general public — while Conservancy takes care of the projects' needs that

  do not relate directly to software development.</p>

<p>FLOSS projects whose <a href="/members/apply">applications are

    accepted</a> become an actual part of the Software Freedom Conservancy

    (akin to a separate department of a large agency).  Once joined, the

    <a href="/members">&ldquo;member project&rdquo;</a> receives most of

    the benefits of existing as a non-profit corporate entity without

    actually having to form and maintain one.  Conservancy aggregates the

    work of running a FLOSS non-profit for <a href="/members/current/">its

    many members</a>.</p>

  member projects.  Member projects can take directed donations, which

  allows donors to earmark their donations for the benefit of a specific

  FLOSS project.  Conservancy provides fiscal oversight to ensure that

  these funds are spent in a manner that advances the project and fits

  with Conservancy's 501(c)(3) mission to advance software freedom.</p>

<p>If the member project's leaders want, Conservancy can also hold other

  assets and titles on behalf of the projects, such as copyrights,

  trademarks, domain names, online hosting accounts, and title and ownership

  of physical hardware.  Also at discretion of the project's leaders,

  Conservancy can assist in defending the rights represented in these

  assets.  For example, Conservancy is available to assist member projects