We are thrilled with the renewed attention that The Carpentries has received for deciding to withdraw a $1.5 million proposal to the National Science Foundation (NSF), thanks to a recent similar decision made by the Python Software Foundation ( @ThePSF) and the shout-out they gave us when they announced it.
PSF raised $65K+ within 24 hours of making their announcement, an amount which rose to $135K+ within a week in solidarity funds from 1400+ donors and 270+ new members. This is incredible financial support to PSF from the Python community!
The Carpentries has an open appeal to our community and the general public for donations and sponsorships to help us make up the shortfall in funds due to our proposal withdrawal. We are deeply grateful for the encouragement and solidarity we received in response. We value all contributions!
Our choice came with financial challenges. In the context of our operating budget ($1.2 million in 2024), $1.5 million is a significant amount of money.The loss of those anticipated NSF funds, therefore, represents a substantial impact on our sustainability.
With this renewed attention to values-based decision making, we would like to use this opportunity to highlight The Carpentries' continued need for financial support. We hope that Python community members and like-minded organisations will also support the work of The Carpentries in some way.
The support the Python community has shown to PSF for its decision has given us hope in the sustainability of open science communities. Please consider extending your generosity to our organisation’s fundraising efforts, and help us to reach more individuals that are aligned to our mission and values: https://carpentries.org/support/
