We, the team behind the PiRogue Tool Suite (PTS), are reaching out to our community with an urgent message. The future of the PTS project is currently at risk due to recent decisions by the US administration regarding international aid and funding programs.

As you know, the PiRogue Tool Suite has always been a project driven by the mission to empower digital investigators, researchers, and human rights defenders with robust, accessible tools. Our development and operational capacity have, until now, been sustained through external funding grants, often originating from organizations that receive support from US government initiatives aimed at promoting internet freedom, open technology, and civil society development.

Unfortunately, we are now facing a critical challenge. In recent months (late 2024 and early 2025), the US administration has implemented significant changes and reductions in its foreign aid and grant-making priorities. These shifts have resulted in the curtailment or discontinuation of funding streams that have been vital for projects like ours. While the stated aims of these cuts vary, including reported reallocations towards different geopolitical priorities or domestic programs, the tangible effect for organizations in the technology and human rights space is a shrinking pool of available resources.

Many programs that have historically supported open-source initiatives, digital security tool development, and organizations working on the front lines of internet freedom are experiencing substantial budget reductions or outright eliminations. This has created a ripple effect, impacting intermediary organizations that channel funds to projects like PTS. Consequently, the funding landscape upon which we have depended has become increasingly uncertain and, in our case, has led to a direct impact on our financial sustainability.

Currently, the PiRogue Tool Suite relies entirely on such external funding. The recent aid cuts mean that our primary avenues for support are diminishing rapidly, placing the continued development, maintenance, and user support for PTS in jeopardy.

Please be assured that we are working tirelessly behind the scenes, exploring every possible avenue to secure alternative and sustainable funding as quickly as possible. We are actively engaging with potential new partners and grant opportunities. However, the landscape is competitive, and the timeline for securing such support is often lengthy and uncertain. While we are doing our utmost to navigate this period and find new financial backing, the immediate future remains precarious.

This is why, even as we pursue these longer-term solutions, the support of our community is absolutely vital right now. If the PiRogue Tool Suite is a valuable asset in your work, if it helps you conduct crucial investigations, research, or defend digital rights, we now earnestly ask for your support. To ensure PTS can continue to serve our community, bridge any potential funding gaps, and remain a freely available resource, we are appealing directly to you, our users and supporters. Please consider contributing to help us navigate this challenging period and secure the future of the project. Your support is now more critical than ever.

Support us on open collective, share this post, and if you know of any funding opportunities, please contact us.