What is KDE e.V.

KDE e.V. is a registered non-profit organization that represents the KDE Project in legal and financial matters.

"The Association's purpose is the promotion and distribution of free desktop software in terms of free software, and the program package 'K Desktop Environment (KDE)' in particular, to promote the free exchange of knowledge and equality of opportunity in accessing software as well as education, science and research."

Quote from the articles of association of the KDE e.V.

The Association aids in creating and distributing KDE by securing cash, hardware, and other donations, then using donations to aid KDE development and promotion.

The Association was originally founded to create a legal entity capable of representing the KDE Project in the KDE Free Qt Foundation. The growing popularity of KDE also made it necessary to establish a thin organizational layer that is capable of handling all legal and financial interests of the KDE developers. In 1997 KDE e.V. was registered as an association under German law. The "e.V." stands for "eingetragener Verein" which means "registered assocation".