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Technology Matters

EIN 88-2116913 · Palo Alto, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CREATE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP HUNDREDS OF SOCIAL SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS SOLVE A COMMON SOCIAL PROBLEM.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
21
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$215,450, executive director, aselo

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 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 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 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

    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 (3)
  1. $1.7 million spent. ASELO:ASELO IS TECH MATTERS' PROGRAM TO SERVE THE CRISIS RESPONSE HELPLINE FIELD. ASELO IS AN OPEN SOURCE CLOUD-BASED CONTACT CENTER PLATFORM DESIGNED TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR HELPLINES TO RESPOND TO PEOPLE (ESPECIALLY CHILDREN) IN NEED VIA PHONE, SMS, WEBCHAT, WHATSAPP, AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. OUR GOAL IS TO ASSIST THE STAFF AT HELPLINES TO HELP MANY MORE PEOPLE, AND HELP THEM BETTER, THANKS TO IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY TOOLS. BY THE END OF 2024, ASELO WAS LIVE IN 18 COUNTRIES AND HELPLINES USING ASELO HAD ASSISTED MORE THAN 500,000 CHILDREN. IN 2024, ASELO'S GLOBAL FOOTPRINT EXPANDED WITH A US DOMESTIC PROGRAM IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AS WELL AS LAUNCHES IN NEW ZEALAND AND SINGAPORE.
  2. $1.2 million spent. TERRASO:THE TERRASO OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE PROJECT CONTINUED ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT WITH A TEAM WHICH INCLUDED PROFESSIONAL SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS, A UX DESIGNER, AND A PRODUCT MANAGER. TERRASO PRIORITIES RELY ON FEEDBACK FROM LOCAL LEADERS ON THE FRONT LINES OF CLIMATE CHANGE, STRIVING TO BUILD MORE REGENERATIVE LOCAL ECONOMIES. TERRASO TOOLS SUPPORT DATA COLLECTION, INCLUDING A SPECIALIZED SOIL IDENTIFICATION APP, MAPPING, AND VISUALIZATION, AND TELLING PLACE-BASED STORIES. BY THE END OF THE YEAR, TERRASO HAD OVER 800 USERS BASED IN MORE THAN 85 LOCALITIES (LANDSCAPES).
  3. $312,576 spent. FIELD BUILDING:TECH MATTERS PROVIDES A RANGE OF RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE WIDER APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY TO THE SOCIAL IMPACT FIELD BROADLY. THIS INCLUDES OUR NO-CHARGE BRIEF CONSULTATIONS WITH NONPROFIT LEADERS, REGULAR TALKS AND ARTICLES ON TECH FOR GOOD, AND A PODCAST SERIES FEATURING THE LEADERS OF TECHNOLOGY NONPROFITS. DURING 2024, WE WORKED ON "TECHNOLOGY FOR GOOD," THE FIRST BOOK ON HOW TO START NONPROFIT TECH ENTERPRISES, WITH A PLANNED PUBLICATION DATE IN 2025. WE ARE ALSO ACTIVELY WORKING ON AN INITIATIVE CALLED THE "BETTER DEAL FOR DATA," A LIGHTWEIGHT APPROACH TO RESPONSIBLE DATA USE IN THE SOCIAL SECTOR, MODELED AFTER THE OPEN SOURCE AND CREATIVE COMMONS MOVEMENTS, WHICH INCLUDED USER RESEARCH AND THE PUBLICATION OF RESEARCH PAPERS ON THE TOPIC OF DATA GOVERNANCE.

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 January 2023.

    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.