The Linux Foundation
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
THE LINUX FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF SUSTAINABLE OPEN SOURCE ECOSYSTEMS BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL AND INTELLECTUAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE, EVENTS, TRAINING, AND SUPPORTING PROGRAMS TO PROGRESS OPEN INNOVATION. WORKING TOGETHER WITH ITS MEMBERS AND COMMUNITIES OF OPEN SOURCE ENGINEERS, THE LINUX FOUNDATION AND ITS PROJECTS FORM THE MOST AMBITIOUS AND SUCCESSFUL INVESTMENT IN THE CREATION OF SHARED TECHNOLOGY.
- Income
- $220.7 million
- Spending
- $204.4 million
- Employees
- 300
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $1.6 million, fellow
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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 (3)
- EVENTS: OUR EVENTS TEAM FACILITATED 219 IN-PERSON EVENTS WITH OVER 70,000 ATTENDEES FROM 162 COUNTRIES REPRESENTING OVER 9,000 DISTINCT ORGANIZATIONS, MARKING THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE NUMBER OF ATTENDEES EXCEEDED THE NUMBER WHO ATTENDED PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. WE PROVIDED OVER $1.6M IN TRAVEL FUNDING AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO THESE EVENTS. OUR PROJECTS ALSO HOSTED 88 VIRTUAL WEBINARS ATTENDED BY OVER 12,800 ATTENDEES.
- TRAINING: IN 2024, OUR TRAINING & EDUCATION TEAM ENROLLED OVER 200,000 LEARNERS INTO E-LEARNING COURSES AND PROVIDED NEARLY 50,000 CERTIFICATIONS TO PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE INCREASING THEIR SKILL BASE. MORE THAN 850 PARTICIPANTS, PRIMARILY COLLEGE STUDENTS, HAVE GRADUATED FROM OUR MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS, WHICH CONTINUE TO EDUCATE A NEW GENERATION OF OPEN SOURCE CONTRIBUTORS, PROVIDING SKILLS THAT WILL GIVE THEM A PATH TO GOOD JOBS. IN MEMORY OF OUR CTO, SHUBHRA KAR, WE ALSO PROVIDED OVER 500 EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS TO INDIVIDUALS FROM OVER 110 COUNTRIES.
- PROJECTS: WE HOST MORE OPEN SOURCE PROJECTS THAN ANY OTHER ENTITY IN THE WORLD, PROVIDING THE SUPPORT SERVICES THEY NEED IN ORDER TO FUNCTION. WE SURPASSED 1,000 ACTIVE OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE AND STANDARDS PROJECTS IN 2024, WITH IMPACTFUL PROJECTS IN NEARLY EVERY TECHNOLOGY NICHE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(6) business league.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2003.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.