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Nonprofit · EIN 82-4506840

SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION

Also known as SIGNAL FOUNDATION

Tax-exempt · MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94041

Financials

$35.8M$35.8M2023$29.4M$38M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2024990$29,413,537$38,019,696-$8,606,159$30,994,770$35,719,745-$4,724,975
December 31, 2023990$35,750,994$35,808,494-$57,500$37,433,223$34,101,582$3,331,641
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$21,843,492
Program service revenue
$6,386,666
Investment income
$1,183,379
Net gain from sales of assets
$505,667
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$1,404,888
Other salaries and wages
$15,793,331
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$19,573,873
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$235,065
Accounting fees
$111,493
Occupancy
$49,573
Travel
$737,218
Depreciation
$1,271,905
Program services (functional)
$30,994,943
Management and general (functional)
$7,024,753

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$37,433,223
Total assets, end of year
$30,994,770
Total liabilities, end of year
$35,719,745
Net assets, end of year
-$4,724,975
Publicly traded securities
$10,966,811
Net assets without donor restrictions
-$76,565,045
Net assets with donor restrictions
$71,840,070
Gross unrelated business income
$27,712
Gross receipts
$30,765,027
Employees
52
Volunteers
5
Year formed
2018
State of legal domicile
DE

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
MEREDITH WHITTAKERDIRECTOR / PRES OF SIGNAL MESSENGER
Trustee or director
40$743,531$51,697
JIM O'LEARYVP, ENGINEERING
Highest-paid employee
40$715,212$34,111
EHREN KRETCHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
Highest-paid employee
40$709,890$9,274
ARUNA HARDERCHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Key employee
40$589,160$20,500
ALAN LIUDIRECTOR, ENGINEERING
Highest-paid employee
40$547,338$46,338
RANDALL SARAFACHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER
Highest-paid employee
40$551,565$20,500
JONATHAN CHAMBERSSOFTWARE DEVELOPER
Highest-paid employee
40$460,097$29,869
BRIAN ACTONPRES / SECR / TREAS / CEO OF SIGNAL
Trustee or director, Officer
40$0$0
AMBA KAKDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KATHERINE MAHERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JAY SULLIVANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 12 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
MEREDITH WHITTAKERDIRECTOR / PRES OF SIGNAL MESSENGER
Trustee or director
40$735,234$50,037
JIM O'LEARYVP, ENGINEERING
Highest-paid employee
40$659,908$35,745
EHREN KRETCHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
Highest-paid employee
40$671,220$8,932
ALAN LIUDIRECTOR, ENGINEERING
Highest-paid employee
40$503,125$47,774
ARUNA HARDERCHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Key employee
40$521,088$22,500
RANDALL SARAFACHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER
Highest-paid employee
40$479,613$22,500
GREYSON PARRELLISOFTWARE DEVELOPER
Highest-paid employee
40$439,892$49,401
BRIAN ACTONPRES / SECR / TREAS / CEO OF SIGNAL MESSENGER
Trustee or director, Officer
40$0$0
AMBA KAKDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KATHERINE MAHERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MOXIE MARLINSPIKEDIRECTOR (THROUGH 2/2023)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JAY SULLIVANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
650 CASTRO ST STE 120 PMB 223, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94041-2093
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
BRIAN ACTON, 650 CASTRO STREET SUITE 120-223, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94041
Signed the 990
BRIAN ACTON, PRESIDENT
Phone
(650) 336-8080
Return prepared by
BAKER TILLY ADVISORY GROUP LP

California records

California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 82-4506840 or by the name SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION.

Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)

Mission

PROTECT FREE EXPRESSION AND ENABLE SECURE GLOBAL COMMUNICATION THROUGH OPEN SOURCE PRIVACY TECHNOLOGY.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Program accomplishments

  • FOLLOWING ITS FORMATION IN EARLY 2018, SIGNAL FOUNDATION'S PRIMARY ACTIVITY WAS THE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT TO SIGNAL MESSENGER IN ORDER TO ENSURE GLOBAL ACCESS TO A SECURE, END-TO-END ENCRYPTED VOICE AND TEXT COMMUNICATIONS PLATFORM. THROUGH SIGNAL MESSENGER, USERS CAN SECURELY CALL AND TEXT ONE ANOTHER. THE CONTENT OF THOSE COMMUNICATIONS ARE SECURELY ENCRYPTED BY THE APP.
    Expenses $30,994,943 · revenue $6,386,666

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026Not on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
82-4506840
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
2019
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$30,994,770
Income (IRS master file)
$30,765,027

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2024$29,413,537$38,019,696$30,994,770XML
990-TDecember 2024–––IRS
990December 2023$35,750,994$35,808,494$37,433,223XML
990-TDecember 2023–––IRS
990December 2022$26,064,219$30,455,421$37,331,314IRS
990-TDecember 2022–––IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990-TDecember 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990-TDecember 2020–––IRS
990December 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 82-4506840).

Questions about SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION

What is the EIN of SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION?
The employer identification number (EIN) of SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION is 82-4506840.
Is SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2019.
Are donations to SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
Who is the principal officer of SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names BRIAN ACTON.
Who are the officers and directors of SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 11 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $743,531 (MEREDITH WHITTAKER, DIRECTOR / PRES OF SIGNAL MESSENGER).
How much revenue does SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $29,413,537, expenses of $38,019,696 and total assets of $30,994,770 at year end.

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