By Mathew, Hack Club New Jersey to Neksha Silva, Organizer at HackClub Colombo / Sri Lanka If there’s one thing we know at Hack Club, it’s that the best way to learn is by building. Whether it’s a web app, a hardware project, or a literal rocket, the magic happens when you stop reading the manual and start getting your hands dirty. That’s why I’m so stoked to talk about the OpenRockets Foundation and their partnership with The Hack Foundation (you probably know us better as just Hack Club). What’s the Big Deal? Running a global open-source project isn't just about writing clean code; it's a massive administrative headache. You need a bank account, tax-exempt status, and a way to handle donations without the IRS knocking on your door. That’s where HCB (Hack Club Bank) comes in. By providing fiscal sponsorship, Hack Club gives OpenRockets the legal backbone of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This means: Tax-Deductible Magic: Supporters can donate to OpenRockets, and those contributions are tax-deductible in the U.S. Financial Superpowers: The team gets physical and virtual debit cards, automatic tax filing, and built-in transparency tools. Transparency Mode: Ever wonder where a nonprofit’s money actually goes? OpenRockets can flip a switch and make their finances public, so the community knows exactly how every dollar is spent. OpenRockets in the Wild OpenRockets isn't just sitting in a basement—they’re taking over. In late 2025, they supported student teams at the NASA Space Apps Challenge in Colombo and launched the OpenRockets Magazine, a platform that reimagines STEM through a student lens. They’ve even expanded into 3D collaborative worlds with projects like CityofGits. Why We Love It At Hack Club, we’re a community of 60,000+ teenagers who believe that age shouldn't be a barrier to innovation. Seeing the OpenRockets Foundation use our HCB infrastructure to empower developers in places like Sri Lanka and beyond is exactly why we built this platform.