THE FAB FOUNDATION

EIN: 264836002 501(c)(3) Science & Technology

BOSTON, MA

Total Revenue
$6,495,763
Total Expenses
$5,385,435
Total Assets
$4,370,179
Net Assets
$2,034,177
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
2009
Legal Domicile
CA
Principal Officer
SHERRY LASSITER
Phone
8573337777
Tax Period
2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

THE FAB FOUNDATION, founded in 2009, is a community nonprofit in the Science & Technology sector that reported $6.5M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue surged 194% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. The organization ran a surplus of $1.1M, a strong 17% operating margin.

Mission

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.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $4,271,482 Revenue: $2,048,403

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...

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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.

Program 2
Expenses: $629,353 Revenue: $732,978

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...

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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.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $3,706,206
Program Service Revenue $2,781,381
Investment Income $8,176
Other Revenue $0
TOTAL REVENUE $6,495,763

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $1,475,392
Salaries & Benefits $595,099
Fundraising Expenses $33,316
Program Expenses $4,900,835
Other Expenses $3,310,300
TOTAL EXPENSES $5,385,435

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $6,495,763 $2,206,847 +1.9%
Expenses $5,385,435 $3,241,875 +0.7%
Net Income $1,110,328 $-1,035,028 -2.1%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
5
Independent Members
3
Employees
5
Volunteers
75

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
4
$178,164
Total Directors
5
$178,164
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
1
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
SHERRY LASSITER PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR 20.00
Officer Director
$75,500 $1,063 $76,563
NEIL GERSHENFELD CHAIRMAN/DIRECTOR/CONSULTANT 1.00
Officer Director
$101,601 $0 $101,601
MARIE PLANCHARD TREASURER/DIRECTOR 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
BLAIR EVANS DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KATIE RAST SECRETARY/DIRECTOR 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
LUCIANO BETOLDI VICE PRESIDENT/COO 40.00
Highest
$135,000 $621 $135,621
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2024 $6,495,763 $5,385,435 $4,370,179 $1,110,328
2023 $2,206,847 $3,241,875 $1,634,179 $-1,035,028
2022 $2,649,329 $3,735,780 $3,453,460 $-1,086,451
2021 $3,603,989 $3,187,148 $3,602,930 $416,841
2020 $4,362,728 $4,359,956 $3,585,576 $2,772
2019 $3,606,528 $3,851,392 $3,324,565 $-244,864
2018 $4,662,636 $5,351,096 $3,798,420 $-688,460
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