PSF Membership Types & FAQ

    The mission of the Python Software Foundation is to promote,protect, and advance the Python programming language, and tosupport and facilitate the growth of the international communityof Python programmers.

    —from theMission Statement page

    What does it mean to be a member of the PSF?

    Being part of the PSF means being part of the Python community.In 2014, we changed the bylaws to make the PSF an openmembership organization, so that everyone who uses andsupports Python can join.

    For those who wish to participate more, we have classes of membership that include voting rightsfor those who contribute time, work, and money to the foundation.

    What membership classes are there?

    There are four classes of members: Basic Members, SupportingMembers, Contributing Membersand Fellows.

    1. Basic Members
      Basic members are individuals or entities who are part of thePython language community and who have decided to declare theirsupport for Python and agree to the community Code of Conduct. There is no cost to be a Basic Member.You can sign upas a basic member right here on the site.
    2. Supporting Members
      Supporting Members make a specific annual donation to the PSFto sustain the Foundation and support the Python community. Supporting Members are eligible to vote. You may combine Supporting Membership with any other Membership - i.e. you may sign up for Supporting Membership and also be a Basic Member, Contributing Member, or a Fellow.You can sign up as a Supporting Member here.
    3. Contributing Members
      Contributing Members are people who dedicate at least five hours per month volunteering on projects that advance the mission of the PSF, where the work relates to the creation or maintenance of open source software available to the public at no charge, or by organizing Python events, running infrastructure, participating in one of the PSF's working groups, etc. Contributing Members are eligible to vote. There is no cost to be a Contributing Member.For details on signing up as a Contributing Member, refer to this form.
    4. Fellows
      Fellows are members who have been nominated for theirextraordinary efforts and impact upon Python, the community,and the broader Python ecosystem. Fellows are nominated fromthe broader community and elevated by a vote of the members. Fellow members are eligible to vote. More info on the nomination process is availablehere.

    Who is allowed to vote?

    Who is eligible: Supporting Members, Contributing Members, and Fellows are eligible for voting privileges.

    To vote you must be 1) eligible to vote, and then 2) affirm each year you would like to exerciseyour voting privileges.

    More information on affirming your voting status is here.

    Why am I a Basic Member even though I’m a Supporting/Contributing/Fellow Member?

    Your Basic Membership information is managed here onhttps://www.python.org/users/membership/edit/. To manage your Supporting and Contributing Memberships, visithttps://psfmember.org/user-information/.

    This site,https://www.python.org , will list you as a Basic Member even if you are a Supporting, Contribution, or Fellowship member because the voting tiers of membership are managed on the separate,https://www.psfmember.org website. To verify your PSF Voting Eligibility you will need to usehttps://www.psfmember.org.

    If you believe you are a Supporting, Contributing, or Fellow Member but do not have an account on psfmember.org, please create an account and verify your email, then emailpsf-donations@python.org to get your account linked to your membership.

    How does a person become a PSF Fellow?

    To nominate someone to be a PSF Fellow member, please send your nomination topsf-fellow@python.org. More info on the nomination process is availablehere.The criteria for becoming a PSF Fellow are as follows:

    For those who have served the Python community by creating and/ormaintaining various creative contributions, the following statementshould be true:

    "[Nominated Person] has served the Python community by making availablecode, tests, documentation, or design, either in a Python implementation orin a Python ecosystem project, that 1) shows technical excellence, 2) is anexample of software engineering principles and best practices, and 3) hasachieved widespread usage or acclaim."

    For those who have served the Python community by coordinating, organizing,teaching, writing, and evangelizing, the following statement should be true:

    "[Nominated Person] has served the Python community through extraordinaryefforts in organizing Python events, publicly promoting Python, and teachingand coordinating others. [Nominated Person]'s efforts have shown leadershipand resulted in long-lasting and substantial gains in the number and qualityof Python users, and have been widely recognized as being above and beyondnormal volunteering."

    In all that this person does, [Nominated Person] is an example of what weaspire to be in the Python community.

    What does the PSF do?

    The majority of the PSF's work is focused on empowering andsupporting people within the Python community. The PSF hasactive grant programs that support sprints, conferences,meetups, user groups, and Python development efforts allover the world. In addition, the PSF underwrites and runs PyConUS, the primary Python community conference.

    The PSF serves as a primary point of contact for organizations seekingto work with Python, to support Python, or to sponsor Pythondevelopment. The PSF provides a structure by which work, donationsand sponsorships can be coordinated worldwide.

    The PSF also holds and protects the intellectual property associatedwith Python and the Python community - like the word "Python,"the two-snakes logo, and the terms "PyLadies" and "PyCon." Wemake sure that these terms are used appropriately and only for thebenefit of the Python community.

    You can learn morehere or in our latestAnnual Report.

    How can I ask other questions?

    Please send questions topsf-donations@python.org.