Problems and Strategies in Financing Voluntary Free Software Projects

[Knut Yrvin]

Higlight

The Plone Foundation and SLX Debian Labs in Norway has effectively used the 
funding of sprints to accomplish time-based development goals.
[...]
Progeny and Canonical (to name just two important examples) have done a much 
better job than Red Hat in sustaining voluntary work in their volunteer 
"upstream" project. Their models can provide inspiration to others following 
a similar course.

Abstract

It's easier for a successful volunteer Free Software project to get 
money than it is to decide how to spend it. While paying developers is 
easy, it can carry unintended negative consequences. This essay 
explores problems and benefits of paying developers in volunteer free 
and open source projects and surveys strategies that projects have used 
to successfully finance development while maintaining their volunteer 
nature.

http://mako.cc/writing/funding_volunteers/

Regards 

Knut Yrvin