# Python Software Foundation launches 2026 year-end fundraiser and membership drive

> **Key takeaway:** The PSF is seeking community funding to support CPython development, PyPI security, and the newly formed Python Packaging Council.

**Published:** 2026-11-13T13:40:42+00:00 
**Source:** Python Software Foundation (PSF) News & Grants 
**Category:** policy-community 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/python-software-foundation-launches-2026-year-end-fundraiser.html 

## Summary
The Python Software Foundation (PSF) has announced its 2026 year-end fundraising campaign and membership drive to sustain the Python programming language and its ecosystem. The initiative offers two primary paths for support: direct donations and a tiered Supporting Membership program, which includes a sliding scale starting at $25 USD and provides voting rights in PSF elections.

Funds raised are intended to bolster critical infrastructure, including the Python Package Index (PyPI) and CPython development. The campaign follows a year of significant organizational milestones, such as the establishment of the Python Packaging Council (PPC) and the implementation of a new five-year strategic plan covering 2026 through 2031.

## Technical and Security Milestones in 2026
- **Packaging Governance:** The inaugural Python Packaging Council (PPC) was formed to develop interoperability specifications for building, distributing, and installing Python packages, coordinating between tool maintainers and the core team.
- **PyPI Security Hardening:** Following a Sovereign Tech Agency-funded audit by Trail of Bits, PyPI implemented automated CodeQL queries for bug detection and a policy rejecting new files on releases older than 14 days to prevent malicious wheel grafting.
- **Vulnerability Management:** The Python Security Response Team (PSRT) expanded via PEP 811, implementing a new security policy and threat model to better distinguish security-relevant reports from standard bugs.
- **Infrastructure Maintenance:** The PSF continues to manage the Python Package Index (PyPI) and provides Developers in Residence to support core language and ecosystem stability.

## Why it matters
This funding is vital for maintaining the security and interoperability of the Python ecosystem, particularly through the oversight of PyPI and the new Packaging Council. For developers and system administrators, these efforts directly translate to more secure package distribution and more stable dependency management across Linux and cloud environments.