What does it cost to provide a strong, sustainable Organizational Home for Community Supported Tech?

In this October 7, 2026, Apereo MicroConference, Bridget Almas, Director of Operations for Community Supported Technologies at Lyrasis, explores what it takes to provide a strong, sustainable organizational home for open source technologies. Drawing on Lyrasis’ work supporting community-governed projects, including ArchivesSpace, DSpace, Fedora, CollectionSpace, and VIVO, Bridget shares how the organization assessed its services, developed a transparent cost-allocation model, and aligned program fees with the actual costs of providing organizational support. The discussion examines the essential components of sustainability beyond day-to-day operations, including fiscal and legal infrastructure, human resources, IT, marketing, community governance, fundraising, and strategic stewardship. Bridget also discusses the challenges of diversifying revenue, increasing open source visibility and adoption, demonstrating security practices, and navigating the opportunities and risks of AI. The conversation concludes with practical advice for higher education leaders evaluating open source solutions and emerging projects working to build engaged communities and sustainable funding models.