donate/en/donor-faq.wml (708638412) - tor-webwml.git

donor-faq.wml

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#include "donatehead.wmi" TITLE="Donate to keep Tor alive!" CHARSET="UTF-8"
<div class="donation">
 <div class="container"> 
 <div class="row text-justify">
 <div class="col-md-12 col-md-offset-0">
 <a href="<page donate/donate>" class="btn btn-primary btn-md active" role="button">Back to donate page!</a>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-12 col-md-offset-0">
 <h2 style="padding:2px; margin-bottom:10px;" class="text-justify">Donor FAQ</h2>
 <ol>
 <li>
 What is the Tor Project and what does it do?
 The Tor Project’s mission is to advance human rights
 and freedoms by creating and deploying free and open
 anonymity and privacy technologies, supporting their
 unrestricted availability and use, and furthering their
 scientific and popular understanding. The main product of
 the Tor Project is the Tor Browser, which enables people
 to browse the internet anonymously. The Tor Project is a
 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organization based in Boston,
 Massachusetts. It was founded in 2006.
 </li>
 <li>
 Who works for the Tor Project, and what do they do?
 Thousands people around the world actively support the
 work of the Tor Project, including developers, designers,
 relay operators, researchers, cryptographers, computer
 scientists, and privacy advocates, and most are not paid
 by the Tor Project. The paid staff of the Tor Project
 is very small: about 20 people in total. You can read
 about the core contributors to the Tor Project on our <a
 href="<page about/corepeople>"
 target="_blank">Core People page</a>.
 </li>
 <li>
 Who uses Tor?
 The vast majority of Tor users are ordinary people who
 want control of their privacy online or people whose internet
 use is censored. Other Tor users are journalists, human
 rights defenders, domestic violence survivors, policymakers,
 diplomats, and academic and research institutions.
 </li>
 <li>
 Can anyone use Tor?
 Yes! Tor is free, and anyone can
 use it. To get started, you will need to <a
 href="<page projects/torbrowser>"
 target="_blank">download the Tor browser</a>. We
 offer instructions on how to download for <a
 href="<page projects/torbrowser>#windows"
 target="_blank">Windows</a>, <a
 href="<page projects/torbrowser>#macosx"
 target="_blank">Mac OS X</a> and <a
 href="<page projects/torbrowser>#linux"
 target="_blank">Linux</a>.
 </li>
 <li>
 What kinds of people support Tor?
 All kinds of people. Thousands of individuals have donated
 to support the Tor Project, and we have also received funding
 from a wide range of organizations including Google, the Ford
 Foundation, the Knight Foundation, Reddit, the U.S. National
 Science Foundation, the Electronic Frontier Foundation,
 Human Rights Watch, the Swedish International Development
 Cooperation Agency, the Federal Foreign Office of Germany,
 the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Omidyar Network, SRI
 International, and Radio Free Asia. People also support Tor in
 non-financial ways, for example by running Tor relays and exit
 nodes. In addition, everybody who uses Tor is helping to keep
 other users safe and anonymous, because the more people using
 Tor, the harder it is to identify any single individual
 </li>
 <li>
 How does the Tor software work to protect people's anonymity?
 Tor protects you by bouncing your communications around
 the Tor network, which is a distributed network of relays
 run by volunteers all around the world. If someone is
 watching your internet connection, Tor prevents them
 from finding out what sites you are visiting. It also
 prevents sites you visit from finding out where you're
 located. You can read more about how Tor works on our <a
 href="<page about/overview>"
 target="_blank">overview page</a>.
 </li>
 <li>
 I would like to know more about how Tor works,
 what hidden services are, or how to run a relay.
 <a href="<page docs/faq>"
 target="_blank">This Tor Project FAQ</a> has answers to all
 those questions, and more.
 </li>
 <li>
 Does the Tor software work?
 We believe Tor is the best solution available today,
 and we know that it does a better job of keeping you
 safely anonymous than other options such as VPNs,
 proxychains, or browser "private browsing" modes. We
 know that both the Russian government and the NSA
 have tried in the past to crack Tor, and failed. The
 Electronic Frontier Foundation says that Tor offers "<a
 href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/07/7-things-you-should-know-about-tor"
 target="_blank">some of the strongest anonymity software
 that exists</a>, and in his book Data and Goliath, security
 expert Bruce Schneier wrote "The current best tool to protect
 your anonymity when browsing the web is Tor."
 </li>
 <li>
 Is what Tor does legal? Can I get in trouble for
 using it?
 Downloading the Tor browser or using the Tor network
 is legal in nearly every country. A few web sites
 occasionally block Tor, but that doesn't mean you're
 doing anything wrong. Usually it means that site has had
 difficulties with visitors who've been using Tor in the
 past, or that they misunderstand what Tor is and how it
 works (we’re working to change this). But it is not
 illegal to use Tor, and you shouldn't get in trouble for
 doing it. You can find more information about Tor's legal
 status <a href="https://www.eff.org/torchallenge/faq.html"
 target="_blank">on the EFF site</a>.
 </li>
 <li>
 Where can I find out more about the Tor Project,
 especially financial information?
 Here are the Tor Project's <a
 href="<page about/financials>"
 target="_blank">financial statements, and its Form
 990</a>.
 </li>
 <li>
 Where does the Tor Project's money come
 from?
 Tor is supported by United States government funding
 agencies, NGOs, private foundations, research institutions,
 private companies, and nearly 8,000 personal donations
 from people like you. The exact percentage varies by year,
 but in any given year, 80-90% of the Tor Project's funding
 comes from United States government funding sources. See
 <a href="<page about/sponsors>"
 target="_blank">https://www.torproject.org/about/sponsors</a>
 for more.
 </li>
 <li>
 How much money does the Tor Project spend annually,
 and what is it used for?
 The Tor Project spends about $2.5 million annually. About
 80% of the Tor Project's spending goes on staffing, mostly
 software engineers. About 10% goes towards administrative
 costs such as accounting and legal costs and bank fees. The
 remaining 10% is spent on travel, meetings and conferences,
 which are important for Tor because the Tor community is
 global.
 </li>
 <li>
 Is my donation tax-deductible?
 If you pay taxes in the United States, your donation to
 Tor is tax deductible to the full extent required by law. The
 tax ID number for the Tor Project is 20-8096820.
 </li>
 <li>
 If I am not in the United States, can I still
 donate?
 Yes, definitely. Your donation probably isn't
 tax-deductible (unless you pay taxes on U.S. income) but we
 would very much appreciate your support. 
 </li>
 <li>
 Am I right that the Tor Project has never asked
 for donations before?
 Yes! We've had a donate button on the site for years,
 and so far nearly 8,000 people have given money to the Tor
 Project. But this is the first time we've actively sought
 donations. To date, much of Tor Project funding has come
 from United States federal funding sources, such as the
 U.S. independent agency the International Broadcasting Bureau
 (IBB) and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Democracy,
 Human Rights, and Labor (DRL). While we are grateful for
 this funding, we don't want the Tor Project to become too
 dependent on any single type of funding. Crowdfunding is
 unrestricted--It allows us to spend the money on the projects
 we think are most important and respond quickly to changing
 events. And so, we are asking you to help financially support
 us, to increase the Tor Project's independence and ensure the
 sustainability of the products and services we provide.
 </li>
 <li>
 Can I donate to a specific project, or restrict
 my donation to a particular purpose?
 No, sorry. If we accept a donation from someone who has
 specified how they want it used, we're required by the IRS
 to track and report separately on that money. That would
 be a big administrative burden for a small organization,
 and we don't think it's a good idea for us. However, we
 would be very happy to hear your ideas and feedback about
 our work. If you're donating using a mechanism that allows
 for comments, feel free to send your thoughts that way.
 </li>
 <li>
 Can I donate while using the Tor browser?
 Maybe! In our testing, we saw two scenarios related to
 Paypal + Tor browser: 
 <ol>
 <li>Sometimes you get an error after clicking on the
 'Donate' button. If this is happening to you, you should
 change your circuit and try again.</li>
 <li>For users logging in to Paypal: some people had
 no problem donating via PayPal while using the Tor
 browser. But, some people couldn't complete the donation
 process, and one person had their PayPal account temporarily
 frozen. We recommend not using the Tor browser to donate
 using your PayPal account, unless you're willing to risk
 some difficulties with PayPal.</li>
 </ol>
 </li>
 <li>
 How can I donate via debit or credit card?
 To donate using a major credit card or debit card (VISA,
 MasterCard, Discover or American Express) or via PayPal,
 please visit our donate page. You do not need to have a
 PayPal account to donate via credit card.
 </li>
 <li>
 Why do you ask for my address and similar
 information?
 If you donate by credit card, you will be asked for some
 information that's required to process your credit card
 payment, including your billing address. This allows our
 payment processor to verify your identity, process your
 payment, and prevent fraudulent charges to your credit
 card. We don't ask for information beyond what's required
 by the payment processor.
 </li>
 <li>
 Why is there a minimum donation?
 People who have stolen credit card information often
 donate to nonprofits as a way of testing whether the card
 works. These people typically use a very small amount for
 their testing, and we've found that setting a $1 minimum
 donation seems to deter them.
 </li> 
 <li>
 Is there a maximum donation?
 No, no, no! More funding from you means we can do more
 things we are excited to do, like hire a person to monitor
 the Tor network full time, or research, test, and implement
 ideas we have for making the Tor network even stronger.
 </li>
 <li>
 Can I donate via bitcoin?
 Yes! We accept <a
 href="<page donate/donate-options>"
 target="_blank">bitcoin via BitPay</a>.
 </li> 
 <li>
 If I want my donation to be anonymous, what is
 the best way for me to donate?
 You can donate by <a href="<page
 donate/donate-options>#cash">mailing cash</a>.
 You can donate via bitcoin
 if you have bitcoin set up in a way that preserves your
 anonymity. You can buy cash gift cards and mail them to
 us. There are probably other ways to donate anonymously that
 we haven't thought of-- maybe you will :)
 </li>
 <li>
 Is the Tor Project required to identify me as
 a donor to the United States government, or to any other
 authority?
 If you donate $5,000 or more to the Tor Project in a single
 year, we are required to report the donation amount and your
 name and address (if we have it) to the IRS, on Schedule
 B of the Form 990, which is filed annually. However, it's
 normal for nonprofits to redact individual donor information
 from the copy of the 990 that's made publicly-available, and
 that's what we do. We are not required to identify donors to
 any other organization or authority, and we do not. (Also,
 if you wanted, you could give us $4,999 in late 2015 and
 $4,999 in early 2016 ;)
 </li>
 <li>
 In your privacy policy, you say you will never
 publicly identify me as a donor without my permission. What
 does that mean?
 Yes, that's right. If you donate to the Tor Project, there
 will be some people at the Tor Project who know about your
 donation. However, we will never publicly identify you as
 a donor, unless you have given us permission to do so. That
 means we won't post your name on our website, thank you on
 Twitter, or do anything else that would publicly identify
 you as someone who has donated. If we decide we would like
 to publicly name you as a donor, we will ask you first,
 and will not do it until and unless you say it's okay.
 </li>
 <li>
 It's important to me that my donation be
 tax-deductible, but I don't pay taxes in the United
 States. 
 Right now, we can only offer tax-deductibility to
 donors who pay taxes in the United States. If it's
 important to you that your donations be tax-deductible
 in a different country, let us know and we will
 try to offer tax-deductibility in your country in
 future. Or, if you are in Germany, France or Sweden, <a
 href="<page docs/faq>#RelayDonations"
 target="_blank">these organizations support the Tor
 network</a> and may be able to offer you tax-deductibility
 for your donation.
 </li>
 <li>
 What if I don't want to use PayPal? Is there
 another way I can donate? 
 Yes! Here is a list of <a
 href="<page donate/donate-options>"
 target="_blank">other ways you can donate</a>.
 </li>
 <li>
 What is your donor privacy policy?
 Here is the Tor Project <a
 href="<page donate/donor-privacy-policy>" target="_blank">donor
 privacy policy</a>.
 </li>
 <li>
 What is your refund policy?
 If you want your donation refunded, please tell us
 by emailing donations(at)torproject.org. To process your
 refund we'll need to know the date of your donation, the
 amount you donated, your full name, the payment method you
 used and your country of origin. Please also tell us why
 you're asking for a refund. Please note that some payment
 methods won't support refunds, or require them to be made
 in a specific way, so we may need additional information
 from you in order to process yours.
 </li>
 <li>
 Can I donate by mail?
 Yes. Our mailing address is The Tor Project, 7 Temple
 Street Suite A, Cambridge MA 02139-2403 USA.
 </li>
 <li>
 Do you accept cash donations?
 Yes.
 </li>
 <li>
 Can I donate stock?
 Yes! Many companies --such as Google, Microsoft, eBay,
 PayPal, Apple, Verizon, Red Hat, many universities,
 and others-- will match donations made by their
 employees. The fastest way to find out if your company
 matches donations is usually by checking with your
 HR department, or you can search for your company
 name at <a href="https://www.matchinggifts.com/rit/"
 target="_blank">https://www.matchinggifts.com/rit/</a>. If
 your company isn't currently set up to match donations
 to the Tor Project, we would be happy to help with the
 paperwork. If you want help figuring out the process, write
 us at donations(at)torproject.org.
 </li>
 <li>
 Can I become a Tor Project member?
 Right now, we don't have a membership program, but we may
 set one up in the future. If you want to get involved with
 the Tor Project, <a href="<page getinvolved/volunteer>">this
 is a good place to start</a>.
 </li>
 <li>
 How can I get a Tor t-shirt or stickers?
 If you donate $23 or more, you will get stickers we
 created just for this campaign. And if you donate $100 or
 more, you will get a special 'Tor supporter' t-shirt!
 </li>
 <li>
 If I want to stay in touch with the Tor Project,
 what's the best way for me to do that?
 You can sign up to receive the <a
 href="https://lists.torproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/tor-news"
 target="_blank">Tor weekly newsletter</a>, read the <a
 href="https://blog.torproject.org/" target="_blank">Tor
 blog</a>, or <a href="https://twitter.com/torproject"
 target="_blank">follow us on Twitter</a>.
 </li>
 <li>
 Does the Tor Project participate in the Combined
 Federal Campaign program?
 No, Tor doesn't currently participate in the CFC
 program. If you'd like to get Tor added to the CFC program
 in your location, that would be great: please let us know
 if you need any help. 
 </li>
 <li>
 Can I donate my airline miles, flight vouchers,
 or hotel points?
 No, sorry. We would like to accept your miles, vouchers
 and hotel points, and in the future we may be able to.
 </li>
 <li>
 Can I donate hardware?
 Typically no, we don't encourage people to donate
 hardware. But if you want to make a hardware donation that
 you think might be especially useful for us, please mail
 donations(at)torproject.org.
 </li>
 <li>
 Can I donate my time?
 Yes. Here's a <a
 href="<page getinvolved/volunteer>"
 target="_blank">list of areas where we would love your
 help</a>.
 </li>
 <li>
 I would like my company to support Tor. What can
 we do to help?
 Your company could match donations made by its employees
 to the Tor Project--that would be wonderful. Your
 company may operate a corporate foundation that
 gives out grants, and if so, you should encourage it
 to fund us. Maybe your company would be willing to <a
 href="<page docs/faq>#HowDoIDecide"
 target="_blank">operate a Tor relay</a>. If your company
 sells cloud services, perhaps it could donate these to Tor:
 We use them in some anti-censorship projects.
 </li>
 <li>
 You don't support my preferred way to donate. Can
 I recommend a new donation method to you?
 Sure. Just mail us at donations(at)torproject.org.
 </li>
 <li>
 Will the Tor Project accept donations from anybody,
 or do you reserve the right to reject support from specific
 organizations or individuals?
 We do reserve the right to reject a donation. To date
 though, we haven't exercised that right. We are happy that
 a broad range of people use and support Tor.
 </li>
 <li>
 I have more questions. How can I get
 answers?
 Feel free to send questions to
 donations(at)torproject.org. We will try to answer you,
 and we'll also post your question (and the answer) here.
 </li>
 </ol>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-12 col-md-offset-0">
 <a href="<page donate/donate>" class="btn btn-primary btn-md active" role="button">Back to donate page!</a>
 </div>
 
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