Fab Foundation

Tax-deductible

Boston, MA501(c)(3)Since 2009Science & TechnologyEIN 26-4836002Revenue $6.5M in FY2024

On file with the IRSfabfoundation.org50 Milk St 16th Floor, 02109-5002 · Boston, MATax-exempt since May 2011Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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The Fab Foundation was formed february 6, 2009 to facilitate and support the growth of the international Fab lab network. The Fab Foundation is a US non-profit 501(c)(3) organization emerging from the massachusetts institute of technology's center for bits & atoms (cba) international Fab lab outreach program. Our mission is to provide access to the tools, the knowledge and the financial means to educate, innovate and invent using technology and digital fabrication to allow anyone to make (almost) anything, and thereby creating opportunities to improve lives and livelihoods around the world. Community organizations, educational institutions and non-profit concerns are our primary beneficiaries.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
91¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 30 volunteers and 7 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $118K a year · 3% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
91%
of spending
Looks good: 91% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$312K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Top officer’s pay lower than 74% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 7.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $33K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.3M
53% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 53% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$6.5M
+194% vs prior year
Spent
$5.4M
To programs
91%
Net assets
$2.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$6.5M
FY2024▲ +194%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$4.4M
FY2021$3.6M
FY2022$2.6M
FY2023$2.2M
FY2024$6.5M
Expenses
$5.4M
FY2024▲ +66%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.4M
FY2021$3.2M
FY2022$3.7M
FY2023$3.2M
FY2024$5.4M
Net assets
$2.0M
FY2024▲ +120%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.5M
FY2021$2.9M
FY2022$2.0M
FY2023$926K
FY2024$2.0M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in May 2011.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

91 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 91% · $4.9M Management & general 8% · $451K Fundraising 1% · $33K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

6 people listed on the 990; $312K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Vice President/COO
$135,000Pt VII · Sec A
Chairman/Director/Consultant
$101,601Pt VII · Sec A
President/Director
$75,500Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer/Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary/Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Luciano Betoldi’s $135K as Vice President/COO is at the 26th percentile of top reported officer pay among 363 $1–10M science & technology nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 4 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Luciano Betoldi$135,000$112,423$105,500——
Sonya Pryor Jones———$120,357$102,500
Neil Gershenfeld$101,601$64,275$110,000$117,000$100,000
Sherry Lassiter$75,500$60,116$55,500$55,500$55,500

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Fab Foundation executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Supports global Fab Lab growth, providing tools and knowledge for anyone to invent and improve lives.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $4.9M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The organization promotes digital fabrication by facilitating the development of community-based and educational fab labs, the dissemination of best practices in digital fabrication throughout the fab lab network, facilitation and dissemination of research and community-beneficial projects, the funding and facilitation of fab lab and…

$4.3Mprogram expense
02

The organization brings digital fabrication tools and processes to people of all ages, teaching the skills and knowledge of digital fabrication, developing curriculum for formal and informal educational settings, as well as designing and offering professional development training programs for teachers, fab lab managers and other…

$629Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$33K
Grants paid · 27 grants · $1.9M · 2020–2024
Shift 7 LLCFY2024$46,250
Stem ConnectionIN · FY2024$40,000
Unitemized GrantFY2024$23,000
Fab-Hood NetworkOH · FY2024$10,000
Unitemized GrantFY2024$200
Stem ConnectionIN · FY2023$50,000
Donors ChooseNY · FY2023$50,000
Shift 7 LLCFY2023$46,250
Jackson County School DistrictFY2023$20,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$10,000
Baker Ripley Neighborhood CentersTX · FY2023$10,000
West Contra Costa Unified School DistrictFY2023$10,000
Odessa CollegeFY2023$10,000
Silicon Valley Education FoundationFY2023$10,000
Mantles and Makers INCOH · FY2023$6,842
Unitemized GrantFY2023$500
Shift 7 LLCFY2022$20,000
See all 27 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$6.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$8K
Money outPt IX
$5.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.9M
Managementcol C$451K
Fundraisingcol D$33K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.2M
Total assetsLn 16$4.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
6
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$8K
Total revenueLn 12$6.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.4M
SavingsLn 2$768K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$8K
Other assetsLn 15$2K
Total assetsLn 16$4.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.3M
Net assetsLn 32$2.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 57
VolunteersI 630
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.5M$3.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5K$8K
Total assetsLn 16$1.6M$4.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$708K$2.3M
Net assetsLn 32$926K$2.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$102K$102K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$23K$23K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$1.3M$1.3M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$179K$156K$12K$11K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$363K$323K$27K$13K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$19K$16K$2K$1K
Payroll taxesLn 10$34K$29K$3K$2K
Legal feesLn 11b$1K$1K
Accounting feesLn 11c$119K$119K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$5K$5K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$997K$886K$111K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2K$2K$712
Office expensesLn 13$62K$23K$38K$750
OccupancyLn 16$37K$37K
TravelLn 17$301K$274K$27K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$41K$37K$4K
InterestLn 20$12K$12K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$4K$4K
InsuranceLn 23$39K$420$39K$28
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.7M$1.7M$16K
Total functional expensesLn 25$5.4M$4.9M$451K$33K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $6.5M$5.4M$1.1M$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.2M$3.2M−$1.0M$926K 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.6M$3.7M−$1.1M$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.6M$3.2M$417K$2.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 $4.4M$4.4M$3K$2.5M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $6,495,763 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,226,112$3,706,206
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $788,615$2,781,381
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $192,120$8,176
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,206,847$6,495,763
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $648,230$1,475,392
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $504,204$595,099
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$4,644
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,089,441$3,310,300
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,241,875$5,385,435
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$1,035,028$1,110,328
Part VI · Governance 3 of 5 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members3
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $6,495,763 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,706,206
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,706,206
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,781,381$2,781,381
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $8,176$8,176
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,781,381 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $8,176$6,495,763
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $5,385,435 across 20 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $102,495$102,495
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $23,200$23,200
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $1,349,697$1,349,697
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $155,768 · Management $11,505 · Fundraising $11,472$178,745
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $322,534 · Management $26,965 · Fundraising $13,400$362,899
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $16,289 · Management $1,663 · Fundraising $1,076$19,028
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $29,471 · Management $3,010 · Fundraising $1,946$34,427
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $1,122$1,122
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $118,950$118,950
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $4,644$4,644
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $885,984 · Management $110,707$996,691
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,518 · Management $712$2,230
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $23,403 · Management $37,845 · Fundraising $750$61,998
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $37,025$37,025
IX-17 TravelPrograms $274,348 · Management $26,557$300,905
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $37,170 · Management $3,893$41,063
IX-20 InterestManagement $12,384$12,384
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $3,799$3,799
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $420 · Management $38,797 · Fundraising $28$39,245
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,678,538 · Management $16,350$1,694,888
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,900,835 · Management $451,284 · Fundraising $33,316$5,385,435
Part X · Balance sheet $4,370,179 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,032,634$2,402,062
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $466,101$767,615
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $25,000$979,616
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $83,479$204,567
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $3,114$3,114
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $17,127$3,205
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $4,598$7,799
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $2,126$2,201
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,634,179$4,370,179
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $257,324$569,257
X-18 Grants payable$1,233,693
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $315,616$394,876
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $707,940$2,336,002
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year −$1,122−$678,127
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $927,361$2,712,304
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $926,239$2,034,177
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,634,179$4,370,179
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,034,177 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$6,495,763
XI-2 Total expenses$5,385,435
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,110,328
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$926,239
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$2,390
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,034,177

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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