2025-01-15T22:07:47-07:00 2024-02-29 990 2023-03-01 412203632 SOFTWARE FREEDOM CONSERVANCY INC SOFT 2124613245 137 MONTAGUE ST STE 380 Brooklyn NY 112013548 Karen Sandler President and Executive Director 2124613245 2025-01-15 1 2023 2024-10-15 13:58:12Z Karen Sandler 137 Montague St STE 380 Brooklyn NY 11201 2487144 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 8 5500 0 0 4018244 1964878 30239 339990 138201 180052 512 2224 4187196 2487144 417410 114905 0 0 894719 1267710 31521 29915 108305 2318484 3065924 3662134 4478454 525062 -1991310 7242486 5314976 468380 480907 6774106 4834069 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 905378 106963 173249 FOSS development, documentation, infrastructure, sustainability, & project support: During the tax year, SFC engaged 23 different software developers as independent contractors to improve the software in its FreeDV, Godot, Inkscape, Microblocks, 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 a grant to a Dutch non-profit organization, Stichting Godot, that supports the Godot Project, a FOSS game engine as well as a grant to the Python Software Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes FOSS Python infrastructure. Finally, SFC regularly mentors leadership of projects both inside and outside our organization to improve their non-profit management skills. 1345649 0 0 Outreachy and The Institute For Computing Research (ICR): In the tax year, we funded 123 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 29 internships. Both internship programs are paid programs which enable those from less privileged backgrounds to participate. 842570 7942 0 License Compliance & Enforcement: Some FOSS is available under "copyleft" licenses, such as the General Public License (GPL). These licenses allow everyone to freely share, copy, modify, and (re)install modified versions of software. SFC identifies situations where distributors fail to meet the copyleft requirements & requires them to provide the same rights 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 so that the rights of consumers to repair the software on their devices is restored. When absolutely necessary, SFC seeks remedy in the courts. During the tax year, SFC continued ongoing litigation against a 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. During the tax year, SFC also provided a grant to an individual to undertake a legal action in Germany where he successfully sought the complete, corresponding source for the LGPL'd components on the router he purchased. 598209 168965 Facilitating and Participating in FOSS conferences: During the tax year, SFC planned, organized and/or ran three conferences, and prepared for one other 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 14 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. 598209 0 168965 3691806 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 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 57 0 1 8 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 Bradley M Kuhn 2124613245 137 MONTAGUE ST STE 380 Brooklyn NY 11201 Karen M Sandler President and Executive Director 45.00 X 170823 0 62595 Bradley M Kuhn Treasurer, Director, and Policy Fellow 41.00 0 X X 110512 0 59418 Rick Sanders General Counsel 40 X 102857 0 51776 Sage Sharp Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion 40 X 102553 0 41123 Bdale Garbee Director 2 X 0 0 0 Jeremy Allison Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Laura Fortunato Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Mark Galassi Director 1 0 X X 0 0 0 Anthony K Sebro Jr Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Allison Randal Board Chairperson, Vice President, and Director 4.25 0 X X 0 0 0 486745 0 214912 4 0 1 0 Shades of Gray PC 100 Shoreline Highway Suite 100B Mill Valley CA 94941 legal services 251216 Vakili and Leus LLP 3701 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles CA 90010 legal services 100087 2 0 0 0 0 0 1964878 8670 1964878 Software Development Services 541511 171025 171025 0 0 Conference Registration Fees 561920 157143 157143 0 0 Conference Sponsorship Income 561920 11822 11822 0 0 0 0 0 0 339990 184906 0 0 184906 0 0 0 0 330 330 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 -4858 0 0 4 -4858 -4854 0 0 -4854 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Discounts from Vendors 813319 1884 1884 0 0 Other Miscellaneous 813319 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 1894 2487144 342214 0 180052 16963 16963 0 0 97942 97942 0 0 386885 181587 170685 34613 610450 296696 289854 23900 27800 12435 13991 1374 176487 95811 74083 6593 66088 33243 29024 3821 0 0 606846 602871 3975 0 18401 18401 0 0 29915 29915 0 0 9340 9340 25869 21647 0 4222 6695 2365 1649 2681 94893 80001 13963 929 0 0 1572 0 1572 0 316005 298797 17208 0 0 211135 211135 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8305 0 8305 0 Internships in FOSS 907642 907642 0 0 Software (FOSS) Development and Design 563743 563743 0 0 Project & Program Coordination Services 238201 228651 9550 0 BankCharges,PayrollService,Taxes&Fines,BadDebt 51755 27354 24144 257 5522 3583 1939 0 4478454 3691806 678343 108305 503477 506325 2882927 1146603 964000 236352 439187 99040 63548 25224 2389347 3301432 7242486 5314976 374378 480907 94002 468380 480907 X 2298111 1394890 4475995 3439179 6774106 4834069 7242486 5314976 X -1991310 51274 0 0 0 -1 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 2510140 3177281 4346553 4018244 1964878 16017096 2510140 3177281 4346553 4018244 1964878 16017096 4367247 11649849 66759 7748 14043 140712 180052 409314 16426410 814901 0.70921 0.700 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 2538417 51274 0 0 0 51274 2487143 0 1 1 2487144 4478454 0 0 0 0 0 4478454 0 0 0 4478454 Schedule D, Part XI, Line 4b Rounding error 1 East Asia and the Pacific 0 4 Program Services D, I 96059 Europe (including Iceland and Greenland) 0 13 Program Services C, D, P, I 419834 Middle East and North Africa 0 3 Program Services P 14020 South America 0 8 Program Services C, D, P, I 190872 South Asia 0 35 Program Services C, P, I 244307 Sub-Saharan Africa 0 80 Program Services C, P, I 632970 Europe (including Iceland and Greenland) 0 2 Grantmaking 97942 Central America and the Caribbean 0 1 Program Services I 7000 North America (including Canada and Mexico, but not the United States) 0 2 Program Services C, D, P, E 62069 Russia and Neighboring States 0 2 Program Services I 14000 0 150 1779073 Europe (including Iceland and Greenland) A grant to Stichting Godot, a Dutch non-profit organization that supports the Godot Project, a FOSS game engine, to specifically support the use, development and improvement of Free and Open Source Software. 90000 wire transfer FMV 0 0 A copyleft enforcement grant to an individual to undertake a legal action in Germany where he successfully sought the complete, corresponding source for the LGPL'd components on the router he purchased. A full explanation of the results of the grant are here: https://sfconservancy.org/news/2025/jan/09/avm-copyleft-lawsuit-resolved-with-install/ Europe (including Iceland and Greenland) 1 7942 wire transfer FMV 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 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 21066 -21066 0 21066 -21066 Schedule G, Part I, Line 2b(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 Python Software Foundation 9450 SW Gemini Drive ECM 90772 Beaverton OR 97008 043594598 501(c)(3) 16963 FMV Grants supported the use, development and improvement of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), and education about the use and improvement of FOSS projects. Specifically, $8,963 to support the North Bay Python conference where developers can meet in person and learn more about FOSS, and $8,000 to specifically support the improvement of the Twisted software library in Python. 1 1 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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Karen M Sandler President and Executive Director 170823 0 0 0 0 0 5596 0 53822 0 230241 0 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. 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 with the auditors to review the audit report as soon as possible. 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 also 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://f.sfconservancy.org/Conservancy/policies Form 990, Part XI, Line 9 Rounding error Based on our previous use of the efiling platform form990.org, we expected to file until 23:59 eastern. However, the platform now says that it does not handle filings after 17:00, so our filing is a day late.