Contextual Electronics is a for-profit business that is operated by Analog Life, LLC.
On our store we offer some apparel for entities not directly tied to Contextual Electronics. Any profits from the sales of merchandise tied to these activities will be sent to their respective location and notated as much on the product pages:
- KiCad – Contextual Electronics teaches how to design circuit boards using the open source software KiCad. In addition to creating free videos showing how to use KiCad, Contextual Electronics runs The KiCad Community Forum without any cost to the project maintainers; there is very limited mention of the link from Contextual Electronics and KiCad on the community forum. While this is not a direct marketing activity for Contextual Electronics, there is a symbiotic relationship between the open source community and the education program on this site. Profits from merchandise based on the KiCad logo, as well as select other products such as the “Never Trust The Autorouter” shirt, are donated to the KiCad CERN & Society Foundation. If you have the means, we highly encourage community members to consider donating.
- STEM education charities – Any apparel not going back to that purpose will be indicated on the product page (example). These charities are likely to change over time but will be 501c3 registered charities.
- The Amp Hour – An electronics podcast run by the proprietor of Analog Life, LLC. Chris often mentions the course and The Amp Hour acts as a marketing channel for Contextual Electronics, real or implied. Profits from The Amp Hour merchandise is utilized in further marketing the podcast, also administered via Analog Life, LLC.
Questions about these donations can be sent to support@contextualelectronics.com