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Fab Foundation

EIN 26-4836002 · Boston, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

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.

Income
$6.5 million
Spending
$5.4 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
-1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
5
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$135,621, vice president/coo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 53% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 194% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $4.3 million spent. 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 DIGITAL FABRICATION PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES IN EXEMPLARY WAYS, SUCH AS MOBILE FAB LABS FOR EMERGENCY AID, OR FAB LABS FOR DEVELOPING WORLD CONTEXTS. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE DEPLOYING, INSTALLING, TRAINING, AND CONSULTING FOR NEW FAB LABS AS WELL AS PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT OF ESTABLISHED FAB LABS. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO GATHER AND PROVIDE CRITICAL EVALUATION DATA AS WELL AS PROVIDE TOOLS FOR TRACKING THE IMPACT OF FAB LABS IN EDUCATIONAL, BUSINESS AND SOCIAL CONTEXTS. AS PART OF ITS SERVICES, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A NETWORK FUNCTION FOR THE FAB LAB COMMUNITY, BRINGING TOGETHER FAB LABS AROUND THE WORLD EITHER PHYSICALLY (FOR ANNUAL MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS) OR VIRTUALLY THROUGH ONLINE TOOLS AND RESOURCES. ADDITIONALLY, AS A RESOURCE TO EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, ENTREPRENEURIAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC THE ORGANIZATION HAS DEVELOPED AN ONLINE GLOBAL MAP OF FAB LABS, MAKERSPACES, AND INNOVATION SPACES SUCH THAT PEOPLE OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT NEED ACCESS TO THESE FACILITIES CAN FIND THEM EASILY.
  2. $629,353 spent. 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 PROFESSIONALS. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS ADVANCED TECHNICAL EDUCATION THROUGH THE FAB ACADEMY WHICH PROVIDES INSTRUCTION AND SUPERVISES INVESTIGATION OF MECHANISMS, APPLICATIONS, AND IMPLICATIONS OF DIGITAL FABRICATION AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES. THE FAB ACADEMY IS A WORLDWIDE, DISTRIBUTED CAMPUS UTILIZING FAB LABS AS CLASSROOMS AND LIBRARIES FOR A NEW KIND OF TECHNICAL LITERACY. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES FOR K12 TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS THROUGH ITS SCOPES-DF WEBSITE AND RESEARCH PLATFORM (SCOPESDF.ORG). THIS SITE SHARES RESOURCES AND DISSEMINATES BEST EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES FOR EDUCATORS USING DIGITAL FABRICATION TO TEACH STEM DISCIPLINES AND SKILLS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2011.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Folx Foundation Inc (Miami Beach, FL), EIN 86-3600057. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.