The Python Software Foundation promotes, protects, and advances the Python programming language and supports and facilitates the growth of a diverse and international community of Python programmers. We provide infrastructure, support the community, and invest in tools.

The main two ways to volunteer for the PSF are to join a Working Group or help out with PyCon US. After some time volunteering in the community, you could run for the PSF Board or become the PyCon US Chair/Co-Chair.
Working Groups include Code of Conduct, Diversity and Inclusion, Grants, Infrastructure, Python Job Board, Marketing, Packaging, Scientific Python, and Trademarks. These Working Groups ebb and flow with activity, so if you don't get a response, you can try another group or take on the effort of reviving the group!
Volunteer roles for PyCon US include organizing for PyCon OX (the virtual event), helping out with the PSF Booth, staffing is needed for registration, information desk, green room, swag handout, sessions, PyLadies Auction, and Code of Conduct Response. This year, some of these roles have already filled up, but there should be some available still!

Send an email to psf-donations@python.org with a description of the issue and a PSF staff member will assist you.

You can nominate yourself during the nomination period for the PSF Board. This usually happens in the late spring/early summer. A PSF Board election is coming up soon! Make sure to check out our blog and sign up for our Members Announce mailing list for updates. Here are the important dates:

• Nominations open: Tuesday, June 11th, 2:00 pm UTC
• Nomination cut-off: Tuesday, June 25th, 2:00 pm UTC
• Voter application/affirmation cut-off date: Tuesday, June 25th, 2:00 pm UTC
• Announce candidates: Thursday, June 27th
• Voting start date: Tuesday, July 2nd, 2:00 pm UTC
• Voting end date: Tuesday, July 16th, 2:00 pm UTC

Installing Python is generally easy, and nowadays many Linux and UNIX distributions include a recent Python. Even some Windows computers now come with Python already installed. If you do need to install Python and aren't confident about the task, you can find a few notes on the BeginnersGuide/Download wiki page, but installation is unremarkable on most platforms.
Before getting started, you may want to find out which IDEs and text editors are tailored to make Python editing easy, browse the list of introductory books, or look at code samples that you might find helpful.
There is a list of tutorials suitable for experienced programmers on the BeginnersGuide/Tutorials page. There is also a list of resources in other languages which might be useful if English is not your first language.
The online documentation is your first port of call for definitive information. There is a fairly brief tutorial that gives you basic information about the language and gets you started. You can follow this by looking at the library reference for a full description of Python's many libraries and the language reference for a complete (though somewhat dry) explanation of Python's syntax. If you are looking for common Python recipes and patterns, you can browse the ActiveState Python Cookbook

Part of the PSF mission includes acting as a fiscal sponsor to mission-related Python events, groups, and projects. The PSF provides 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status to fiscal sponsorees and manages back office issues like cash flow, accounting, budgeting, insurance, and contract/legal support.

Yes, the PSF welcomes corporate sponsors. Participation in the PSF Sponsorship provides a way to corporations to contribute substantially to the ongoing support of the Foundation. In return, the PSF officially acknowledges sponsors via various methods appropriate to their sponsorship level, including logo display on the PSF sponsor website. To learn more, interested organizations should contact sponsors@python.org or visit the PSF sponsorship website.

Individuals can support the PSF in several key ways:

• Donate (one-time, monthly, or annually).
• Become a Supporting Member of the PSF, which grants voting eligibility.
• Volunteer your time to a working group or for PyCon US.
• Advocate for the PSF in your regional and project-based communities.

Being a PSF member means being a dedicated part of the Python community. The PSF has four classes of membership:

• Basic Members: Individuals who declare support and agree to the PSF Code of Conduct (No cost, not eligible to vote).
• Supporting Members: Basic Members who make a specific annual donation ($25-$99 sliding scale, eligible to vote).
• Contributing Members: Members who dedicate at least five hours per month volunteering on PSF-mission-advancing projects (No cost, eligible to vote).
• Fellows: Members nominated for extraordinary efforts and impact upon Python (No cost, eligible to vote).

The PSF's core mission is promoting, protecting, and advancing the language while supporting a diverse and international community. We feel that Python is the best tool for democratizing access to programming and empowering the next generation of people who want to harness the world-changing power of computing. Recent projects include strengthening infrastructure to sustain continued exponential growth and improving security for the ecosystem especially the Python Package Index so that users have a great experience. We plan to continue rising to meet the influx of new Python users and smooth the path to getting involved with the Python community.

Supporting the PSF helps keep Python open, secure, and accessible to everyone. Your contributions power the infrastructure behind tools like PyPI, fund community programs that support Pythonistas around the world, and ensure Python stays free, forever, for everyone. Every single donation, big or small, helps sustain the language and the people who make it thrive.

Python is special because it strikes the balance between simplicity and power. Its clean, readable syntax makes it easy for beginners to learn, yet it's powerful enough to run some of the world's biggest systems, such as web apps, data science, AI, and automation. Python is also community-driven. Thousands of volunteers build, maintain, and share tools and community—continually improving Python, the education around it, and its community. Python is a programming language, but around it is a global community built on openness, collaboration, and creativity.

Python is for everyone because it's designed to be both accessible and versatile. Python is a great language for a range of users; its beginner-friendly syntax is great for newbies and its wide variety of applications make it useful for experienced programmers. PyPI offers a massive collection of pre-built packages and tools that enable developers to use existing solutions to accelerate their development.

Beyond the actual language, Python has an expansive, supportive, and welcoming community. Thousands of volunteers build, maintain, and share tools that enrich Python for all. There are also PyCons, PyLadies chapters, PyDays, and meetup events across the globe, organized by volunteers who are motivated by their love of Python and its community.

It's open now until December 19th! Visit pycon.us and navigate to the 'speaking' drop down to find general and specific proposal guidelines.