The world’s most popular operating systems and apps rely on open source software projects overseen by The Apache Software Foundation
By Sally Khudairi, VP Sponsor Relations
Apache software touches our lives every day — often without our being aware of it.
From using mobile devices, to accessing websites, to banking online, to posting on social media, to interacting with AI apps and agents, to online shopping, to streaming content, to real-time video conferencing, to collaborating on messaging platforms, and so much more.
Many of the world’s leading operating systems and applications rely on Apache software to deliver best-in-breed solutions for billions of users around the world.
What’s so special about Apache software is that it isn’t owned or controlled by any single company: in fact, it is overseen by a not-for-profit charitable organization called The Apache Software Foundation (ASF).
The ASF was founded in 1999 to oversee the development of the Apache HTTP Server that powered nearly 70% of all websites around the world. The Apache HTTP Server was also special as it was developed and maintained by a globally-distributed team of volunteers — and it still is to this day! It is open source, with the code freely available to the public at no cost or licensing fees.
Over the past 25 years, the ASF grew, both with the number of software projects developed under its umbrella, and also with the number of people helping administer those projects.
Today, the ASF has hundreds of projects under development, bolstered by a community comprising thousands of volunteers. Apache community volunteers contribute by writing code, testing and releasing software, creating documentation, providing education, and mentoring future contributors.
Whilst each Apache project is overseen by its own community, the ASF provides day-to-day operational support that keeps our projects and communities running 24/7/365. This includes: Infrastructure, Legal Affairs, Marketing & Publicity, Data Privacy, Accounting, Fundraising, and more.
The ASF’s $3M annual operational budget is partially offset by corporate sponsorships. An additional valuable source of financial support is through individual donations.
“I’m a developer. I need air to live — and Apache too. I’ve always wanted to give something back: a recurring monthly donation to the ASF is my way of doing so. — SangWon Jung, developer and Individual Donor
“The selflessness, collaborative spirit, and product excellence of the Apache Software Foundation make my monthly donation feel like a balm for my spirit.” — Steve Adams, founder/owner of Knickerbocker Tours and Individual Donor
“I am an open source enthusiast. I’ve been using Linux since 1999 as my primary desktop. Colleagues where I worked had already created a web site by 2000 for internal use with the Apache web server and I soon followed with another one for my department. I did a lot of Perl programming then and the new heads of the Apache Software Foundation gave a presentation at the Perl 4 conference which I attended introducing the Apache Software Foundation. Most attendees knew about the Apache web server and were suitably awed! Shortly after this, the Linux office software I was using was initiated as an ASF project — OpenOffice. I started corresponding with one of the members of that group and offered to help as a web site maintainer. The rest, as they say, is history. I’ve been supporting the ASF in various ways ever since 2000. I donate monthly because open source is IMPORTANT and the Apache Software Foundation is likely the most important and well known foundation for open source projects. I am thankful every day for the ASF.” — Kay Schenk, ASF Member, Apache OpenOffice Committer, and Individual Donor
Giving to Apache is easy: visit https://donate.apache.org/ to make your donation via credit/debit card, ACH bank payment, PayPal, or, using your mobile phone, with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Microsoft Pay. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Your support enables the ASF’s community-driven software to remain available to billions of users around the world at no cost.
The next time you’re working online, binging streaming media, livestreaming esports/video games, making an online purchase, or accessing social media with your mobile device – thank Apache.
As a private, US 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization, the entirety of your donation directly benefits the ASF. The ASF’s tax identification number is 47-0825376. Financial contributions are tax deductible for donors in the United States; we recommend all donors consult with a tax professional to ensure tax deductibility and compliance in your specific jurisdiction. No goods or services are provided in exchange for donations to the ASF. For more information on the ASF, visit https://apache.org/ .
