WILMINGTON, DE — The Apache Software Foundation (ASF), steward of hundreds of widely-used open source projects, has launched ASF Initiatives, a new fundraising program designed to bolster the development, security, and sustainability of its software ecosystem. The first effort under the program, the Tooling Initiative, aims to support ASF project communities by enhancing collaboration, automating tasks, and reducing technical debt.
Alpha-Omega, a prominent organization committed to the advancement of open source software security, has provided seed funding to jumpstart the Tooling Initiative. This initial support highlights a growing recognition of the importance of sustainable investment in open source projects, which serve as critical infrastructure globally.
“As demands on open source software continue to grow, particularly in areas of security and infrastructure support, the ASF is expanding its capabilities to meet these challenges head-on,” said Ruth Suehle, President of the Apache Software Foundation. “The ASF Initiatives program allows organizations to directly support specific strategic priorities that will benefit the entire ASF open source ecosystem.”
The Tooling Initiative seeks to elevate the efficiency and resiliency of ASF’s project communities by providing resources designed to streamline development processes and address long-standing technical challenges. Importantly, this initiative is distinct from the tools managed by ASF Infrastructure, focusing instead on empowering project contributors to deliver high-quality software more effectively.
With Alpha-Omega’s seed funding in place, the Foundation is calling on other open source stakeholders to contribute to the initiative. The Tooling Initiative requires an additional $500,000 in funding to meet its objectives, ensuring the sustained excellence of the projects under ASF’s stewardship.
“We have a mission to catalyze sustainable security improvements in open source software,” said Michael Winser, Co-Founder of the Alpha-Omega Project. “A key part of our strategy is to work within major ecosystems. The ASF’s ability to create common tooling infrastructure and to lead and inspire cultural changes across hundreds of projects is compelling. It’s hard to imagine a more leveraged investment. We are thrilled to help start this effort and look forward to other collaborators joining in.”
Future efforts under the ASF Initiatives program are also in development, with a focus on addressing critical challenges such as security standards that align with the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act and guidance from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
Through the ASF Initiatives and its flagship Tooling Initiative, the Foundation continues to affirm its dedication to advancing open source technology and supporting the vibrant communities that rely on its software worldwide.
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