Signal Foundation

This article is about the charitable foundation. For the software, see Signal (messaging app). For the protocol used by Signal, see Signal Protocol.

The Signal Technology Foundation, commonly known as the Signal Foundation,^[1][2] is an American non-profit organization founded in 2018 by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton.^[3] Its mission is to "protect free expression and enable secure global communication through open source privacy technology."^[6] Its subsidiary, Signal Messenger LLC, is responsible for the development of the Signal messaging app and the Signal Protocol.

Signal Foundation

Signal Technology Foundation
Predecessor	Open Whisper Systems
Formation	January 10, 2018; 7 years ago (2018-01-10)
Founders	Moxie Marlinspike Brian Acton
Type	501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Tax ID no.	82-4506840[1]
Focus	Open-source privacy technology
Headquarters	650 Castro Street, Suite 120-223[2]
Location	Mountain View, California
Area served	Global
Products	Signal Messenger
Key people	Brian Acton (Executive Chairman)[3][2] Meredith Whittaker (President)[4]
Subsidiaries	Signal Messenger LLC
Revenue	$35,750,994[1] (2023)
Expenses	$35,808,494[1] (2023)
Staff	36[5] (2020)
Website	signalfoundation.org/en/

History

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.^[3][7] The foundation was started with an initial $50 million loan from Acton, who had left WhatsApp's parent company, Facebook, in September 2017.^[7] 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.^[3] 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.^[8]

Senior leadership

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

List of chairmen

1. Brian Acton (2018–present)^{[6][better source needed]}

People

As of June 2023, the Signal Foundation board of directors has five members:^[9][6]

• Amba Kak
• Brian Acton (co-founder, Chairman of Signal Foundation and CEO of Signal Messenger LLC)^[8][10]
• Jay Sullivan
• Katherine Maher
• Meredith Whittaker (president)^[11]

Emeritus members:^[6]

• Moxie Marlinspike (co-founder)

Signal Messenger LLC

Signal Messenger

Formation	January 10, 2018; 7 years ago (2018-01-10)[12]
Founders	Moxie Marlinspike Brian Acton
Type	Limited liability company[13]
Products	Signal, Signal Protocol
Key people	Brian Acton (CEO)[10] Aruna Harder (COO)[13] Ehren Kret (CTO)[1]
Parent organization	Signal Technology Foundation
Affiliations	Freedom of the Press Foundation[3][14]
Website	signal.org

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^[15] and the Signal Protocol. Moxie Marlinspike served as Signal Messenger's first CEO^[13] until stepping down on January 10, 2022.^[16] Brian Acton volunteered to serve as interim CEO while the organization searched for a new CEO.^[16] In June 2023, Signal announced that Acton would be staying on as CEO following the search.^[10]

Senior leadership

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.^[17]

List of CEOs

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

List of presidents

1. Meredith Whittaker (2022–present)^[4]