The EmbeddedOS Foundation
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to building the future of embedded computing through open-source software, education, and research.
Governance Structure
Four bodies govern the Foundation. Each one below states what it decides, how a person joins it, and how often it meets — because "open governance" only means something if you can see where a decision is made and who is allowed to make it.
Board of Directors
Sets Foundation strategy, approves budgets, and ensures 501(c)(3) compliance. Meets quarterly.
What it decides
- Annual budget and the allocation of donated funds across programmes
- Legal and tax compliance, including the annual return
- Appointment and removal of officers
- Acceptance of restricted gifts, sponsorships and grants
How people join
Directors are elected by the sitting board and serve fixed terms. Directors with a financial interest in a matter recuse themselves from the decision.
Technical Steering Committee (TSC)
Governs technical direction, approves major architectural changes, and manages the release process.
What it decides
- Architecture changes that cross component boundaries
- Which components are part of the supported platform
- Release scope, timing and the deprecation of public interfaces
- Appointment of core maintainers
How people join
Seats are earned through sustained technical contribution, not purchased. Sponsorship and membership confer no seat and no vote.
Working Groups
Focused groups for specific areas: Security, Documentation, Education, Hardware Certification, and Community.
What it decides
- Day-to-day direction within their own area
- Standards and review criteria the wider project then follows
- Proposals escalated to the TSC when they cross into other areas
How people join
Open to anyone who turns up and does the work. No membership, employer or donation is required to join or to be heard.
Core Maintainers
Engineers with merge rights to core EoS repositories. Appointed by the TSC based on contribution history.
What it decides
- Whether a change is merged into the repository they maintain
- Code review standards and the test bar for their component
- Security fixes under coordinated disclosure
How people join
Appointed by the TSC on the strength of a public contribution record. Merge rights follow demonstrated review judgement, not employment.
Legal Information
Core Principles
The Internal Revenue Service publishes its own record of every exempt organization. Confirm the details above independently by searching the Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 41-4821627. Full registration details, the use-of-funds policy and the financial reporting timetable are on the transparency page.