[beart]

> If they need to eat or something they should get a job, presumably.

The tone of this comment is quite different from the text of the open letter to which you refer. Specifically this section. I don't have any personal knowledge either way, but this stood out to me.

> As it was revealed by Roman @rtsisyk it wasn't unusual for the Shareholders to use project's donations as their own money e.g. Alexander @biodranik paid for his personal holiday trip expenses this way. At the same time all other contributors were consistently denied any access to any financial information (even to the totals of money donated/spent). (It's fine for developers to be reimbursed for their hard work, but it should be done in a fair, transparent and accountable way.)

[u8080]

>(even to the totals of money donated/spent). (It's fine for developers to be reimbursed for their hard work, but it should be done in a fair, transparent and accountable way.)

Hardly disagree with this claim. Donation is something you give without any expected usage - otherwise it is a fundraising, payment, investment, etc.

[cryo32]

Going on holiday is why I work. And I use organic maps when I’m on holiday. And donate. Good luck to them.

[JumpCrisscross]

> And donate

How do you square this with Organic Maps being organised as a for-profit entity?

[cryo32]

Same as when I donate money to Apple.

[yellowapple]

You donate money to Apple?

[cryo32]

Yes. Wilfully.

[TFNA]

It is not common for American for-profit corporations to accept donations. What you are paying is a retail price for Apple products. (Post edited after a check of the legality, but donating to Apple would still be highly unusual, and if the parent admits to doing this, he’s not going to get any less grief.)

[JumpCrisscross]

So yeah, if you donate money to Apple, Inc., Organic Maps makes sense for you. For everyone else, it seems like a scam.