Crowdfunding FAQ
Frequently asked questions about crowdfunding initiatives and donations in LFX Self Serve.
Last updated
Why can't I see my initiative on the crowdfunding site?
Your initiative may not be publicly visible if its status is Pending, Submitted, Hidden, or Declined. Only Published initiatives appear on the public crowdfunding site and accept donations. Check your initiative status under Crowdfunding → My Initiatives in LFX Self Serve. If your initiative is Pending or Submitted, it is still under review by the Linux Foundation team.
How do I submit a new crowdfunding initiative?
New initiatives are submitted through the public crowdfunding site at crowdfunding.linuxfoundation.org, not through LFX Self Serve. Once your initiative is reviewed and approved, it will appear in the My Initiatives section of LFX Self Serve where you can manage it.
What types of crowdfunding initiatives are supported?
LFX Crowdfunding supports four fund types:
- General Fund — supports a project's general development and operating expenses
- Security Audit — funds a third-party security review or penetration test of the project's code
- Mentorship — funds a mentorship program that trains new contributors to the project
- Event — funds a conference, summit, or community event organized around the project
What happens to my recurring donors when I archive an initiative?
Archiving an initiative stops the initiative from accepting new donations, but it does not automatically cancel existing recurring subscriptions. Donors who have active recurring donations to the initiative will continue to be charged on their billing cycle until they manually cancel their subscriptions. If you archive an initiative, notify your recurring donors so they can cancel their subscriptions through Manage Recurring Donations.
How do I cancel a recurring donation I made?
To cancel a recurring donation, go to Crowdfunding → My Donations in LFX Self Serve, find the donation in the recurring donations list, open its detail page, and select Cancel Recurring Donation. Cancellation stops all future charges immediately. Past charges are not refunded. See Manage Recurring Donations for full steps.
Why is a charge on my recurring donation showing as Failed?
A charge fails when the linked payment method cannot be processed — for example, because the card is expired, declined, or has been removed from your account. To resolve it, check that your saved payment method is valid and up to date under Crowdfunding → My Donations → Payment Methods. See Manage Payment Methods for steps to add or update a card.
Can I get a refund for a crowdfunding donation?
Crowdfunding donations are contributions to open-source project funds and are generally non-refundable. If you believe a charge was made in error, contact LFX support through the Help Center with the donation date, amount, and initiative name so the support team can investigate.