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 → 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 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 it from accepting new donations and cancels all active recurring donations to it, so donors are not charged again. This cannot be undone: if you later activate the initiative, donors must subscribe again. See Manage Initiatives.
How do I cancel a recurring donation I made?
To cancel a recurring donation, go to Crowdfunding → Donations in LFX Self Serve and find the donation in the Recurring Donations list. Open its detail page and select Cancel, or select the More options menu (⋯) on its entry and choose Cancel. Then select Cancel Donation to confirm. Cancellation stops all future charges immediately. Past charges are not refunded, and the subscription stays in the list marked Canceled. See Manage Recurring Donations for full steps.
Can I hide my name on a donation?
Yes. Choose to donate anonymously when you donate on LFX Crowdfunding, or change it later in LFX Self Serve: go to Crowdfunding → Donations, select the More options menu (⋯) on the donation or recurring donation, and choose Hide my name or Show my name. An anonymous donation is still listed with its amount, but your name and email show as Anonymous to everyone else, including the initiative's team and the organization you donated on behalf of. On a recurring donation the setting applies to every charge. See View Donations.
What if a charge on my recurring donation can't be processed?
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 card is valid and up to date in the Payment Methods section of the Crowdfunding → Donations page. 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 with the donation date, amount, and initiative name so the support team can investigate.