Lucas Nussbaum <lucas@debian.org> wrote on 03/04/2025 at 13:17:48+0200: > Hi, > > Quoting Andreas' reply in an earlier thread: > > On 18/03/25 at 16:14 +0100, Andreas Tille wrote: >> Understanding Debian's financial situation is essential for the DPL, as >> one of the DPL's responsibilities is making decisions on funding >> requests. However, it is important to emphasize that the actual >> financial management-including tracking income, expenses, and >> reporting-is handled by the treasurers. Their work ensures that Debian's >> finances are well managed and accounted for, and the DPL relies on their >> expertise to make informed decisions. >>◃ >> For a long time, financial decision-making was relatively >> straightforward. In his Bits from the DPL talk, Neil once mentioned at >> DebConf15 that he approved every single funding request he received, and >> Debian's financial reserves still grew during his term. Unfortunately, >> these simpler times seem to be over, and the need for careful financial >> planning has increased. I'd love to be in Neil's shoes, and I hope that >> future DPLs will see those times return. > > > Do you see this as a problem? What solutions do you envision, and what > will be your strategy as DPL when dealing with finances? For example, > identify where costs can be reduced? Instead, increase revenue (how?)? > Both? > > Also, why do you think we aren't anymore in the comfortable situation we > were in ten years ago? At some point we will need to communicate a bit more on the matter. This is a public list, and as a TO administrator, I have part of the answers, but it's not my place to disclose the full situation publicly. I'd say that essentially our funds ~halved since 2019/2020. While we are not close to be broke, this could go fast if we are not vigilant. We didn't receive enough sponsorship for the recent Debian events (both DebConf23 and 24 made a significant dent in our funds), and we needed to buy hardware (the time where some companies gave it to us seems far away). The main issue, sponsors, might be something that can be solved easily, if potential sponsors realize that their help is still needed. Debian is Free, but Debian has costs to run. Without our sponsors and donors, at some point we will hit a wall. -- PEB
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