Case Study: Preact builds a more sustainable open source community with Open Collective

Preact Shattering the Perception that Open Source Must be Free

Preact, a popular open source JavaScript library, faced the common challenge of maintainer burnout and funding the ongoing development of its community-driven project. Its creator, Jason Miller, wanted to shatter the perception that open source must be free and find a sustainable way to support the project's unseen work without creating bureaucratic overhead or centering the fundraising on himself.

Open Collective provided a transparent platform for Preact to raise funds as a collective, not an individual. This solution enabled the project to expense time and resources, directly leading to a more democratic community with increased user engagement. The measurable impact was a clearer understanding of their true user base through financial contributions and the ability to fund significant project improvements, like developer tools integration.

Preact

Jason Miller

Author