What Does GNU Project Do?

Total employees72
HeadquartersBoston
Founded1984

The GNU Project is a free software, mass collaboration project, launched in 1983 by Richard Stallman. Its primary goal is to provide users with complete control over their computing by developing and promoting software that is free to run, study, share, and modify. The project's philosophy emphasizes user freedom and community. Much of the software developed under the GNU Project, such as the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) and GNU Emacs, forms the core of GNU/Linux operating systems. The Free Software Foundation (FSF) was founded in 1985 to support the GNU Project, advocate for free software, and provide legal and organizational infrastructure.

Where Is GNU Project's Headquarters?

HQ Function

Serves as the central administrative, legal, and logistical hub for the Free Software Foundation, which supports the GNU Project and advocates for free software worldwide.

Notable Features:

Functional office space dedicated to supporting the free software movement; notable for its role as a hub for FSF activities rather than specific architectural highlights.

Work Culture:

A mission-driven environment focused on the principles of software freedom, collaboration, and advocacy. Staff and volunteers are typically passionate about technology ethics and user rights.

HQ Significance:

The FSF's office is significant as the operational center for one of the most influential organizations in the free software movement, directly supporting the development and promotion of GNU software and ideals.

Values Reflected in HQ: The FSF's work and, by extension, its operational base, reflect values of transparency (through its advocacy for open source), community engagement, and the fundamental freedoms for software users.

Location:

The GNU Project has a vast global presence, primarily through its worldwide community of volunteer developers, translators, and advocates. Its software is used internationally and forms the backbone of many operating systems. The Free Software Foundation (FSF) and its sister organizations like FSF Europe support this global community through advocacy, legal support, and resource provision. The project's documentation and software are translated into numerous languages, further extending its global reach and accessibility.

Street Address:

51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor

City:

Boston

State/Province:

MA

Country:

USA

Where Else Does GNU Project Operate Around the World?

Berlin, Germany

Address: Free Software Foundation Europe e.V. (FSFE), Schönhauser Allee 6/7, 10119 Berlin, Germany

To advance software freedom in Europe by engaging with policymakers, businesses, and the public, fostering a strong legal and social environment for free software.

Global & Decentralized

Address: N/A (Distributed volunteer network)

To develop, maintain, and promote free software accessible to everyone, everywhere, reflecting the project's core mission of universal software freedom.

Buying Intent Signals for GNU Project

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Notable news
Hiring actively
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Corporate Finance
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*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading GNU Project? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, GNU Project' leadership includes:

Richard M. Stallman - Founder & Lead of the GNU Project; Board Member, Free Software Foundation
Zoë Kooyman - Executive Director, Free Software Foundation
Geoffrey Knauth - President, Free Software Foundation Board of Directors
John Sullivan - Senior Advisor & Former Executive Director, Free Software Foundation; Board Member

Who's Investing in GNU Project?

GNU Project has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Primarily funded through individual donations and corporate patronages to the Free Software Foundation (FSF), its 501(c)(3) non-profit fiscal sponsor.
FSF memberships and merchandise sales also contribute to funding.
The project relies heavily on volunteer contributions for software development and advocacy.

What Leadership Changes Has GNU Project Seen Recently?

Hire2
Exits0

The Free Software Foundation has seen some appointments to its board, strengthening its governance and strategic direction.

New Appointments:

Dr. Christina Haralanova, Dr. Christina Haralanova appointed to the FSF Board of Directors.
Dr. Maria Chiara Pievatolo, Dr. Maria Chiara Pievatolo appointed to the FSF Board of Directors.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byGNU Project?

Discover the tools GNU Project uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

GNU Project Email Formats and Examples

The GNU Project and the Free Software Foundation do not use a standardized 'corporate' email format for public interaction in the way a traditional company might. Communication is primarily conducted through public mailing lists for various GNU packages and discussion topics. FSF staff members typically have @fsf.org email addresses, while core GNU maintainers might have @gnu.org addresses, but these are for specific roles within the project and foundation rather than a general directory.

N/A (Communication primarily via mailing lists and specific role-based addresses like name@fsf.org or name@gnu.org)

Format

info@fsf.org (for general inquiries to FSF)

Example

N/A%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About GNU Project?

GNU Mailół ArchiveFebruary 20, 2024

GNU Emacs 29.3 released

The GNU Project announced the release of GNU Emacs 29.3, an incremental bugfix release in the Emacs 29 series of the extensible, customizable, self-documenting real-time display editor....more

GNU Mailół ArchiveJanuary 24, 2024

GNU Guile 3.0.9 released

GNU Guile 3.0.9, an implementation of the Scheme programming language, was released. This is the ninth bugfix release in the 3.0 stable series....more

Free Software FoundationNovember 21, 2023

FSF releases 2023 Ethical Tech Giving Guide

The Free Software Foundation published its annual Ethical Tech Giving Guide, helping individuals make informed choices about technology gifts that respect user freedom and privacy....more

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