[Qgis-user] Funding sources for QGIS development (local groups)
Michał Żugajewicz
ceo at envirosolutions.pl
Thu Jan 15 01:54:13 PST 2026
Hello everyone!!
I'd like to share with you a report on the funding sources of local QGIS
user groups, which I prepared based on the information I gathered.
I also strongly encourage other group leaders/members to share information
from their own "backyards." This way, we can draw conclusions and learn
from best practices, as well as serve as a guide for new or emerging
associations.
Enjoy reading and have a wonderful day! ☀️❄️
Best regards,
*MICHAŁ ŻUGAJEWICZ*
CEO at EnviroSolutions | QGIS Poland Representative
ceo at envirosolutions.pl
+48 501 540 755
EnviroSolutions <https://www.envirosolutions.pl>
LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/company/envirosolutions/> | Facebook
<https://www.facebook.com/envirosolutionspl> | Instagram
<https://www.instagram.com/envirosolutions_team/>
pon., 15 wrz 2025 o 03:58 Emma Hain via QGIS-User <qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org>
napisał(a):
> These members has a yearly membership fee of around 500 Euro. And we have
>> over 100 members like this. Our income is over 55.000 Euro on a yearly
>> basis. Of which we deliver ca. 50% to the international QGIS organization
>> (That is more than 6% of the total income of the international QGIS
>> organization).
>>
>
> This is a great idea - it means you can show the power of the QGIS User
> Group to be instrumental in support of the project.
>
>
> Kind regards
> Em
>
> Emma Hain — Product Manager/Senior GIS Analyst
> emma at north-road.com
> [image: https://north-road.com] *North Road*
> Cartography • Development • Spatial Analysis
> ------------------------------
> *north-road.com* <http://north-road.com>
> <https://twitter.com/northroadgeo>
> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/north-road-studios>
> <https://www.facebook.com/North-Road-997236690392419/home>
> FOSS4G 2025 <https://2025.foss4g.org/>
> 17-23 November, Auckland, New Zealand
>
>
>
> On Sat, 13 Sept 2025 at 20:30, Bo Victor Thomsen via QGIS-User <
> qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org> wrote:
>
>> And I forgot one really import service:
>>
>> - Several times a year we publish a email based newsletter with QGIS
>> related news and events to the members of the user group and the Facebook
>> group who has subscribed to the newsletter.
>>
>> Med venlig hilsen / Best regards
>>
>> Bo Victor Thomsen
>>
>> On 13-09-2025 12:08, Bo Victor Thomsen wrote:
>>
>> Sorry of being late to the party, but here is how the Danish QGIS User
>> Group is working -
>>
>> - We have a Danish Facebook group, that is very active. There is up
>> towards 2700 members in this group - even though we only have around 200
>> actual members i the Danish QGIS User Group. I would never have guessed
>> that there was 2700 people i Denmark using QGIS 🙂
>> - We have been very diligent (and lucky) in persuading Danish,
>> QGIS-using organizations (like municipalities, federal agencies and a lot
>> of companies) that voluntary supporting QGIS by being a "organizational"
>> member in our group is good for the general development and survive-ability
>> of QGIS.
>> - The persuasive script is something like: "500 euro a year is like a
>> dime in your back pocket. It is *nothing* compared to the license
>> you'd have to pay for using ArcGIS /MapInfo/ Intergraph. QGIS has no
>> license costs and supports every known GIS format, database and spatial
>> functions under the sun. So why don't you think of the contribution as
>> insurance ?"
>> - These members has a yearly membership fee of around 500 Euro. And
>> we have over 100 members like this. Our income is over 55.000 Euro on a
>> yearly basis. Of which we deliver ca. 50% to the international QGIS
>> organization (That is more than 6% of the total income of the international
>> QGIS organization).
>> - The rest is used on local QGIS development: plugins (mostly plugins
>> specific to the "Danish GIS environment") and sometimes core development
>> efforts. Plus different events - like on-line meetings, some in-person
>> meetings and the aforementioned Facebook group. And sending a couple of GIS
>> students to QGIS and FOSS4G events abroad.
>> - A couple of our organizational members is also a sustaining member
>> directly for QGIS.org. However, these organizations are very much aware of
>> the relationships (financial and otherwise) between the QGIS software, the
>> Danish QGIS user group and the international QGIS organization. So they
>> have made an informed choice regarding how to support QGIS.
>> - We have a homepage - qgis.dk - for the Danish QGIS user group.
>> - We have talked about having a "market place", where our members can
>> advertise their services on the homepage but haven't yet made a decision
>> about this.
>> - But we do have a calendar function on our homepage, where everyone
>> can make a QGIS related contribution to. There is all kinds of information
>> on this calendar: Information about our own events, "advertisement" about
>> QGIS courses offered by private companies and so on.
>> - And lastly, we have a blog space where everyone can submit an QGIS
>> related article to.
>>
>> I hope you can use the information. The "organizational generosity" might
>> be a Danish specialty, but who knows ?
>>
>> --
>> Med venlig hilsen / Best regards
>>
>> Bo Victor Thomsen
>>
>> Board member of the Danish QGIS User Group
>>
>> On 03-09-2025 07:07, Michał Żugajewicz via QGIS-User wrote:
>>
>> Dear Colleagues!
>>
>> I am reaching out with an interest in learning more about how local QGIS
>> user groups manage to secure funding and support for the development of the
>> software and related tools, such as plugins and custom applications.
>>
>> Could you please share some insights into the typical sources of funding
>> that your group or related initiatives rely on? For example:
>>
>> -
>>
>> Do you receive support from public institutions such as
>> municipalities, government agencies, or universities?
>> -
>>
>> Are there private companies, consultancies, or NGOs that contribute
>> financially to your activities or sponsor specific development projects?
>> -
>>
>> Do you make use of grants, donations, or membership fees to sustain
>> your work?
>> -
>>
>> Have you engaged in partnerships with organizations that benefit from
>> QGIS to co-finance the development of plugins or other tools?
>>
>> I am particularly interested in understanding what models have proven
>> effective and sustainable for your group, and whether there are strategies
>> or best practices you would recommend for establishing these collaborations.
>>
>> Thank you very much for your time and for any details you can share. Your
>> experience could be very helpful in shaping similar initiatives elsewhere 💚
>>
>>
>> Bests,
>>
>> *MICHAŁ ŻUGAJEWICZ*
>>
>> CEO at EnviroSolutions | QGIS Poland Representative
>> ceo at envirosolutions.pl
>> +48 501 540 755
>> EnviroSolutions <https://www.envirosolutions.pl>
>> LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/company/envirosolutions/> | Facebook
>> <https://www.facebook.com/envirosolutionspl> | Instagram
>> <https://www.instagram.com/envirosolutions_team/>
>>
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