Keep FOSS in India alive, one rupee at a time
FOSS United Foundation's separate grant programme
Free software isn't free. The Rupee Fund is a community initiative from FOSS United. The fund pools small monthly UPI contributions and routes them to indie FOSS maintainers from India.
Not charity — membership in a commons.
Every rupee in this fund comes from someone like you, and your continued membership decides which deserving projects get funded — a community layer that drives sustainability.
Students
Give a little back to the tools you learn with. Small contributions count. Be part of the movement at Chai++ rates!
FOSS users
Thank the people behind the software you use. Join others in helping local projects keep going.
FOSS contributors
We all build on each other's work. Support fellow maintainers and the projects your work depends on.
How It Works
- 1
Subscribe
Set up a small monthly contribution via UPI AutoPay. A large community of small contributors makes it sustainable rather than a fund of one-time donors.
- 2
Pool Funds
Your contributions pool through the season. The fund runs four cycles a year, following the Indian weather seasons.
- 3
Vote & Nominate
Contribute regularly and you earn a vote each season. The people who fund the work choose the work. You can nominate projects too.
- 4
Disburse
Each season, the pool is disbursed to indie FOSS maintainers and builders across India. We document every administrative cost, so you can follow the whole path from your support to a maintainer.
Funding Seasons
WINTER
DEC – FEB
3 MONTHS
SUMMER
MAR – MAY
3 MONTHS
MONSOON
JUN – SEP
4 MONTHS
POST-MONSOON
OCT – NOV
2 MONTHSFrequently Asked Questions
Why this fund?
Free software can be inexpensive and sustainable when a large pool of users pays for it. Contributions start at a very accessible level, so that anyone can take part.
How is this different from FOSS United grants or FLOSS/fund?
Those are large grants funded by foundations and companies (₹3cr+ from FOSS United; $1M a year from Zerodha's FLOSS/fund). The Rupee Fund is the volunteer-run community layer beneath them.
Who will be funded?
The community nominates projects, and votes to decide who is funded. Contributors earn voting and nomination rights each season.
When do contributions start?
As soon as we can. Sign up to help us gauge interest, and we will keep you posted.
Will this fund international projects?
No. It funds Indian contributors, including those who work on international projects.
Can I donate anonymously?
No. We comply with all statutory requirements, so anonymous donations are not supported.
How are costs handled?
The funding pool is the total collected minus administrative costs. All costs are documented publicly.