The OTW uses funds to purchase goods and services that cannot be provided by its volunteers, such as expenses related to operations and certain administrative costs. Operational expenses include goods and services needed for our projects to continue operating, for example, the purchase of software and server space to create and maintain AO3. Administrative expenses include a variety of items typical to a non-profit organization, such as insurance, payment processor fees, and tax preparation and auditing services.

For more specific information about how the OTW spends donations, check out our annual budget and budget update posts which cover each year’s financial transactions in more detail.