Saying a 2026 PSF Grants Program Funding Spherical

The Python Software program Basis (PSF) is worked up to announce a 2026 PSF Grants Program funding spherical. This isn’t a full reopening of the Grants Program because it existed earlier than. Somewhat, it is what the PSF is ready to sustainably provide proper now, given the place we stand financially and operationally. The PSF Board, PSF Workers, and PSF Grants Work Group (GWG) are deeply obsessed with this system and perceive how necessary it’s to the Python group. It’s our honor to have the chance to disburse grant funding in 2026. 

Consistent with our concentrate on sustainability, this spherical of grant funding has a set price range capped at $90,000 USD, a restricted scope, and a unique construction and timeline for making use of and reviewing. We might be accepting functions from August 4 – 25 AoE, for Conferences and Workshops which can be scheduled between December 1, 2026, and April 30, 2027. Our high precedence is getting obtainable funds to the regional communities who want it most: those that have needed to pause their occasions and initiatives due to lack of funding from PSF Grants or lack of sponsors.

Context

As people following together with the PSF could bear in mind, the final couple of years have been financially difficult, with the PSF’s belongings and yearly income declining and prices rising throughout the board. On the identical time, the demand for our work has continued to multiply. Making the choice to pause the Grants Program final 12 months was troublesome, however a needed step to guard each the way forward for this system and the short- and long-term sustainability of the PSF. 

The PSF acknowledges the pause created difficult conditions for the numerous group teams that had deliberate to use for the grants program. We additionally acknowledge and respect the group’s assist—each in response to the announcement of the pause and thru the excellent outcomes of the 2025 end-of-year fundraiser. 

The Python group confirmed up with understanding and solidarity when the pause occurred and helped us provide you with concepts on how the PSF may serve the group in non-financial methods. These concepts have been the seeds that grew into the PSF Neighborhood Associate Program, a non-monetary partnership supplied to qualifying candidates. This program assists Neighborhood Companions by attaching the PSF title to the occasion or initiative, which lends credibility, helps appeal to sponsors, and supplies promotional assist by reposts on PSF social media accounts.

Funding Spherical Eligibility, Caps, and Standards

Eligibility Timeframe

The 2026 Grants Program Funding Spherical might be narrowly scoped to Conferences and Workshops of all kinds which can be scheduled between December 1, 2026, and April 30, 2027. If all goes nicely, the PSF intends to run future rounds of funding, so please don’t be discouraged in case your occasion doesn’t match inside this time-frame. This time-frame displays the PSF’s present funds, our workers capability, and our purpose of getting funds to recipients whereas they’re helpful.

Classes of grants that might be thought of (consists of digital):

• Conferences. A number of days of convention programming, with no less than 60% Python content material.
• Workshops (Python-related, PyLadies, and DjangoGirls). A number of days of workshop programming, with no less than 6 hours per day of instruction.

The PSF additionally needs to acknowledge that this timeframe could exclude some occasions and initiatives that additionally missed out on funding in 2025. Please know exclusion is just not our intent. If we’re capable of provide later rounds, we plan to prioritize occasions and initiatives that missed out on funding in 2025 and 2026 because of the timing home windows. Getting this system again up and operating is lots of work for our small workforce, and we’ve skilled vital staffing modifications within the final 12 months. These modifications have made it more durable to maintain tempo with our common actions, not to mention get the Grants Program up and operating once more. What felt crucial was getting no less than some funds out, even when we couldn’t kick this system off proper on the identical time of 12 months it was paused final 12 months. 

Changes to Grant Class Caps

The 2026 Grants Program Funding Spherical will modify the cap for Convention sort grants right down to $2,000 USD and preserve the Workshop sort grant cap at $1,500 USD. This modification displays a concentrate on supporting hyper-local communities that needed to halt their actions because of the PSF Grants Program pause. 

The PSF has noticed, by social media, Grants Program Workplace Hours, and casual conversations, that many massive and long-standing worldwide PyCons are nonetheless happening with out PSF Grants, whereas workshops and smaller regional initiatives have utterly paused or slowed down considerably. Primarily based on these observations, the PSF estimates that $1,500 will make an influence for these workshops and $2000 may assist fill in some gaps in PyCon budgets. Our hope is to empower as many teams as doable with this spherical of funding. 

Please be aware that the caps are the most quantity candidates can request. When you don’t want that quantity, please ask for much less. The rules the Grants Work Group observes are usually as follows:

• Conferences: As much as $15 USD per attendee per day.
• Workshops: As much as $25 USD per pupil per day.

Notes on Scope, Standards, and Communication

The PSF needs to spotlight that consolidated grant varieties won’t be thought of in the course of the 2026 Grants Funding Spherical. Whereas this was an important addition for when the Grants Program was operating on a rolling foundation, for this restricted funding spherical, the PSF Grants Work Group wants to have a look at functions on a singular stage. We ask that communities that beforehand submitted consolidated grants submit particular person functions for as much as 5 conferences or workshops which can be scheduled to happen in the course of the eligibility timeframe.

All earlier standards and tips for the PSF Grants Program might be utilized to this funding spherical. This submit gained’t go over each single piece of data required on the applying, however we wish to spotlight a few issues:

• If the applicant has acquired a grant up to now for a unique occasion, or the occasion itself has acquired a grant, a report should be submitted by way of our grant reporting type. It is a onerous requirement as a consequence of our standing as a charity based mostly within the US, as our grant awards should be auditable to the very best of our means. We do our greatest to make this as small a burden on grant recipients as doable. 
• The making use of occasion or initiative should have a Code of Conduct and reporting mechanism prominently displayed in your occasion’s web site. A part of the PSF’s mission is to assist and facilitate a various and worldwide group of Python programmers, which signifies that it’s important for our grant recipients to have an enforceable Code of Conduct. In case your occasion or workshop doesn’t have a Code of Conduct or reporting mechanism, take a look at our occasion Code of Conduct finest practices documentation.
• We’re unable to offer grant funding for:
• Private journey requests
• Hackathons
• T-shirts, swag, giveaways, and prizes
• Occasions and initiatives unrelated to Python or the PSF’s charitable mission

Grants Funding Spherical Schedule

Listed within the desk under is the anticipated schedule for the 2026 PSF Grants Program Funding Spherical. The timeline is tight (functions open subsequent week!), however our workforce hopes that three weeks to get functions in is affordable and accommodates occasions and initiatives that fall within the eligibility timeframe. 

After issues kick off, the PSF might have to regulate dates by a pair days right here and there. This program relies on simply a few workers (Hello, Marie and Laura!) and our great Grants Work Group (Thanks, workforce!) that’s composed of volunteers. If dates must be adjusted, we’ll remember to talk that in a number of locations (Emails direct to candidates, Talk about, PSF Discord, and PSF social media accounts: LinkedIn, Mastodon, Bluesky, X).

The PSF asks that candidates carefully monitor their emails from the purpose they submit their utility to the tip of the assessment section. We might be disillusioned to see occasions and initiatives miss out on grant funding as a consequence of gaps of their utility. The extra responsive candidates might be, the higher!

Tips on how to Apply

Submit your functions by way of the PSF Grants Program utility type. Earlier than August 4 and after August 25, the shape continues to be obtainable however solely taking functions for the PSF’s Meetup Professional Community. 

Questions or suggestions?

Phew—that was lots of data! The PSF expects questions concerning the 2026 Grants Program Funding Spherical. In actual fact, there could also be issues we’ve missed, and we might respect you sharing something you suppose we’re lacking. Your suggestions will assist us enhance in the course of the course of and for future rounds. There are a number of methods so that you can attain out to us together with your questions, suggestions, and feedback:

As a result of accelerated nature of this grants funding spherical, we’re holding supplemental PSF Grants Program Workplace Hours on the PSF Discord:

Try what occasions these are for you utilizing this timezone converter. We welcome you to affix us to ask your questions, focus on the method, counsel concepts for future rounds, or the rest associated to the PSF Grants Program. 

Last Ideas and Thanks

It is a massive change for the PSF Grants Program. It’s moved from a rolling foundation, to a pause, and now to a restricted window to obtain, assessment, and make selections about functions. Will the method be completely clean? In all probability not. However we’re dedicated to doing it as effectively as doable, protecting the group and candidates knowledgeable of any modifications, and when doable, integrating suggestions we obtain all through the method. 

The PSF additionally needs to thanks, the Python group, to your understanding and beneficiant backing, in actions, phrases, and donations. We couldn’t fulfill our mission with out the group’s assist and with out every particular person on the market championing the PSF’s work. The PSF is so very grateful to be in group with each considered one of you. 

In regards to the Python Software program Basis

The Python Software program Basis is a US non-profit whose mission is to advertise, shield, and advance the Python programming language, and to assist and facilitate the expansion of a various and worldwide group of Python programmers. The PSF helps the Python group utilizing company sponsorships, grants, and donations. Are you curious about sponsoring or donating to the PSF so we are able to proceed supporting Python and its group? Try our sponsorship program, donate immediately, or contact our workforce at sponsors@python.org