How I’m voting in the 2026 DSF Board Elections

Elections for the 2026 Django Software Foundation Board are now open. You can read candidate statements on the Django blog, and DSF members should have a ballot in their inboxes. (If you don’t: email [email protected]). Elections are open through November 26th at 23:59 Anywhere on Earth.

Please vote!

How I’m ranking candidates

The DSF faces some significant challenges in 2026, particularly around increasing our budget and moving our community forward, and that shapes how I’m thinking about this election. Here’s what I’m prioritizing in candidates:

• Fundraising experience

  This is my top criteria. The DSF’s greatest challenge next year will be increasing our funding. We have ambitious goals that require substantially more revenue than we currently have. Anyone bringing fundraising experience moves to the top of my list

• Community management experience

  I’m grateful to everyone who’s contributed code to Django, but it’s not relevant experience for the board. – the DSF doesn’t write code. I’m looking for people with experience in community management, preferably (in order of priority):

  1. Direct DSF experience — working groups, committees, etc. This is my highest priority
  2. Other nonprofits of similar size and scope
  3. Related groups like Djangonaut Space or DjangoCons
  4. Broader Python ecosystem organizations like the PSF

  Experience trumps desire here. I want people who understand what they’re signing up for.

• Clear vision and specific goals

  I’m looking for candidates who articulate not just what they want the DSF to do, but how they plan to get there. Specific tactics and measurable goals carry more weight than general aspirations.

• Diversity of experience

  The DSF claims to represent a global community, and our leadership should reflect that. So, among candidates with the kind of experience covered above, I’m prioritizing candidates outside the US and Europe. Similarly, Django is used across many industries, but we’re overrepresented in traditional “tech” companies. So in the same way, I’m prioritizing candidates with experience in other fields – education, finance, (physical) engineering, government, nonprofits, etc.

Yes, this sounds self-serving — I’m a candidate and check several of these boxes. Not all of them, though! In fact, on my ballot, I’ve ranked several candidates above myself.

Still, even if you think I’m biased, please think about these criteria – I think you’ll agree they’re important for the DSF. The DSF faces some challenges in the next few years, and we need board members who can navigate them successfully.

Now go vote!