Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Open Source Robotics Foundation Inc

EIN 45-5230545 · San Jose, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair60 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT, DISTRIBUTION, AND ADOPTION OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE FOR USE IN ROBOTICS RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
34.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
1
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$355,197, ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% 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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $816,447 spent. ROSCON IS AN ANNUAL DEVELOPER CONFERENCE FOR ROS AND OPEN SOURCE ROBOTICS SOFTWARE WHICH AIMS TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND FOSTER CONNECTION, AND COLLABORATION; FOR THE FURTHER GOAL OF CONTINUING TO GROW THE OPEN ROBOTICS ECOSYSTEM.
  2. $518,996 spent. THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE MAINTENANCE AND HOSTING OF OSRF'S OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE PROJECTS.
  3. $325,853 spent. THE OPEN SOURCE ROBOTICS ALLIANCE (OSRA) IS AN INITIATIVE OF THE OSRF FOR THE TECHNICAL GOVERNANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF ITS OPEN SOURCE PROJECTS.
  4. $288,197 spent. OSRF'S COMMUNITY PROGRAM INCLUDES OUTREACH, COMMUNICATION, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING EFFORTS ACROSS THE OPEN SOURCE ROBOTICS ECOSYSTEM. OUR IP MANAGEMENT PROGRAM SAFEGUARDS THE FOUNDATION'S TRADEMARKS, COPYRIGHTS, AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. THE TURTLEBOT PROGRAM DEVELOPS AN ENTRY-LEVEL ROBOT THAT CAN BE ACCESSIBLE TO ROBOTICISTS FROM VARIOUS PART OF THE ECOSYSTEM.

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 2025.

    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 2014.

    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.

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.