Sapling Foundation
{{Short description|American non-profit organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Sapling Foundation
| image =
| leader_title = President
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| headquarters = New York City, New York, U.S.
| founder = Chris Anderson{{Cite news|last=Hochman|first=David|date=2014-03-07|title=No, His Name Is Not Ted|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/09/fashion/Chris-Anderson-Curator-of-TED-Talks-Builds-his-Brand.html|access-date=2020-06-11|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|title=Change the world in 18 minutes|url-access=subscription|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fweekend-australian-magazine%2Fhow-ted-founder-chris-anderson-lured-bill-gates-edward-snowden-monica-lewinsky-bono-and-others%2Fnews-story%2Fff6372c4224b374f4febd0bcb6d82e8c&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=577be7a59e1eea0ca9f44723eebca90c-1591886179|access-date=2020-06-11|website=www.theaustralian.com.au}}
| formation = {{start date and age|1996}}
| type = Non-profit
| predecessor =
| budget =
| purpose = Academic conference, entertainment, education
| region_served = Worldwide
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}}
The Sapling Foundation is a non-profit organization that owned the TED global conference, from 1996{{cite web |url=http://www.ted.com/pages/42 |title=About TED: Who we are: Who owns TED |work=TED: Ideas Worth Spreading |publisher=TED Conferences, LLC}}{{Cite web|url=http://nymag.com/news/features/ted-conferences-2012-3/index2.html|title=Those Fabulous Confabs|website=NYMag.com|access-date=2016-06-18}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ted.com/pages/tedconference|title=TED Conference {{!}} Conferences {{!}} Attend {{!}} TED|website=www.ted.com|access-date=2016-06-18}}{{Cite web|url=http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2013/04/24/ted-conference-in-milwaukee/|title=TED Conference in Milwaukee?|website=Urban Milwaukee|access-date=2016-06-18}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.wiser.org/organization/view/11a6d17f693719e2f072df38b5a92937|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151204044804/http://www.wiser.org/organization/view/11a6d17f693719e2f072df38b5a92937|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-12-04|title=Wiser.org|website=www.wiser.org|access-date=2016-06-18}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.fastcodesign.com/1664704/the-creator-of-ted-aims-to-reinvent-conferences-once-again|title=The Creator Of TED Aims To Reinvent Conferences Once Again|date=2011-08-08|website=Co.Design|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-18}} to June 2019. It was founded by Chris Anderson in 1996.
Overview
The organization describes its purpose as follows:
{{quote|The goal of the foundation is to foster the spread of great ideas. It aims to provide a platform for the world's smartest thinkers, greatest visionaries and most-inspiring teachers, so that millions of people can gain a better understanding of the biggest issues faced by the world, and a desire to help create a better future.}}
In 2015, Anderson served as president, without compensation, and Thomas Valentino served as CFO and Secretary.{{cite web |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/download-filing?download=true&path=2016_11_PF%2F94-3235545_990PF_201512.pdf |title=2015 Form 990-PF |publisher=Sapling Foundation |format=PDF |accessdate=2018-12-20}} The Sapling Foundation's 2015 revenue was about $66 million, of which about $23 million was contributions and about $42 million was TED conference revenue.
On July 1, 2019, the TED Conferences LLC was transferred from Sapling Foundation to TED Foundation to "align with our brand and make it easier for our donors to connect TED donations to TED Conferences, LLC."{{cite web |url=https://www.ted.com/about/our-organization/how-ted-works |title=How TED works |publisher=TED |accessdate=2020-02-19}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/excellent-learning-platform/|title=Excellent learning platform|last=Pitoi|first=Seik|date=2020-01-17|publisher=The National (Papua New Guinea)|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19}}