What is the FreeBSD Foundation?
The FreeBSD Foundation is a US-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the FreeBSD Project and community. Funded by individual and corporate donations, we invest directly in FreeBSD through software development, infrastructure improvements, advocacy, training, and community engagement.
We also serve as the Project’s recognized legal entity, managing contracts, licenses, and other agreements on its behalf. Our work ensures that FreeBSD remains innovative, reliable, and accessible for users and contributors worldwide.
What We Do
We carry out our mission in many ways, including:
Community & Events: Facilitating collaboration through conferences, summits, and travel grants, while promoting FreeBSD at industry events worldwide.
Software Development: Funding and managing new features, urgent fixes, and long-term improvements to keep FreeBSD stable, secure, and innovative.
Security: Strengthening the capacity and responsiveness of the Security Team to ensure timely fixes and peace of mind.
Quality Assurance: Expanding automated testing, continuous integration, and test coverage to deliver a reliable and secure operating system.
New User Experience: Improving onboarding processes and documentation while supporting newcomers as they join and grow within the community.
Training & Education: Providing workshops, educational resources, and training programs to expand FreeBSD skills and grow the contributor base.
Our Core Values
At the FreeBSD Foundation, our work is guided by principles that ensure we serve the community, strengthen the Project, and safeguard its future. These core values reflect how we operate, the standards we uphold, and our commitments to everyone who builds, uses, and supports FreeBSD.
Innovation: Always on the cutting edges of OS design and implementation.
Transparency: We run an open non-profit from finances to development process.
Professionalism: Embody and cultivate the skills and good judgment necessary to advance the FreeBSD community.
Quality: Support and produce, to the highest standards, software and associated collateral.
Trustworthy: Act as responsible stewards of the project’s reputation, IP, and financial health. (Held to high ethical standards)
Our Vision for FreeBSD
Our vision defines the long-term impact we are working toward: a future where FreeBSD plays a central role in technology and the communities that rely on it.
Vision: FreeBSD is a household name that is widely adopted and relied upon around the world. Guided by a clear path of innovation, it powers research, education, enterprises, and everyday technology, shaping the future of operating systems.
How Our Funding is Distributed
At the Foundation, we prioritize directing resources where they have the greatest impact. Most of our funding—over 60%—supports software development, helping to ensure FreeBSD continues to grow and improve. We also dedicate a significant portion to advocacy and education, building awareness and bringing new contributors into the community. We also provide funding for FreeBSD Project infrastructure support, helping maintain and improve the systems developers and users rely on every day. Essential operations such as administration and fundraising make up a smaller share, providing the stability needed to sustain our work. This balanced approach allows us to focus on helping to advance FreeBSD while maintaining the support systems that keep the Project strong and thriving. Below you’ll find our overall 2025 Budget Breakdown. Check out the full summary for more information on this year’s budget.
