforts have you made, if any, to advance Open Source Software generally and pfSense specifically?

What It Means to Be a Patron

pfSense is an Open Source project and so the users and the community are the most valuable and most important factor. While the mainline of pfSense software is developed and supported by a team of full-time employees, there is also a large group of volunteers who have over time built up a large, valuable and useful base of both code and documentation. Both the code base and documentation (forum, wiki, etc) are free for everyone to use and improve. We appreciate every feedback, question, bug report, patches and contributions.

While pfSense® software itself is free of charge, there are a lot of things have to be furnished to make the project succeed. There are many things beyond paying the people who work on the software and answer the support lines. We also furnish server hosting and test equipment, send people to conferences, etc.

Your financial contribution will support the maintenance, improvement, and promotion of pfSense software. Patronage is not a way for individuals or companies to control the development of the project, but rather a way of ensuring the longevity and overall health of the project. The patronage funds will be spent to directly improve the code base of the project, to fund tasks that generally receive less attention from developers, purchase additional infrastructure for development, test and production, and to fund work on peripheral project tasks so that core contributors can focus efforts on pfSense improvements. In certain cases, patronage in the form of supplied infrastructure and services will be accepted.

Please note that Electric Sheep Fencing, LP (ESF) is incorporated in the United States as a regular for-profit corporation. It does not qualify as a non-profit, charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. This means that, for individuals within the U.S., contributions to ESF are not tax-deductible. Corporate contributions can likely be written off as a business expense, but check with your tax advisor to be sure.

We are happy to welcome new patrons to the organization, as additional contributions tend to make it easier to further development and grow the project.

Please remember that the pSense project remains open source. Patronage is an extra step that combines financial aid with software and community growth.