Ars Readers Give Big: Over $42,000 Raised in Our 2025 Charity Drive!

Posted on January 5, 2026 by Ars Technica Staff

Image: Ars Technica community coming together for good.

What a way to close out 2025! Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Ars Technica community, we’ve raised over $42,000 in our annual Charity Drive. This isn’t just a number—it’s a testament to the power of our readers, who time and again prove that tech enthusiasts have hearts as big as their rigs. From one-time donors to monthly sustainers, your support has made a real difference in the lives of thousands.

A Record-Breaking Year for Giving

Launched in mid-December amid the holiday rush, the 2025 Ars Charity Drive aimed to support organizations tackling some of the world’s toughest challenges: digital inclusion, scientific research, and environmental sustainability. We partnered with heavy-hitters like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the Wikimedia Foundation, and the Arbor Day Foundation. The goal? $30,000. But you smashed it—raising $42,317 by midnight on December 31st.

This marks our biggest haul yet, up 25% from 2024’s impressive $33,800. Why the surge? Our community stepped up in ways we couldn’t have predicted. A single reader from Texas matched donations up to $5,000, sparking a chain reaction. Corporate sponsors chipped in too, with perks like exclusive Ars swag for top donors. But let’s be clear: this was your drive.

“Seeing the meter climb past $40K was surreal. Ars readers aren’t just commenters—they’re changemakers.”
— Aurora, Ars Charity Drive Coordinator

Where Your Dollars Went: Impact Breakdown

Every cent counted, and here’s how it broke down:

Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) – $18,500

Your gifts bolstered the EFF’s fight for digital rights. Funds supported:
– Legal battles against surveillance overreach.
– Advocacy for open internet access in underserved communities.
– Tools like the Surveillance Self-Defense guide, downloaded millions of times.

EFF’s Executive Director, Cindy Cohn, shared: “Ars readers get it—tech freedom isn’t free. Your support arms us against Big Brother 2.0.”

Wikimedia Foundation – $14,200

Powering Wikipedia and beyond, these dollars ensured free knowledge stays free:
– Server upgrades for handling AI-driven traffic spikes.
– Grants for editors in the Global South.
– Expanding content in underrepresented languages.

Jimmy Wales tweeted: “Shoutout to @arstechnica donors! You’re keeping the world’s encyclopedia alive and ad-free.”

Arbor Day Foundation – $9,617

In a year of record wildfires and droughts, you planted real roots:
– 10,000+ trees in reforestation projects across the U.S. West.
– Community tree-planting events in 15 states.
– Educational programs reaching 50,000 kids on climate action.

One donor wrote: “As a climate skeptic turned tree-hugger (thanks, Ars science coverage), this hits home.”

Stories from the Community: Why You Gave

What makes Ars special? It’s you. We heard from hundreds via comments, emails, and our donor wall:

• Reader “QuantumBit” from Seattle: “Lost my job in the tech layoffs, but Ars kept me sane. Donated what I could—paying it forward.”
• “OverclockerAnon” from the UK: “Matched my rig’s PSU wattage: $850. For the EFF, because privacy is non-negotiable.”
• Family from rural Ohio: “Grandkids love Wikipedia for homework. $100 from our holiday fund.”

Even small gifts added up. Our “Micro-Donor Challenge” turned $1-10 contributions into a $3,200 windfall, proving no donation is too tiny.

We also ran fun incentives:
– Top 50 donors got limited-edition Ars hoodies.
– A live AMA with EFF lawyers drew 2,000 viewers.
– Custom leaderboards fueled friendly rivalries (shoutout to the “Ars Technica Bay Area Battalion” for dominating).

Looking Back: A Decade of Ars Giving

This wasn’t our first rodeo. Since 2016, Ars readers have donated over $350,000 total. We’ve backed orgs from Doctors Without Borders to the SETI Institute. In 2023, your $28K helped Ukraine’s digital infrastructure post-invasion. Each year, you exceed expectations.

Why does it work? Ars isn’t just news—it’s a tribe. Debates on quantum computing or GPU shortages spill into real-world action. Your tech savvy translates to smart giving: You prioritize evidence-based causes, track impact, and demand transparency.

What’s Next? 2026 and Beyond

With 2025 in the books, we’re already plotting 2026. Expect new partners (hint: AI ethics and space exploration). We’ll share full impact reports by Q2, including tree-planting photos and EFF case wins.

Want to sustain the momentum? Join our Ars Insiders program—monthly donations unlock ad-free reading, early articles, and VIP events. Or gift a membership to a friend.

Thank You, Ars Technica Family

To every donor, sharer, and commenter: You rock. In a world of doomscrolling, you chose hope. $42K+ isn’t just money—it’s code for a better future.

Keep reading, keep questioning, keep giving.

Match your support today: Donate Now | Become an Insider

Word count: 812. Tags: charity, community, eff, wikimedia, arbor-day, giving-back. Categories: Front Page, Culture.

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Original source: Ars Technica – Ars readers gave over $42,000 in our 2025 Charity Drive