Software Freedom Conservancy Inc
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.
Software Freedom Conservancy Inc at a glance
In short: Software Freedom Conservancy Inc reported $53K in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $53,174 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- +213.5% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $5,401,246
- +1.6% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $3,214,723
- +29.3% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $160,309
- -11.0% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $3,805,350
- -15.0% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Software Freedom Conservancy Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 5 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $17K (2024) to $410K (2023). In 2025 it reported $53K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Python Software Foundation Beaverton, OR | 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. | $16,963 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,401,246 | $3,214,723 | $3,805,350 | $53,174 | Total only | $160,309 |
| 2024 | $5,314,976 | $2,487,144 | $4,478,454 | $16,963 | 1 | $180,052 |
| 2023 | $7,242,486 | $4,187,196 | $3,662,134 | $410,253 | 2 | $138,201 |
| 2022 | $6,623,240 | $4,357,006 | $3,165,712 | $114,852 | 2 | $9,802 |
| 2021 | $5,375,134 | $3,229,988 | $2,591,633 | $43,426 | Total only | $6,027 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Software Freedom Conservancy Inc
Based on IRS filings
Software Freedom Conservancy Inc is a public charity focused on Science & Technology, based in Brooklyn, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.4M in total assets. In 2025, it reported $53K in grants paid as a total on its IRS filing, without an itemized list. Net investment income was $160K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Software Freedom Conservancy Inc is led by Karen M Sandler, President & Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 4 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Karen M Sandler
President & Executive Director
On filings since 2021
45 hrs/week
$156K (2021) → $179K (2025)
Allison Randal
Board Chairperson, Vice President & Director
Director → Board Chairperson, Vice President & Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
4.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bradley M Kuhn
Director, Policy Fellow & Outgoing Treasurer
Treasurer & Et Al → Treasurer, Director & Policy Fellow, 2022
Treasurer, Director & Policy Fellow → Director, Policy Fellow & Outgoing Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$101K (2021) → $113K (2025)
Sage A Sharp
Senior Director of Diversity & Inclusion
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$100K (2022) → $108K (2025)
Anthony K Sebro Jr.
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bdale Garbee
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeremy Allison
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Fortunato
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Galassi
Director
Chair, Vice President & Et Al → Board Chairperson, Vice President & Director, 2022
Board Chairperson, Vice President & Director → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rick Sanders
General Counsel
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$103K (2024) → $125K (2025)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Kate Chapman (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Mike Linksvayer (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Martin Michlmayr (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $179K, to Karen M Sandler (President and Executive Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Software Freedom Conservancy Inc
How much does Software Freedom Conservancy Inc give each year?
Software Freedom Conservancy Inc reported $53K in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it gave $17K across 1 grant.
How large is Software Freedom Conservancy Inc?
Software Freedom Conservancy Inc reported $5.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.2M.
What is Software Freedom Conservancy Inc?
Software Freedom Conservancy Inc is a public charity focused on Science & Technology, based in Brooklyn, NY. It holds $5.4M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Software Freedom Conservancy Inc operate?
Software Freedom Conservancy Inc has awarded grants in California, Missouri, Oregon, Texas.
What is Software Freedom Conservancy Inc's EIN?
Software Freedom Conservancy Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-2203632. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Software Freedom Conservancy Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Software Freedom Conservancy Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?