Set up an OSPO Giving Page §

Pattern Summary §

Channel direct funding to an academic OSPO by setting up a donations or giving page that aligns with the institution’s financial systems.

Problem / Challenge §

Academic OSPOs are emerging entities within academia that typically depend on short-term grant funding rather than stable institutional budgets.

Unlike traditional university fundraising that often relies on alumni networks and established development offices, OSPOs need to attract support from technology companies, open source foundations, individual developers and other non-traditional academic supporters who may have varying levels of familiarity with university partnership processes.

There are a number of bureaucratic challenges for academic OSPOs seeking to establish accessible donation pathways for potential donors and sponsors: * Complex financial systems that discourage spontaneous or smaller contributions from a diverse range of potential funders or sponsors. * A lack of information about how to direct donations to OSPOs and/or other specialized units on the institution’s website. * A need for transparent financial processes that meet the institution’s financial compliance obligations. * Potential difficulties in accepting unrestricted funds that can be deployed flexibly across OSPO priorities and opportunities.

Pattern Category §

Funding & Financial Support

Context §

A research university creating large volumes of research outputs across every discipline.

An OSPO has been established.

A stable budget line for the OSPO and/or open source initiatives may not be established within the institution.

Forces §

Potential donors and sponsors may not know how to donate directly to the OSPO.

OSPO staff members have the capacity to collaborate with finance colleagues on a solution.

Procurement and payment guidelines allow for once-off or flexible donations directly to the OSPO.

Solution §

Set up an OSPO donations/giving page that complies with the university’s funding requirements.

Create Clear Financial Infrastructure §

Contact and/or meet finance colleagues to understand the institution’s processes and requirements for donations. Typical points to consider include:

How donations are tracked.
Setting up accounts or references for donations to the OSPO.
Payment methods for donors (e.g. cash, checks, EFT).
Protocols for invoicing and receipts.
Protocols for sharing information on the website.

Develop a communications strategy and supporting materials §

Develop a strategy for promoting direct donations through the giving page and acknowledging donors on the OSPO’s website, materials and communication platforms.
Consider developing a prospectus outlining different donor or sponsorship ‘packages’, options for once-off smaller contributions and information about how donations will be used.