The Linux Fund rises again

GOOD NEWS is never late, so it's nice to note that The Linux Fund relaunched last month just before the Open Source Convention OSCON in Portland, Oregon.

The Linux Fund offers credit cards decorated with a picture of Tux the Linux penguin to people who want to help support deserving open source community projects. Each time a cardholder uses their card, the card issuing bank makes a donation to The Linux Fund.

The aggregate donations amount to tens of thousands of dollars per year that The Linux Fund distributes in grants to qualifying new initiatives and ongoing projects.

Established in 1999 and originally offered through MBNA America Bank, The Linux Fund has contributed over $500,000 to the worldwide open source community for a number of software and philanthropic projects, including:

Blender software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, interactive creation and playback.

Debian, a Linux distribution developed and distributed by Software in the Public Interest (SPI) a 501(c)(3).

FreeGeek, a 501(c)(3) that recycles used computers and related technology to provide computers, education, internet access and job skills training to those in need.

Freenode, a 501(c)(3) that provides discussion facilities for the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) communities.

PersonalTelco, a 501(c)(3) that promotes the idea that 802.11 ("Wi-Fi") technology is both cool and empowering.

Linux International, a world-wide non-profit association of end users who are dedicated to furthering the acceptance and use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).

Seattle Community Colocation Project (SCCP), offers hosting and colocation services for the websites of non-profits, social justice organizations, free software projects, and linux hobbyists.

WikiMedia Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that hosts web-based content, including WikiPedia, an encyclopedia written collaboratively by thousands of volunteers, with editions in roughly 200 different languages.

MBNA America Bank was purchased by Bank of America in 2006, which discontinued the program in April 2007. Now U.S. Bank issues The Linux Fund VISA credit card.

The Linux Fund is accepting credit card applications online in the USA here and in Canada here. µ