Signal Foundation

On February 21, 2018, Moxie Marlinspike and WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton announced the formation of the Signal Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.{{cite web|last1=Marlinspike|first1=Moxie|last2=Acton|first2=Brian|title=Signal Foundation|url=https://signal.org/blog/signal-foundation/|website=Signal.org|accessdate=21 February 2018|date=21 February 2018}} The foundation was started with an initial $50 million loan from Acton, who had left WhatsApp's parent company, Facebook, in September 2017.{{cite magazine|last1=Greenberg|first1=Andy|title=WhatsApp Co-Founder Puts $50M Into Signal To Supercharge Encrypted Messaging|url=https://www.wired.com/story/signal-foundation-whatsapp-brian-acton/|magazine=Wired|publisher=Condé Nast|accessdate=21 February 2018|date=21 February 2018}} The Freedom of the Press Foundation had previously served as the Signal project's fiscal sponsor and continued to accept donations on behalf of the project while the foundation's non-profit status was pending. By the end of 2018, the loan had increased to $105,000,400, which is due to be repaid on February 28, 2068. The loan is unsecured and at 0% interest.{{cite web |title=Signal Technology Foundation - Form 990 for period ending December 2018 |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/824506840/12_2019_prefixes_82-86%2F824506840_201812_990_2019121216951146 |website=Nonprofit Explorer |publisher=ProPublica |accessdate=15 February 2020}}

Signal Foundation has been led by a Chairman, which is separate from the leadership roles of Signal Messenger.

1. Brian Acton (2018–present){{better source needed|reason=2023 official website mentions him as founder but not as chairman|date=October 2023}}

As of June 2023, the Signal Foundation board of directors has five members:{{Cite tweet |author=Signal |user=signalapp |number=1669374293203976195 |date=15 June 2023 |title=Announcement! Signal is refreshing our board as we grow. We're delighted to welcome @krmaher, @ambaonadventure, and @jaysullivan as Signal's new Directors. Learn more here |access-date=21 June 2023 |link=https://twitter.com/signalapp/status/1669374293203976195 }}

• Amba Kak
• Brian Acton (co-founder, Chairman of Signal Foundation and CEO of Signal Messenger LLC)
• Jay Sullivan
• Katherine Maher
• Meredith Whittaker (president){{Cite web |title=A Message from Signal's New President |url=https://signal.org/blog/announcing-signal-president/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=Signal Messenger |language=en}}

Emeritus members:

• Moxie Marlinspike (co-founder)

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| affiliations = Freedom of the Press Foundation{{cite web|last1=Timm|first1=Trevor|title=Freedom of the Press Foundation's new look, and our plans to protect press freedom for 2017|url=https://freedom.press/news/freedom-press-foundations-new-look-and-our-plans-protect-press-freedom-2017/|website=Freedom of the Press Foundation|accessdate=25 January 2017|date=8 December 2016|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202042832/https://freedom.press/news/freedom-press-foundations-new-look-and-our-plans-protect-press-freedom-2017/|url-status=live}}

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Signal Messenger LLC was founded simultaneously with the Signal Technology Foundation and operates as its subsidiary. It is responsible for the development of the Signal messaging app{{cite web |title=Signal Terms & Privacy Policy |url=https://www.signal.org/legal/ |website=signal.org |publisher=Signal Messenger LLC. |access-date=21 January 2021 |date=25 May 2018}} and the Signal Protocol. Moxie Marlinspike served as Signal Messenger's first CEO{{cite web |title=Statement of Information |url=https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/Document/RetrievePDF?Id=201808710334-24941282 |website=businesssearch.sos.ca.gov |publisher=California Secretary of State |accessdate=13 February 2019 |format=PDF |date=3 October 2018 |archive-date=14 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214061645/https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/Document/RetrievePDF?Id=201808710334-24941282 |url-status=live }} until stepping down on January 10, 2022. Brian Acton volunteered to serve as interim CEO while the organization searched for a new CEO.{{cite web |last1=Marlinspike |first1=Moxie |title=New year, new CEO |url=https://signal.org/blog/new-year-new-ceo/ |website=signal.org |publisher=Signal Messenger |access-date=10 January 2022 |date=10 January 2022}} In June 2023, Signal announced that Acton would be staying on as CEO following the search.{{Cite tweet |author=Signal |user=signalapp |number=1669374295720570881 |date=15 June 2023 |title= Meredith and Brian will remain on the Board for an interim period, before stepping off to focus on their leadership duties–Meredith as Signal's President, and Brian staying on as Signal's CEO, following a search.|access-date=21 June 2023 |link=https://twitter.com/signalapp/status/1669374295720570881 }}

Along with the Chairman of the Signal Foundation, Signal Messenger has been traditionally led by a CEO. This was until September 2022, when a new role of President was created, which is dedicated to more core lanes of strategy.{{Cite web |date=18 October 2022 |title=Why Signal won't compromise on encryption, with president Meredith Whittaker |url=https://www.theverge.com/23409716/signal-encryption-messaging-sms-meredith-whittaker-imessage-whatsapp-china |website=The Verge}}

1. Moxie Marlinspike (2018–2022)
2. Brian Acton (2022–present)

1. Meredith Whittaker (2022–present){{Cite web |date=8 September 2022 |title=A Message from Signal's New President |url=https://signal.org/blog/announcing-signal-president/ |website=Signal}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{ProPublicaNonprofitExplorer|824506840}}

Category:Charities based in California

Category:Free software project foundations based in the United States

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the San Francisco Bay Area

Category:Organizations established in 2018

Category:2018 establishments in California

Category:Companies based in Mountain View, California

Category:Free and open-source software organizations