The Free Software Foundation (FSF) was founded by Richard Stallman in response to increasing concerns about the growing dominance of proprietary software in the computing world. Stallman, a software developer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), became aware that the restrictions imposed by proprietary software limited users' freedoms to interact with the software they relied on for their work. This realization led him to advocate for a model of software distribution that prioritized user rights and collaboration over corporate control.

Established in Boston, Massachusetts, the FSF focused on promoting the principles of free software—software that grants users the freedom to run, study, change, and share it. At the core of the FSF's mission was the belief that access to software should not be restricted by ownership rights imposed by companies. The foundation also launched the GNU Project, aiming to develop a free Unix-like operating system, which later became a model for many open-source projects that followed.

The FSF's formation marked a pivotal moment in the software industry's development, as it laid the groundwork for various movements that championed user rights and software freedom. The foundation provided resources, advocacy, and a platform for developers to collaborate on projects that adhered to its revolutionary vision. The concept of free software began to gain traction, laying the foundation for the open-source movement that would follow in the late 1990s and 2000s, which brought about significant changes in how software was created and distributed across the globe, emphasizing community and transparency in development processes.

Additionally, the FSF's regular campaigns and initiatives aimed at increasing awareness of software freedom have had a lasting impact, influencing both policy and ethical discussions about technology and user rights. Through the years, the FSF has worked to ensure that free software remains a viable and vibrant choice for users and developers alike.