It’s amazing to see the outpouring of support among people during this uncertain time. Whether it’s helping an elderly neighbor with getting groceries or supporting small businesses, people around the world are showcasing a “we are in this together” mentality. 

At Mediacurrent, we have been doing what we can in response to COVID-19 from sharing tips on how to connect as a remote team to working on initiatives that can be utilized in times of a pandemic or natural disaster. Our customers and organizations we support, such as the Drupal Association (DA), are also top of mind for us as we navigate the coming weeks.

During an April 3rd webinar, Heather Rocker, Executive Director of the Drupal Association, and Dries Buytaert, Founder of Drupal, provided a transparent operational update about the impact COVID-19 is having on the Drupal Association. As expected with the postponement of DrupalCon—the primary revenue driver for the DA—difficult decisions are needing to be made around how to sustain the Drupal Association during this unprecedented time. They mentioned staff layoffs had been started, but the DA has been looking at all other possible options.

After listening to the webinar the DA hosted on Friday, April 3, Mediacurrent made the decision to leave our sponsorship 100% “intact.” Essentially, this means we want the Drupal Association to use the funds that were earmarked for one of DrupalCon North America’s six Platinum sponsorships in May to help continue the Drupal Association push forward. Heather and Dries discussed how sponsorships remaining intact was just one of many financial hurdles that needed to be addressed. There is still a $500,000 delta that must be overcome due to DrupalCon Minneapolis potentially being postponed to a virtual event (or canceled). The most viable path to doing this is crowdfunding and reaching out to as broad an audience as possible for help—this includes enterprise organizations that are using Drupal and donations from those who believe that technology should be shared and free.

What can you do to support the Drupal Association?

The Drupal Association is the foundation for the Drupal community. It is a non-profit organization that relies on the support of individual members and organizations. To be more direct, without the DA, the future of Drupal would be in an extremely precarious position—there would be no staff dedicated to maintaining infrastructure like Drupal.org or to organize events like DrupalCon. Essentially, as the Drupal Association undergoes financial hardship, this is an opportunity for all us to lean in to help preserve the future of Drupal.  

To help the Drupal Association, consider supporting in these ways:

• Make a direct donation to the Drupal Association.
• Join as an individual or organization member. If you’re already a member, consider increasing your membership.
• Advertise on Drupal.org to raise awareness of your brand to a Drupal audience.
• Create a culture of giving back to the Drupal community at your organization.
• Spread the word in your network. Here are a few pre-populated messages you could use in your support of the Drupal Association:
  • Many @DrupalConNA sponsors are pledging to leave their sponsorships intact, but the Drupal Association needs more support to maintain necessary infrastructure. Donate and share how you’ve supported @drupalassoc. https://www.drupal.org/association/donate [Tweet me]
  • Organizations I support, such as the Drupal Association, are at the top of my mind as we all navigate the coming weeks. Together we are stronger. Support #opensource https://www.drupal.org/association/support @drupalassoc [Tweet me]
  • Now, more than ever, the Drupal Association needs our support. Help sustain @drupalassoc by making a donation or becoming a member. https://www.drupal.org/association/support [Tweet me]
  • The Drupal Association is experiencing financial hardship and needs our support to preserve the future of Drupal. Read @mediacurrent’s blog post to understand how you can support the Drupal Association. [Tweet me]

There are so many unknowns with the impact that COVID-19 is having on each of us individually and with organizations like the Drupal Association. Coming together as a community and supporting each other however we can will allow us all to come out ahead when this challenging situation passes. We’re grateful to be part of the Drupal Association, which has always strived to serve the Drupal community, and we’re determined to help as they continue to navigate these uncertain times.