So yeah, we're all happy to help. But please strike that sentence about not wanting to pay a market rate.
I don't think I said or implied that, but if I did I wasn't accurate. Given the funding, grant-based model we have, we can't really pay for-profit tech market salaries without jeopardizing our whole mission. You can argue that then our model isn't right, and that's fine. I have a different opinion, but I understand what you mean.
That said, if you know of a funding structure that would let us do research work without worrying about profitability but rather on urgency and impact, I would love to learn about that.
Notice how they're not "not able" to pay market rate for things like power, rent, office furniture, and phone service to the building. Those things are only different from developer talent in that they are not willing to negotiate their rate down because of a story.
Developers should take a page from their book.
Do you not know what philanthropy is? Some people conceive of morality outside raw market forces.
As someone who has worked in non-profits, startups and corporations, the experience of working with non-profits, for me, was great because of the people and the nuanced challenges they work to solve. It was the happiest phase of my life/career so far.