The GitLab Foundation is an independent global private foundation associated with GitLab Inc., based in San Francisco, California. Established in 2021 and incorporated as a nonprofit public benefit corporation under California law, the Foundation operates as a fully remote organization. It received tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) in April 2023.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$34.8M
+51.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$14.2M
+59.8% YoY
Grant Count
61
+103.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$233K
-21.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission is to improve lifetime earnings through access to opportunities. The organization invests in people by accelerating ways for them to gain the skills and opportunities to increase their lifetime earnings, with the vision that as people thrive, so will their communities and economies.
The Foundation targets three primary investment areas:
- Creating opportunities for individuals
- Improving labor market efficiency
- Strengthening collective action among key stakeholders
Primary funding focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services. The Foundation works with populations earning below a living wage and pursues an ambitious "North Star 100X goal," targeting the generation of over $100 in lifetime earnings gains per dollar spent.
Grantmaking
Since inception, the Foundation has awarded over $5.5 million to more than 200 grantees through AI for Economic Opportunity initiatives. The Foundation's 39 completed grants have generated $1.7 billion in lifetime earnings for more than 225,000 people.
Grant Range
$50,000 to $2,900,000
Average Grant
amount: $295,900
Review Cycle
and annual calls (recent deadline: October 31, 2025). The program uses a two-stage application process.
How to Apply
.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation's primary geographic focus is the United States, with international expansion into Colombia and Kenya. Recent initiatives include NOVA (New Opportunities for Vocational Advancement), a strategic initiative designed to close the gap between workforce potential and economic opportunity in Colombia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2025):
- Total assets: $34,825,251
- Annual giving: $14,106,133
- Total liabilities: $2,080,000 (2024)
Historical Financial Data:
- 2024 Revenue: $30.4 million
- 2024 Expenses: $12.8 million
- 2024 Total Assets: $23 million
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $34,825,251 | $23,027,115 | $3,449,267 |
| Revenue | $29,725,275 | $30,385,452 | $4,008,287 |
| Expenses | $23,923,966 | $12,810,240 | $747,444 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $17,230,232 | $10,918,560 | $587,665 |
| Net Investment Income | $29,422,890 | $22,702,525 | $7,785 |
| Distributable Amount | $812,825 | $140,590 | $183,236 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
80 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Gitlab Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- Caroline Whistler – Board Chair, co-founder and CEO of Third Sector
- Benjamin Alex – Board Member, Deputy Director of Finance at the Gates Foundation
- James Shen – Board Member, GitLab's interim Chief Financial Officer
- Sid Sijbrandij – Co-founder and executive chairman of GitLab Inc.
Staff:
- Ellie Bertani – Principal Officer
These board appointments were announced in November 2025 as part of an expansion designed to strengthen the Foundation's approach to ROI-focused, risk-tolerant grantmaking and outcomes-driven philanthropy.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SYTSE SIJBRANDIJ | CHAIR | 5 | — |
| CAROLINE WHISTLER | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| FREDDY VAGA | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| BRIAN ROBINS | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| RAHIM FAZAL | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| ROBIN SCHULMAN | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| ELEANOR BERTANI | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $337,050 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**March 2026:** The Foundation announced NOVA (New Opportunities for Vocational Advancement), a strategic initiative in Colombia designed to turn bilingualism into economic opportunity and close the gap between workforce potential and economic opportunity.
GitLab Foundation Awards $500,000 Grant to Making Space to Expand Workforce**March 2026:** The Foundation announced its largest AI for Economic Opportunity cohort yet, backing 16 organizations using AI to improve and support systems for workers.
GitLab Foundation Announces Largest AI for Economic Opportunity Cohort Yet,**March 2026:** The Foundation awarded a $500,000 grant to Making Space to expand workforce pathways and develop responsible AI tools for disabled talent.
GitLab Foundation Awards $500,000 Grant to Making Space to ...**November 2025:** The Foundation strengthened its board of directors with the appointment of Caroline Whistler as board chair and the addition of Benjamin Alex and James Shen as board members, marking a pivotal moment as the Foundation scales its model and targets creating $25 billion in lifetime earnings by 2028.
GitLab Foundation Awards $500,000 Grant to Making Space to ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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