Software Freedom Conservancy Inc is located in Brooklyn, NY. The organization was established in 2006. According to its NTEE Classification (U41) the organization is classified as: Computer Science, under the broad grouping of Science & Technology and related organizations. As of 02/2023, Software Freedom Conservancy Inc employed 6 individuals. This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. Software Freedom Conservancy Inc is a 501(c)(3) and as such, is described as a "Charitable or Religous organization or a private foundation" by the IRS.
For the year ending 02/2023, Software Freedom Conservancy Inc generated $4.2m in total revenue. This represents relatively stable growth, over the past 4 years the organization has increased revenue by an average of 5.9% each year. All expenses for the organization totaled $3.7m during the year ending 02/2023. While expenses have increased by 14.0% per year over the past 4 years. They've been increasing with an increasing level of total revenue. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.
Form
990
Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing
TAX YEAR
2023
Describe the Organization's Mission:
Part 3 - Line 1
SFC PROMOTES,IMPROVES,DEVELOPS,FACILITATES, AND DEFENDS FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE (FOSS). SFC ADVOCATES FOR THE SOFTWARE RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF THE PUBLIC. SFC PROVIDES A HOME & INFRASTRUCTURE TO FOSS PROJECTS & INITIATIVES, & INCREASES DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN FOSS.
Describe the Organization's Program Activity:
Part 3 - Line 4a
FOSS DEVELOPMENT, DOCUMENTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, SUSTAINABILITY, & PROJECT SUPPORT: DURING THE TAX YEAR, SFC ENGAGED 27 DIFFERENT SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS TO IMPROVE THE SOFTWARE IN ITS GODOT, INKSCAPE, PHPMYADMIN, REPRODUCIBLE BUILDS, AND SELENIUM PROJECTS, AS WELL AS IMPROVING FOSS FOR SFC'S OWN ACCOUNTING INFRASTRUCTURE. ALL SOFTWARE SOURCE CODE WAS RELEASED FREELY TO THE PUBLIC UNDER LICENSES THAT ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO USE, SHARE, MODIFY, AND REINSTALL IT. THESE CONTRACTORS ALSO COORDINATED VOLUNTEER SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS TO CONTRIBUTE FURTHER TO THE SOFTWARE PROJECTS. SFC STAFF ALSO ASSISTED VOLUNTEERS IN OUR PROJECTS ON A DAILY BASIS WITH ADMINISTRATION, COORDINATION, LEGAL AND INFRASTRUCTURAL TASKS AND COSTS (AS LISTED AT HTTPS://SFCONSERVANCY.ORG/MEMBERS/SERVICES/ ). SFC MADE ONE GRANT FOR IMPROVEMENT OF TEACHING MATERIALS FOR FOSS FOR UNDERGRADUATES. SFC GAVE GRANTS TO TWO 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS: AN INITIAL GRANT TO OPEN COLLECTIVE FOUNDATION (FOR THE HOMEBREW PROJECT AND DRUPAL NEW JERSEY INITATIVE) AND AN INITIAL GRANT TO THE BOOST FOUNDATION TO CONTINUE SFC'S BOOST PROJECT. FINALLY, SFC REGULARLY MENTORS LEADERSHIP OF PROJECTS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OUR ORGANIZATION TO IMPROVE THEIR NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT SKILLS.
FACILITATING AND PARTICIPATING IN FOSS CONFERENCES: DURING THE TAX YEAR, SFC PLANNED, ORGANIZED AND/OR RAN THREE CONFERENCES, AND PREPARED FOR TWO OTHERS TO TAKE PLACE IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, SFC COORDINATED AND FUNDED MANY OTHER SMALLER "HACKFEST" EVENTS FOR ITS PROJECTS. FURTHERMORE, SFC FUNDED TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR STAFF'S AND VOLUNTEERS' ATTENDANCE AT MORE THAN 20 DIFFERENT THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE CONFERENCES. THESE EVENTS ALLOW VOLUNTEER FOSS CONTRIBUTORS AND SFC STAFF TO (A) SPEAK ABOUT THEIR WORK TO THE PUBLIC, (B) TEACH THE PUBLIC HOW TO USE AND IMPROVE THEIR SOFTWARE, (C) GENERALLY PROMOTE THE USE, ADOPTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF FOSS, AND (D) EXPLAIN AND EXPLORE THE POLICY ISSUES SURROUNDING SOFTWARE FREEDOM AND SOFTWARE RIGHTS. MOST FOSS CONFERENCES INCLUDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS TO MEET AND RAPIDLY WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SOFTWARE AND RELEASE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS IMMEDIATELY TO THE PUBLIC. FINALLY, SFC STAFF ALSO ASSISTED IN ORGANIZING THE LEGAL & POLICY DEVROOM AT FOSDEM, THE LARGEST ANNUAL FOSS CONFERENCE IN EUROPE.
OUTREACHY AND THE INSTITUTE FOR COMPUTING RESEARCH (ICR): IN THE TAX YEAR, WE FUNDED 132 INTERNS VIA OUTREACHY - AN INITIATIVE THAT ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION IN FOSS FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUBJECT TO SYSTEMIC BIAS AND IMPACTED BY UNDERREPRESENTATION IN THE TECHNICAL INDUSTRY WHERE THEY LIVE. OUTREACHY INTERNS IMPROVE FOSS AND ITS DOCUMENTATION, AND INCREASE THE DIVERSITY OF THE FOSS COMMUNITY WHILE ALSO LEARNING VALUABLE SKILLS. ICR MENTORS AND TRAINS STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL TO DO RIGOROUS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH USING FOSS. DURING THIS TAX YEAR, ICR HAD 27 INTERNSHIPS. BOTH INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS ARE PAID PROGRAMS WHICH ENABLE THOSE FROM LESS PRIVILEGED BACKGROUNDS TO PARTICIPATE.
LICENSE COMPLIANCE & ENFORCEMENT: SOME FOSS IS AVAILABLE UNDER "COPYLEFT" LICENSES, SUCH AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE (GPL). "COPYLEFTS" ARE FOSS LICENSES THAT ALLOW EVERYONE TO FREELY SHARE, COPY, MODIFY, AND (RE)INSTALL MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THE SOFTWARE. "COPYLEFT" LICENSES REQUIRE THAT EVERYONE WHO RECEIVES THE SOFTWARE HAS AN EQUAL RIGHT TO ENGAGE IN THOSE ACTIVITIES. SFC IDENTIFIES SITUATIONS WHERE DISTRIBUTORS FAIL TO MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS. SFC THEN ENFORCES THE COPYLEFT LICENSE & REQUIRES THESE DISTRIBUTORS TO PROVIDE THE SAME RIGHTS TO COPY, SHARE, MODIFY AND (RE)INSTALL MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THE SOFTWARE TO ALL THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION. THROUGH THIS PROCESS, SFC ENSURES THAT THE PUBLIC HAS EQUAL RIGHTS TO USE, IMPROVE, AND STUDY THE SOFTWARE, & TO EXPERIMENT WITH THEIR OWN MODIFICATIONS TO SOFTWARE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE RIGHTS OF CONSUMERS TO REPAIR THE SOFTWARE ON THEIR DEVICES IS RESTORED. RARELY, WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, SFC SEEKS REMEDY IN THE COURTS THROUGH LITIGATION. DURING THE TAX YEAR, SFC SPECIFICALLY PURSUED ONGOING LITIGATION AGAINST A SPECIFIC MAKER OF LINUX-BASED TELEVISIONS IN CALIFORNIA STATE COURT IN WHICH SFC SEEKS THE COMPLETE, CORRESPONDING SOURCE FOR THE COPYLEFTED COMPONENTS IN THE TELEVISIONS TO ENGAGE IN SFC'S RIGHT TO SOFTWARE REPAIR.
Name (title) | Role | Hours | Compensation |
---|---|---|---|
Karen M Sandler President And Executive Director | Officer | 40 | $165,231 |
Bradley M Kuhn Treasurer, Director, And Policy Fellow | OfficerTrustee | 40 | $106,895 |
Jeremy Allison Director | Trustee | 1 | $0 |
Laura Fortunato Director | Trustee | 1 | $0 |
Mark Galassi Director | OfficerTrustee | 1 | $0 |
Bdale Garbee Director | Trustee | 1.25 | $0 |
Vendor Name (Service) | Service Year | Compensation |
---|---|---|
Christopher Lamb Software Development | 2/27/21 | $102,000 |
Holger Levsen Software Development | 2/27/21 | $102,000 |
Statement of Revenue | |
---|---|
Federated campaigns | $0 |
Membership dues | $0 |
Fundraising events | $0 |
Related organizations | $0 |
Government grants | $0 |
All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above | $4,018,244 |
Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f | $24,859 |
Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar | $4,018,244 |
Total Program Service Revenue | $30,239 |
Investment income | $140,495 |
Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds | $0 |
Royalties | $512 |
Net Rental Income | $0 |
Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales | -$2,294 |
Net Income from Fundraising Events | $0 |
Net Income from Gaming Activities | $0 |
Net Income from Sales of Inventory | $0 |
Miscellaneous Revenue | $0 |
Total Revenue | $4,187,196 |
Statement of Expenses | |
---|---|
Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. | $410,485 |
Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. | $2,500 |
Grants and other assistance to Foreign Orgs/Individuals | $4,425 |
Benefits paid to or for members | $0 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $391,068 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $109,838 |
Compensation to disqualified persons | $0 |
Other salaries and wages | $351,087 |
Pension plan accruals and contributions | $24,379 |
Other employee benefits | $80,046 |
Payroll taxes | $48,139 |
Fees for services: Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Legal | $218,919 |
Fees for services: Accounting | $18,086 |
Fees for services: Lobbying | $0 |
Fees for services: Fundraising | $31,521 |
Fees for services: Investment Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Other | $13,190 |
Advertising and promotion | $21,563 |
Office expenses | $11,226 |
Information technology | $83,887 |
Royalties | $0 |
Occupancy | $1,514 |
Travel | $56,262 |
Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials | $0 |
Conferences, conventions, and meetings | $35,011 |
Interest | $0 |
Payments to affiliates | $0 |
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | $0 |
Insurance | $7,485 |
All other expenses | $773 |
Total functional expenses | $3,662,134 |
Balance Sheet | |
---|---|
Cash—non-interest-bearing | $503,477 |
Savings and temporary cash investments | $2,882,927 |
Pledges and grants receivable | $964,000 |
Accounts receivable, net | $439,187 |
Loans from Officers, Directors, or Controlling Persons | $0 |
Loans from Disqualified Persons | $0 |
Notes and loans receivable | $0 |
Inventories for sale or use | $0 |
Prepaid expenses and deferred charges | $63,548 |
Net Land, buildings, and equipment | $0 |
Investments—publicly traded securities | $2,389,347 |
Investments—other securities | $0 |
Investments—program-related | $0 |
Intangible assets | $0 |
Other assets | $0 |
Total assets | $7,242,486 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $374,378 |
Grants payable | $0 |
Deferred revenue | $94,002 |
Tax-exempt bond liabilities | $0 |
Escrow or custodial account liability | $0 |
Loans and other payables to any current Officer, Director, or Controlling Person | $0 |
Secured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Unsecured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Other liabilities | $0 |
Total liabilities | $468,380 |
Net assets without donor restrictions | $2,298,111 |
Net assets with donor restrictions | $4,475,995 |
Capital stock or trust principal, or current funds | $0 |
Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building, or equipment fund | $0 |
Retained earnings, endowment, accumulated income, or other funds | $0 |
Total liabilities and net assets/fund balances | $7,242,486 |
Over the last fiscal year, Software Freedom Conservancy Inc has awarded $410,253 in support to 2 organizations.
Grant Recipient | Amount |
---|---|
OPEN COLLECTIVE FOUNDATION PURPOSE: Grant to support the use, development and improvement of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), and education about the use and improvement of FOSS projects. Specifically, $268,000 to support improvement of the Homebrew software, and $36,000 to support the Drupal New Jersey initiative. | $304,000 |
BOOST FOUNDATION PURPOSE: In furtherance of and to specifically support the use, development, and improvement of Free and Open Source Software, specifically, the Boost C++ libraries software project. | $106,253 |