I'm very pleased to announce that the Python Software Foundation has been recognized by the IRS (the US office of taxation) as a tax-exempt non-profit foundation (aka 501(c)(3)), and that the IRS has given the PSF a "favorable advance ruling" on the PSF's application for recognition as a public charity. Read the IRS ruling here:

http://www.python.org/psf/records/tax-exempt.txt

Recognition as a public charity has many benefits for the PSF and our community, including strong requirements for public disclosure and accountability, strong legal protections, and freedom from Federal taxation on foundation revenue. Contributions to the PSF are also tax-deductible for purposes of US income tax, subject to the same regulations as donations to any public charity.

The PSF hasn't solicited contributions so far, waiting for the IRS ruling. Now that we have a favorable advance ruling, as the letter states we need to demonstrate broad public financial support to retain public charity status. A PSF committee is looking into ways to make contributing as easy as possible (like "click here to donate"). If you can't wait, the best way to contribute now is via check:

http://www.python.org/psf/donations.html

The PSF currently has financial responsibility for PyCon DC 2003:

http://www.python.org/pycon/

Provided that doesn't bankrupt us :-), other things the PSF does (and would like to do) are given in the PSF's mission statement:

http://www.python.org/psf/mission.html

So get those donations coming!

(Non-US residents are encouraged to donate, and their donations will be counted as public financial support, but such donations are generally not tax-exempt for the donor. To change this would require setting up PSF subsidiaries in many countries; we don't have the resources to do this. Check your local tax law; there may be exceptions.)

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)