The Foundation was formed by GitLab, Inc. as part of its mission to create a world in which everyone can contribute. The company leadership felt it was important to support organizations that could further this goal on a global scale. When GitLab, Inc. [went public](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/being-a-public-company/#:~:text=GitLab began trading on the,part of realizing our mission.) in October 2021, it dedicated 1% of its shares to further this aim. The GitLab Foundation is an independent private foundation. While it was formed by and is associated with GitLab, Inc., the Foundation operates independently of the company, including having its own President and CEO and strategy. The Foundation board is partially composed of GitLab, Inc. executives (Sid Sijbrandij, Brian Robins and Robin Schulman) and partially composed of independent board members.
When GitLab Inc. committed 1% of its shares to the Foundation, Sid Sijbrandij made a personal commitment to match those contributions personally or through his family foundation, the Sijbrandij Foundation.