FAQ for Applicants
- What is a FOSS Club?
A FOSS Club by FOSS United is an initiative to promote free and open-source culture and collaboration among students through events, workshops, and networking on college campuses. What are “new” and “active” statuses?
Newly established FOSS clubs or those partially active are categorized as new, while clubs that have been actively organizing events for more than three months are categorized as active.How can a new FOSS Club attain active status?
After three months of establishment, FOSS United will review the club’s activities. Based on this review, the club's status will be upgraded from new to active.How do I get the FOSS Club offer letter?
After submitting the application form, please send an email to clubs@fossunited.org. The FOSS United team will get back to you with the offer letter within a week. We are working on automating this process to deliver the offer letter instantly after the application is submitted.What support is available for new FOSS Clubs?
- Educational Resources: Educational materials and resources to facilitate learning.
What support is available for active FOSS Clubs?
a. Expert Speakers: Experienced speakers for lectures and workshops.
b. Educational Resources: Continued access to learning materials.
c. Mentorship: Guidance from mentors for projects and activities.
d. Funding Support: Financial support of up to ₹50,000 per active club annually. Top-performing clubs may receive an additional ₹50,000 to host FOSS Hack.How do the active clubs receive the ₹50,000 support?
For each event organized by the FOSS Club, FOSS United will provide support of up to ₹5,000 for snacks. Additionally, FOSS United will cover travel expenses for invited speakers and mentors.Who is eligible for the ₹1,00,000 support?
Top-performing clubs may receive an additional ₹50,000 (on top of the initial ₹50,000) to organize FOSS Hack. This will be based on the number of events organized by the club.How do we receive the funds?
Please apply for reimbursements using the provided form here. Make sure all relevant bills are in the name of the FOSS Club to process the reimbursement.Whom should I contact for help?
You can reach out on the public FOSS Club group or email us at clubs@fossunited.org.What if my club hasn’t organized any events for over 3 months?
If your club has not organized any events in the last three months and has not communicated the reason for inactivity in advance, it will be categorized as defunct.What should we do after organizing an event?
Core members are expected to share a brief report and event pictures on the forum and the FOSS United community on Telegram.Who gets to organize FOSS Hack?
The most active FOSS Clubs will get the opportunity to host FOSS Hack. FOSS United will decide this based on the number of events organized and the club's activity on the public FOSS Club group and the FOSS United community. Selected organizers will receive up to ₹50,000 to conduct the hackathon.Branding Guidelines: All clubs must follow the FOSS Club brand guidelines when using the name, logo, or designing event materials. Please review the guidelines here to ensure consistent and recognisable across campuses and online
Notes on Club ban: Maintaining the integrity of the FOSS Club program is essential. Any club that fails to follow the Code of Conduct, or organises events that are not aligned with the principles of Free and Open Source Software, will face strict consequences, including a permanent ban. Such clubs will no longer be considered part of the program and will not be allowed to reapply in the future.