We have applied to be an associated project of Software in the Public Interest (SPI). They are a 501(c)3 organization that acts as a fiscal sponsor of various open source projects. That means that they handle legal and accounting matters for their associated projects. So, for instance, if accepted, they would enforce our license terms, and would ensure that any funds donated to us are spent on our projects needs according to the standards of a 501(c)3 (although we aren’t such an organization ourselves). In return, they would receive a percentage of any such donations – typically 10%. At our stage of development, this is a very good deal. We get services that could otherwise be expensive for us, from specialists. We get mentoring. They give confidence to donors that their money will be well spent. And donors in the United States can claim a tax deduction, thanks to their 501(c)3 status.
The process of joining SPI is now under way, but we will also be applying to the other similar fiscal sponsor organizations available.
Ok – that was a lot of stuff. I hope it was interesting. Cheers!