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Over the next three years, Mozilla will collect $900 million from Google as agreed upon in a recently renewed and extended search deal that will keep Google as the default search engine in Firefox. That's a three-fold increase annually over the previous search deal, which in 2010 worked out to $103 million, or 84 percent of Mozilla's revenue. Now Mozilla is imploring Firefox users to donate $10 or more.
Mozilla sent an email out to all known Firefox users asking for tax-deductible donations and explaining why it wants them. It has nothing to do with greed.
"Mozilla is a global non-profit fighting to keep the Internet safe, accessible, and awesome," Mozilla stated in an email. "Our goal is to put the power of the Web in people's hands and to innovate for users everywhere. That means a better experience for you and a brighter future for the Web."
The browser maker even put together a three minute video (embedded above) outlining its idealistic view of the Web.
"Mozilla is always developing new projects that allow people to dream, discover and create online. Whether it's Hackasaurus, our project that teaches kids to remix and shape the Web in a way that sets them up for a lifetime of creation, or Popcorn, which lets anyone bring the Web into video, we're building software and programs that will create the next generation of webmakers. But as a non-profit, we can only do that if folks just like you support us," Mozilla said.
If Mozilla's plea worked and you feel like handing over some cash, you can make a donation here. And if not, well, carry on.
Comments are closed on this article
poee
December 31, 2011 at 3:00pm
That appeal for a $10 donation from FF users whould have been far more effective had the emails gone out prior to the news that Mozilla and Google renewed their deal. The timing is really unfortunate, because Mozilla is a worthy cause. But after hearing they just clinched $900 million, well, it just feels like my ten bucks will disappear into the overhead costs of counting all their stacks of money.
Phantom-e
January 01, 2012 at 5:54pm
What if they asked for the donation before? Wouln't it then seem wrong as well? Asking for a donation, and then making the $900 million deal after the fact? Sounds like a lose-lose situation. Damned if they do or don't.
MrSelatcia
December 30, 2011 at 9:37am
What a load of crap. Asking for handouts when they just inked that deal with the googs? Calling themselves a nonprofit is bordering on the ridiculous too.
biggiebob12345
December 30, 2011 at 11:03pm
It's not like Mozilla is giving $250k salaries to their skeleton staff crew. If I didn't just get my bank account raped buying a new car, I'd give $10. Only fair since FF has been my main browser since the pre 1.0 days.
MrSelatcia
January 06, 2012 at 9:42am
http://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Mozilla-Salaries-E19129.htm
looks like you are right... only $146k salaries. Non-profit my ass.
ApathyCurve
December 30, 2011 at 8:15am
This sounds a lot like the old PBS pitch. Every six months they'd hold a whinefest, wherein they described to us how "90% of our funding comes from viewers JUST LIKE YOU!!!1" I remember in the mid 90s when the government turned off the money spigot to PBS and suddenly all you hear is "BUT THAT'S WHERE 90% OF OUR FUNDING COMES FROM! WE CAN'T SURVIVE WITHOUT IT!!!1"
Never trust a beggar.
