robur/blog.robur.coop
4
0
Fork 1
Code Issues 2 Pull requests Projects Releases Packages Wiki Activity Actions

add-finances-article #7

Merged
hannes merged 10 commits from add-finances-article into main 2024-10-21 11:29:06 +00:00
Conversation 0 Commits 10 Files changed 4 +36 -19
1 changed files with 36 additions and 19 deletions
Show stats Download patch file Download diff file Expand all files Collapse all files
Showing only changes of commit 86dbd5df8c - Show all commits

55
articles/finances.md
View file

@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
--- ---
date: 2024-08-26 date: 2024-10-21
article.title: What has robur been doing and how since 2018? article.title: What has robur been doing and how since 2018?
article.description: article.description:
tags: tags:
@ -26,8 +26,9 @@ hierarchy-free environment, including the payment, and work on software in a
niche market - we decided from the early days that bookeeping and invoicing niche market - we decided from the early days that bookeeping and invoicing
should not be part of our collective. Especially since we want to be free in should not be part of our collective. Especially since we want to be free in
what kind of funding we accept - donations, commercial contracts, public what kind of funding we accept - donations, commercial contracts, public
funding. In the books, robur is part of a non-profit company in Germany - and funding. In the books, robur is part of the non-profit company
friends of ours run that company. They get a cut on each income we generate. [Änderwerk](https://aenderwerk.de) in Germany - and friends of ours run that
company. They get a cut on each income we generate.
To be inclusive and enable everyone to participate in decisions, we are 100% To be inclusive and enable everyone to participate in decisions, we are 100%
transparent in our books - every collective member has access to the financial transparent in our books - every collective member has access to the financial
@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ And later in 2018 we started on what is now called NetHSM with an initial
design workshop (5,000 EUR). design workshop (5,000 EUR).
And lastly, we started to work on [TLS 1.3](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc8446) And lastly, we started to work on [TLS 1.3](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc8446)
funded by Jane Street via OCaml Labs Consulting. In 2018, we received 12,741.71 EUR funded by Jane Street (via OCaml Labs Consulting). In 2018, we received 12,741.71 EUR
We applied at NLNet for improving the QubesOS firewall developed in MirageOS We applied at NLNet for improving the QubesOS firewall developed in MirageOS
(without success), tried to get the IT security prize in Germany (without (without success), tried to get the IT security prize in Germany (without
@ -94,7 +95,8 @@ We also received a total of 516.48 EUR as donations from source unknown to us.
We also applied to NLnet with [DNSvizor](https://nlnet.nl/project/Robur/), and We also applied to NLnet with [DNSvizor](https://nlnet.nl/project/Robur/), and
got a grant, but due to buerocratic reasons they couldn't transfer the money to got a grant, but due to buerocratic reasons they couldn't transfer the money to
our non-profit, and we didn't get any money in the end. our non-profit (which was involved with NLnet in some EU grants), and we didn't
get any money in the end.
| Project | Amount | | Project | Amount |
|----------|----------:| |----------|----------:|
@ -114,7 +116,7 @@ month, we reported on which PRs and issues we spent how much time. For us, this
was great to have the freedom to work on which OCaml packages we were keen to was great to have the freedom to work on which OCaml packages we were keen to
get up to speed. In 2020, we received 45,000 EUR for this maintenance. get up to speed. In 2020, we received 45,000 EUR for this maintenance.
We finished the TLS 1.3 work (18659.01 EUR) We finished the TLS 1.3 work (18,659.01 EUR)
We continued to work on the NetHSM project, and invoiced 55,500 EUR. We continued to work on the NetHSM project, and invoiced 55,500 EUR.
@ -179,7 +181,7 @@ total 22,500 EUR.
A grant application for [bob](https://github.com/dinosaure/bob/) was rejected, A grant application for [bob](https://github.com/dinosaure/bob/) was rejected,
but a grant application for [MirageVPN](https://github.com/robur-coop/miragevpn) but a grant application for [MirageVPN](https://github.com/robur-coop/miragevpn)
got accepted. got accepted. Both at NLnet within the EU NGI project.
| Project | Amount | | Project | Amount |
|-------------|---------:| |-------------|---------:|
@ -221,7 +223,7 @@ contract (54,937.50 EUR).
We also finished the MirageVPN work, and received another 45,000 EUR. We also finished the MirageVPN work, and received another 45,000 EUR.
We had a small contract with Semgrep again on porting Python code to OCaml and received 18,559.40 EUR. We had a contract with Semgrep again on porting Python code to OCaml and received 18,559.40 EUR.
We again worked on several successful funding applications, one on We again worked on several successful funding applications, one on
[PTT](https://nlnet.nl/project/PTT/) (NGI Zero Core), a continuation of the [PTT](https://nlnet.nl/project/PTT/) (NGI Zero Core), a continuation of the
@ -230,14 +232,14 @@ now realizing mailing lists with our SMTP stack.
We also got [MTE](https://nlnet.nl/project/MTE/) (NGI Taler) accepted. We also got [MTE](https://nlnet.nl/project/MTE/) (NGI Taler) accepted.
The below table is until end of August 2024. The below table is until end of September 2024.
| Project | Amount | | Project | Amount |
|-----------|----------:| |-----------|----------:|
| Semgrep | 18,559.40 | | Semgrep | 18,559.40 |
| Tarides | 54,937.50 | | Tarides | 62,812.50 |
| MirageVPN | 45,000.00 | | MirageVPN | 45,000.00 |
| __Total__ | __118,496.90__ | | __Total__ | __126,371.90__ |
## Total ## Total
@ -251,24 +253,33 @@ In a single table, here's our income over the last 5 years.
| 2021 | 164,976.00 | | 2021 | 164,976.00 |
| 2022 | 107,000.00 | | 2022 | 107,000.00 |
| 2023 | 141,250.00 | | 2023 | 141,250.00 |
| 2024 | 118,496.90 | | 2024 | 126,371.90 |
| __Total__ | __1,013,077.54__ | | __Total__ | __1,020,952.54__ |
As you can spot, it varies quite a bit. In some years we have fewer money As you can spot, it varies quite a bit. In some years we have fewer money
available than in other years. available than in other years.
## Expenses
As mentioned, the non-profit company [Änderwerk](https://aenderwerk.de) running
the bookkeeping and legal stuff (invoices, tax statements, contracts, etc.) gets
a cut on each income we produce. They are doing amazing work and are very
quick responding to our queries.
We spend most of our income on salary. Some money we spend on travel. We also
pay monthly for our server (plus some extra for hardware, and in June 2024 a
huge amount for trying to recover data from failed SSDs).
## Conclusion ## Conclusion
We have provided an overview of our income, we were three to five people working We have provided an overview of our income, we were three to five people working
at robur over the entire time. As written at the beginning, we use needs-based at robur over the entire time. As written at the beginning, we use needs-based
payment. Our experience with this is great! It provides a lot of trust into each payment. Our experience with this is great! It provides a lot of trust into each
other. From our income, some money flows to Aenderwerk for their amazing other.
bookkeeping work - writing invoices, doing the taxes, helping us with contracts.
We also finance our server, including a severe hard disk failure in June 2024.
Our funding is diverse from multiple sources - donations, commercial work, Our funding is diverse from multiple sources - donations, commercial work,
public funding. This was our initial goal, and we're very happy that it works fine public funding. This was our initial goal, and we're very happy that it works
over the last five years. fine over the last five years.
Taking the numbers into account, we are not paying ourselves "industry standard" Taking the numbers into account, we are not paying ourselves "industry standard"
rates - but we really love what we do - and sometimes we just take some time off. rates - but we really love what we do - and sometimes we just take some time off.
@ -279,5 +290,11 @@ We are always happy to discuss how our collective operates. If you're
interested, please drop us a message. interested, please drop us a message.
Of course, if we receive donations, we use them wisely - mainly for working on Of course, if we receive donations, we use them wisely - mainly for working on
the currently not funded projects (bob, miou, mollymawk - to name a few). If you the currently not funded projects (bob, albatross, miou, mollymawk - to name a few). If you
can spare a dime or two, don't hesitate to [donate](https://robur.coop/Donate). can spare a dime or two, don't hesitate to [donate](https://robur.coop/Donate).
Donations are tax-deductable in Germany (and should be in Europe) since we're a
registered non-profit.
If you're interested in MirageOS and using it in your domain, don't hesitate
to reach out to us (via eMail: team@robur.coop) so we can start to chat - we're keen to deploy MirageOS
and find more domains where it is useful.