Thunderbird Is Thriving: Our 2022 Monetary Report
A number of years in the past, Thunderbird was in survival mode. Our devoted core group, passionate neighborhood of customers, and beneficiant donors stored Thunderbird alive throughout some troublesome instances. Then, simply final Could, we happily reported that Thunderbird’s monetary outlook was steadily bettering: our 2021 earnings had elevated by 21% over 2020, and by greater than 100% over 2018.
However we’re not content material merely surviving. Our mission is to construct the most effective e mail shopper and private info supervisor accessible. To construct skilled software program that places your privateness first. To craft an expertise that enhances your productiveness, compliments your day by day workflow, and meets your customization wants. And to increase the Thunderbird expertise to Android and iOS. And to do all of this transparently, guided by the values of free and open supply software program.
Donations In 2022
Final yr, our mighty donor base – representing roughly 300,000 day by day customers – contributed a complete of $6,442,704 in donations to the Thunderbird undertaking. (Word: person donations symbolize greater than 99.9% of our annual income.) Our 2022 donation earnings was a vibrant, assertive signal that you simply additionally consider in that mission, and also you additionally need to see Thunderbird thriving. Not simply in 2023, however a long time into the longer term!
That is nothing wanting excellent, and we’re tremendously grateful for the beneficiant donations of our customers. Beneath, we’ll discuss what this permits us to do sooner or later, and the way we spent a few of that earnings in 2022.
Earlier than we focus on that, you may be questioning what we did in another way to generate such a major surge of help final yr.
On the finish of 2021, we determined to make a much bigger funding in speaking with you. That meant extra frequent weblog posts and newsletters, day by day engagement throughout our social media channels, and increasing the variety of locations we work together with you (like our comparatively new Mastodon account).
We additionally attribute this superb uplift to the discharge of Thunderbird 102, in addition to a first-of-its-kind, in-app donation attraction on the finish of yr.
In brief, we realized that initiatives like ours can profit significantly from merely asking for donations, whereas concurrently explaining how these donations will profit the undertaking – and in the end, how they are going to profit you. So let’s discuss that!
Thunderbird’s Individuals And Thunderbird’s Future
The center of Thunderbird is clearly its folks, and we invested closely in personnel final yr. We started 2022 with 15 core workers, and now make use of a group of 24 in these roles:
- Product and Enterprise Improvement Supervisor
- Director of Operations
- Product Design Supervisor
- Engineering Supervisor
- Employees Engineers (3)
- Sr SW Engineers (2)
- Sr Safety Engineer
- SW Engineer, Add-Ons Ecosystem
- Sr UI/UX Developer
- UI/UX Builders (2)
- Android Venture Lead
- Android Developer (1)
- Construct & Launch Engineers (2)
- Full Stack Developer
- Entrance Finish Developer
- Group Supervisor
- Advertising Supervisor
- Bug Triager
- Help Engineer
The breakout progress we loved final yr means hiring much more proficient folks to vastly enhance the Thunderbird desktop expertise. This previous yr we expended important effort to dramatically improve Thunderbird’s UX and produce it in-line with trendy expectations and requirements. In 2022 we additionally laid the groundwork for big architectural adjustments for Thunderbird on the desktop. These adjustments deal with a few years of technical debt that has restricted our means so as to add new options at a brisk tempo. This work will largely repay in our 2024 launch, nevertheless it does energy a few of the enhancements within the 115 “Supernova” launch this summer season.
However we’re additionally constructing past the desktop, to offer you a really cross-platform, synergistic expertise. Final summer season we invested within the Okay-9 Mail Venture, which is being steadily improved in its transformation to Thunderbird on Android. And sure, we’re virtually prepared so as to add an iOS model to our roadmap! Later in 2023, we’ll rent an iOS developer to start creating the muse for Thunderbird on iOS.
Thunderbird can also be increasing past the core expertise you already use. We’ve been exploring further sources of income within the type of new instruments and companies to extend your productiveness. We’re planning to introduce a few of these, in Beta standing, later this yr. Relaxation assured that we’ve got no plans to cost cash for the highly effective Thunderbird expertise you take pleasure in at the moment (nor can we plan to take away options and cost for them later).
Whole Spending In 2022
The Thunderbird Venture’s whole working bills for 2022 was $3,569,706. Whereas personnel is the place most of our cash is spent, there are different areas essential to Thunderbird’s continued operation. Right here’s an outline of our whole spending in 2022:
Skilled Companies are issues like HR, authorized and tax companies, in addition to agreements with different Mozilla entities to offer know-how infrastructure and operational sources.
The remaining objects assist us to run the enterprise, such because the companies and know-how we use to speak and handle operations, insurance coverage, financial institution and donation processing charges.
Closing Feedback
The state of Thunderbird’s funds is powerful. However that doesn’t make our group complacent. We’re cautious stewards of the considerate donations we obtain from you. We don’t simply use it to reinforce options; we make investments it strategically in the direction of guaranteeing long-term stability and viability of Thunderbird. Having wholesome money reserves ensures the long-term sustainability of Thunderbird, even in periods of financial instability.
Your ongoing monetary presents have enabled Thunderbird to go from surviving to thriving. However because it has been since 2003, Thunderbird’s future is in your arms. Please proceed to donate, and we’ll proceed to construct software program you could be pleased with.
Thanks,
Ryan Sipes
Thunderbird Product and Enterprise Improvement Supervisor
