2024-01-18T01:27:29-07:00 2023-02-28 990 2022-03-01 412203632 SOFTWARE FREEDOM CONSERVANCY INC SOFT 2124613245 137 MONTAGUE ST STE 380 Brooklyn NY 112013548 Karen Sandler President and Executive Director 2124613245 2024-01-18 1 1 11 1 AAL2 X 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z Karen Sandler 137 Montague St STE 380 Brooklyn NY 11201 4187196 0 X https://sfconservancy.org X 2006 NY 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. 7 6 6 5500 0 0 4346553 4018244 70 30239 9802 138201 581 512 4357006 4187196 127942 417410 0 0 787169 894719 12598 31521 138880 2238003 2318484 3165712 3662134 1191294 525062 6623240 7242486 244961 468380 6378279 6774106 Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) promotes, improves, develops, facilitates & defends Free & Open Source Software (FOSS) & the right to software repair. SFC advocates for the public's software rights & freedoms. SFC provides a home & infrastructure to FOSS initiatives. SFC helps volunteers focus on improving FOSS for the public. Projects include: creation of FOSS for general public, copyleft licensing advocacy, & internships for contributors subject to systemic bias who are underrepresented in FOSS. 0 0 1363560 412985 526 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. 1297336 2000 0 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. 333681 2425 225 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. 127314 30000 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. 127314 0 30000 3121891 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 54 0 1 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 7 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 NY X X Bradley M Kuhn 2124613245 137 MONTAGUE ST STE 380 Brooklyn NY 11201 Karen M Sandler President and Executive Director 40 0 X 165231 0 56632 Bradley M Kuhn Treasurer, Director, and Policy Fellow 40 0 X X 106895 0 45897 Jeremy Allison Director 1 X 0 0 0 Laura Fortunato Director 1 X 0 0 0 Mark Galassi Director 1.00 0 X X 0 0 0 Bdale Garbee Director 1.25 0 X 0 0 0 Allison Randal Board Chairperson, VIce President, and Director 4.25 0 X 0 0 0 Anthony K Sebro Jr Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 272126 0 102529 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4018244 24859 4018244 Conference Sponsorship Income 561920 15600 15600 0 0 Conference Registration Fees 561920 14400 14400 0 0 Honoraria 813319 225 225 0 0 Promotional Items Sales 813319 14 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 30239 140495 0 0 140495 0 0 0 0 512 512 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 217 -2511 0 0 217 -2511 -2294 0 0 -2294 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4187196 30751 0 138201 410485 410485 2500 2500 4425 4425 391068 230596 109838 50634 351087 171049 150984 29054 24379 10066 12249 2064 80046 48874 22833 8339 48139 26332 16713 5094 218919 213600 5319 18086 0 18086 0 31521 31521 13190 12190 1000 21563 16120 0 5443 11226 623 5925 4678 83887 65839 17450 598 1514 1514 56262 56077 185 35011 35011 0 7485 7485 Internships in FOSS 967340 967340 0 0 Software (FOSS) Development & Design 680098 680098 0 0 Project & Program Coordination Services 164491 163791 700 0 Bank9Charges,PayrollProcessing.Taxes&Fines 38639 6528 31656 455 773 347 426 3662134 3121891 401363 138880 1119336 503477 2782792 2882927 964000 219183 439187 33543 63548 2468386 2389347 6623240 7242486 244961 374378 94002 244961 468380 X 1728461 2298111 4649818 4475995 6378279 6774106 6623240 7242486 525062 -129235 0 0 0 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 3078324 2510140 3177281 4346553 4018244 17130542 3078324 2510140 3177281 4346553 4018244 17130542 4949494 12181048 42264 66759 7748 14043 140712 271526 17402068 679370 0.69998 0.66814 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 4057961 -129235 0 0 0 -129235 4187196 0 0 0 4187196 3662134 0 0 0 0 0 3662134 0 0 0 3662134 1 East Asia and the Pacific 0 6 Program Services D, I 137300 Europe (including Iceland and Greenland) 0 21 Program Services C, P, D, I 519213 Middle East and North Africa 0 5 Program Services I 35000 North America (including Canada and Mexico, but not the United States) 0 4 Program Services C,P,D,E,I 53335 South America 0 10 Program Services P,D,I 186590 South Asia 38 Program Services I,P 257000 Sub-Saharan Africa 72 Program Services C, A, P, I 537091 Sub-Saharan Africa Grantmaking 2000 Europe (including Iceland and Greenland) 1 Grantmaking 6381 0 157 1733910 0 0 0 0 0 0 Schedule F, Part I, Line 2 All grantees must submit reports of their work which are reviewed by the committee and staff. Travel assistance is always carried out in accordance with the written organization travel policy which is published on our website at https://sfconservancy.org/projects/policies/conservancy-travel-policy.html prior to payment, The reports and expenditures are reviewed pursuant to our fiscal controls policies, which typically includes multiple reviews by many employees. In the case of our one grant during this tax year, we required monthly meetings between a staffer and the grantee. Schedule F, Part I, Line 3 We have coded program services in each region by a single letter and describe each herein: "C" means "conferences", which indicates that either a staff person or volunteer received travel expense reimbursement to speak at and/or attend a conference in the region, or we assisted in organizing a conference or event in that region. "D" means "software development", which indicates that we funded a contractor in that region to perform software development services as part of work described in Form 990, Part III, 4(A) "E" means "employee wages", which refers to our single employee in Canada, who works remotely for our organization in the USA. "P" means "program coordination", which indicates we funded a contractor in that region to help with coordination work for program activity work described in either Form 990, Part III, 4(a) or 4(b). "I" means "internship", which indicates that we funded an intern in this region as part of one of our internship programs described in Form 990, Part III, 4(b). X X X X 1 Patreon Inc 600 Townsend Street Suite 500 San Francisco CA 94103 Patreon provides an fundraising platform that allows Internet users to pledge regular donations directed to the completion of a specific project. Organization utilized Patreon to fund its "Godot" software development project. 1 206051 10352 195699 Christopher Lamb Stanley House Old Hurst Road Pidley Cambs UK PE28 3BY In addition to other duties unrelated to fundraising, Lamb engages in relationship building with potential governmental and corporate grant makers for our Reproducible Builds project. 0 0 16392 -16392 206051 26744 179307 Schedule G, Part I, Line 2b Part I, Line 2(b)(1)(iii): Patreon collects funds, handles billing to pledged donors, and remits monthly with a donor report to Organization. Part I, Line 2(b)(2)(iv): Lamb works collaboratively with SFC's Executive Director on fundraising matters, so no gross receipts are directly attributable to Lamb's work alone. 1 Open Collective Foundation 340 S Lemon Ave Suite 3717 Walnut CA 91789 814004928 501(c)(3) 304000 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. Boost Foundation 5286 Crestline Way Pleasanton CA 94566 844075579 501(c)(3) 106005 248 FMV flight credit with Delta Airlines 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. 2 0 Schedule I, Part I, Line 2 Organization requires a written agreement with all grantees that explain the work expected under the grant. Grant period is clearly defined in that agreement. At the end of the grant period or annually (whichever is shorter), the grantee must provide a written report of work accomplished. At the end of the grant period, grantees must publicly publish either (a) a report about the grant, or (b) the work completed under the grant. usually, that work is freely licensed software available for the public. X 1 1 X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Karen M Sandler President and Executive Director 165231 0 0 0 0 0 5144 0 51488 0 221863 0 0 Schedule J, Part I, Line 1a Since all Organization's employees work from their home offices, each employee receives a $50/month automatic reimbursement for home Internet services. Each employee must submit documentation that their home Internet service costs at least $50/month. Schedule J, Part I, Line 3 See discussion on Schedule O for Part VI, Section B, Line 15 Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b The Directors are sent the audit report the same business day that the auditors release it. The Finance Subcommittee then meets directly with the auditors to review the audit report. The Finance Subcommittee immediately files a report of that meeting by email to the full Board. Before SFC staff files the 990, a final draft is submitted to the Directors. The Directors review the 990 at that time, and can raise any urgent issues immediately with each other and staff by email or telephone. Formal approval of the 990 and audit report occurs at the next regular meeting of the Directors. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c The Board of Directors formally adopted and consented to the Organization's conflict of interest, whistleblower, and document retention policy on 16 March 2012. The policies are available for public inspection and comment. The Organization's policy is to remind the Board annually that the conflict of interest policy is in effect and any written conflicts disclosures are collected annually by a Director and/or staff member. Volunteers who help the Organization select contractors are required to adhere to the conflict of interest policy. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 All full-time employees (including any key employees or full-time compensated Officers are equally eligible for the same benefits package, which includes paid-time-off, 403(b) (including matching funds), medical, vision and dental benefits package. That benefits package, and changes thereto, are discussed and approved by the Board of Directors. Any employee serving on the Board of Directors or present at the meeting recuse themselves from that vote and the Board considers benefits package changes only in executive session without any employees present. Karen Sandler, the current President and Executive Director, negotiated her compensation package with outside Director and (at the time) Board Chairperson, Mark Galassi, when hired. That compensation package was then discussed and approved by the outside Directors. Changes to Sandler's compensation policy are made only with executive-session discussion by outside Directors. Sandler's salary increase in the 2017 tax year was again negotiated with Galassi and discussed in executive session by outside Directors. Sandler receives now and has always received the same benefits package as all other employees (described above), and receives COLAs using the same formula as other employees. Bradley M. Kuhn, Policy Fellow, is also an officer and director. His original compensation package (in 2010) was negotiated with Galassi and approved in executive session by the board, using data from Form 990s of similar organizations and other salary research data. Kuhn receives COLAs using using the same formula as other staff, since that time. Kuhn receives the same benefits package (described above) as all other employees. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 Organization's Form 990s, auditor reports, articles of incorporation & by-laws are available on their website at: https://sfconservancy.org/about/filings/ Other key policy documents are developed in public at: https://k.sfconservancy.org/policies SFC apologizes for the 26 hours late filing of the 2022 Form 990. Our Treasurer, who is based in Portland, Oregon, suffered a severe weather event in the four days leading up to the filing deadline. Electricity service was out for tens of thousands of customers in his area, and his home was without electricity for two of those days. Even while making final preparations on the filing date, our Treasurer's home was without working heat for some of the time, and suffered momentary electrical failures. (All our employees work remotely and use their home offices for work, so these outages would be the same as if our workplace was inaccessible due to weather and without electricity and heat.) Furthermore, during the same period, our Executive Director became extremely ill and had to visit urgent care. She was still suffering serious symptoms at the time of filing. Finally, our Assistant Treasurer was out due to the death of their father in the week before the deadline (and the funeral itself was the last business day before our filing deadline). Thus, three employees (of only nine total), and who are most involved with preparation of the Form 990 - include one who has since inception been listed in Part VI, Section C, Line 20 as the possessor of the books and records, and one who signs the return on behalf of the Organization in Part II - faced extremely unusual circumstances making it impossible to file timely. We expect this confluence of bad events is a once-in-a-lifetime freak coincidence and will not occur again. Nevertheless, our employees worked arduously around these problems to make an almost-timely filing anyway. Given our 16 year history of timely filing and these extremely unusual circumstances, we ask the IRS to excuse without penalty the 26 hours delay in filing.