Open Collective is a fundraising and money-management platform for groups. A group that is not a registered legal entity creates a Collective and joins a fiscal host: a legally incorporated organization, usually a non-profit, that holds the money under its own legal entity and bank account. Open Source Collective, a US 501(c)(6) non-profit, is the host for many open-source projects.
Supporters give one-time or recurring contributions, grants or sponsorships through tiers on the Collective's page. Every contribution and expense is recorded in a transaction ledger, and the Collective can show its transactions and balance in public. Members submit expenses and invoices, administrators approve them, and payouts go out through Wise or PayPal.
Since October 2024 the platform has been stewarded by the OFi Consortium, a membership non-profit. Collectives use it for free, supported by optional Platform Tips that contributors add on top of their gift; Organizations, including hosts, choose a monthly plan priced by the number of Collectives and expenses.