Supporters
Guide
Mission:
To Create, Protect, and Promote American Jobs and Companies
through Innovation and Commercialization.
(Inv)+(Ino)=P2
Table of Contents
1.About the Foundation
2.Key Board Members
3.Supporters
4.Donations and Endowments
5.Innovation Park
6.Award Series and Summits
7.Software
America has in its DNA the spirit of Innovation and
Commercialization. America is the engine of the
industrial and technological ages.
Invention + Innovation = Prosperity
About the Foundation
Active Programs:
America has in its DNA the spirit of Innovation and Commercialization. America is the engine
of the 20th and 21st Century industrial and technological ages. The America we live in and
need to grow and preserve is the America with the passion to create businesses that scale to
commercial powerhouses that create jobs and security for generations to come.
America’s way back to prosperity and jobs will not just be through the growth of the great
companies of our grandparents, mothers and fathers. Rust-belt industries of the past must
innovate to return jobs and opportunities to Americans.
We are still in a transition from the industrial age to that of the information and technology age.
We must innovate and realize that technology and manufacturing are the life’s blood of our
opportunity to keep at the top of the industrialized world.
We must lift up and nurture the growth of our fellow Americans that have the innovative spirit
to bring America forward into the future. This is our mission.
Mission Statement:
The Tesla Foundation’s mission is to create, promote and protect American jobs and businesses
through Innovation and Commercialization.
Business Statement:
Through the power of research and education to create, promote, and protect American Jobs
and Companies with Innovation and the steps needed for Commercialization, The Tesla
Foundation will accomplish its goals, on a non-profit basis, utilizing the combined efforts of its
research labs and facilities, education labs, high level educational events and summits, and
software development.
(1) Complete the funding for the Foundation’s operating expenses and build-out of the Tesla
Innovation Park in Silicon Beach.
(2) The Tesla Foundation Group has established a series of live audience educational programs
designed to be informative and entertaining. The Foundation’s “Invention and Innovation Series”
is an eclectic group of successful Inventors & Innovators who are leaders in each of their respective
fields of expertise. Twice a year the Tesla Inventors and Innovators Series presents the work and
success of an individual presenting his or her Inventions and Innovations in the Arts, Sciences
and Engineering.
(3) Complete the funding and building of the TeslaIndex.com software, which will allow Inventors,
Innovators and people with a great Idea to securely share and develop their projects.
The Tesla Foundation’s Process for Ideas, Inventions and Innovation:
Every foundation has a business model and methods for fund raising to support their particular cause
and most foundations are continually in a fund raising mode in order to sustain their existence. The Tesla
Foundation has developed a non-profit business model that is a self-sustainable platform with reoccurring
donation and endowment streams that continuously flow to the Foundation’s support of inventive and
innovative people and projects. We have all seen the television program “American Idol”, and think about
how it has changed the landscape for young singers to be discovered through a national search and test
process that allows the best of the best be discovered by a huge audience. The Tesla Foundation is doing
just that. People and companies with a great idea, invention or innovation will use the Tesla Foundation’s
non-profit research and education facilities and services to turn dreams to realities, jobs, and companies
for America.
Key Board Members
Chairman: Wil Cashen
Mr. Cashen has been an inventor and innovator throughout his
entire life. Growing up in Indiana, he helped his Dad restore antique
airplanes in the family garage. Early days spent stitching wings
and watching his Dad start an old Continental 225hp radial engine
from their 1930’s Stearman, sparked a never ending curiosity for
invention and innovation. He became obsessed with the engineering and design of
things, and while in high school designed a multiple stage axial flow supercharger from
old turbocharger parts. At an early age Mr. Cashen attended the University Notre Dame
studying Industrial Design, Mathematics and Art.
After greatly expanding his knowledge for technology and aviation in the Air Force, Mr.
Cashen continued his passion-driven studies in Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Applied
Mathematics, Physics, and Art. These studies led him to create a micro-manufacturing
facility producing an exact re-creation of the Porsche 550 Spyder of 1954-56. The project
was a success creating several cars that are still on the road some 30 years later.
Mr. Cashen’s passion for innovation and invention led him to begin consulting for
companies and government agencies such as Ford, GM, Chrysler and NASA. His early
work with Porsche Aviation creating intercooler designs and engine system components
helped to shape like designs and systems for Piper and Cessna Aircraft companies in
creating FAA flight approved components and systems.
His drive for innovation continued when he moved his family to Detroit. While in Detroit,
Mr. Cashen founded a robotics software and hardware engineering company that
helped to revolutionize the auto industries, engine components testing, and added great
value to vehicle manufacturing automation. His company was an active force in the
auto industries change from fluid actuation and control to electromechanical robotics
for the production of components and parts for cars and trucks. He sold his stake in the
company in 1992.
On moving to California, Mr. Cashen, and the well-known television personality Jay
Leno, worked on the production of a television program on the manufacturing of the
Porsche Spyder and then set the World’s “closed-course” speed record for a production Porsche
GT with Jay Leno at the wheel.
In 2008, at the beginning of the World’s financial collapse, expanding on over 35 years in the
automotive OEM industry, and countless innovations and inventions, Mr. Cashen set out to help
the American auto industry to build electric and hybrid vehicles. Mr. Cashen took up temporary
residence in Indiana, the place he grew up, striving to create hundreds of manufacturing jobs.
Working with the DOE’s EV and PHEV grant program, Mr. Cashen designed and built the first allelectric F150 pickup truck. However, in late 2009, the American auto industry all but collapsed.
This was the touchstone for a new beginning for Mr. Cashen. As a researcher for over twenty
years on the life of Nikola Tesla, and Mr. Tesla’s inventions such as AC Current and Radio, and
with the recent advent of Tesla Motors, Mr. Cashen decided that it was time to do more for the
America that he loved. Mr. Cashen’s desire is for America to bring back much of its now lost
off-shore manufacturing, and energize its industries with new and reborn American innovations
and talent for the creation of a sustainable future.
Mr. Cashen is a true serial entrepreneur and innovator. His lifelong passion for invention and
innovation was the inspiration for the Co-Founding of the Tesla Foundation Group. He is
committed to the success of building an American system to aid all people young or old, to seize
upon their ideas and innovations, create new products and services to help build and protect
American jobs and grow American companies. The legacy of this work, the Tesla Foundation
Group, is now Mr. Cashen’s life’ passion.
CEO: Keith Kaplan
Born in New York City, from an early age Mr. Kaplan was surrounded
by his father’s love of architecture art and music. Some of his earliest
memories are watching his architect father working late at night
rendering and designing skyscrapers so tall as to kiss the Manhattan
sky. These experiences inspired him for a lifetime of creativity and
invention.
Mr. Kaplan at the age of four and a half started playing guitar with a passion. By age 15
he was accepted and given a scholarship to the California Institute of the Arts and moved
to Los Angeles, California, to study music, art, and technology. After attending Cal Arts Mr.
Kaplan continued his university studies by adding computer science and business to his
formal education.
After college Mr. Kaplan played, performed and produced music all over the world with
such acts and producers as: Ravi Coltrane, Jay Baumgardner, Steve Jones, The Chili
Peppers, Jacob Dylan, Prince, Guns and Roses, Even Rude, and Linkin Park. In 1996
Mr. Kaplan, always on the forefront of the use of computers in music and art, was given a
position at the Los Angeles Times/Recycler as the Sr. Creative Coordinator/ Technology
Consultant to manage the production staff and work on the creation of one of the very
first classified websites in the world “Recycler.com”. While at the Los Angeles Times, Mr.
Kaplan worked on advertising campaigns with some of the biggest advertising agencies
and corporations in the world.
In 1999 Mr. Kaplan was offered the position of Executive Vice President & Creative Director
at the Advertising Agency Creative Couch and over saw all creative and technology
strategies for the company and managed the creative and technology teams for agency
clients. The client list of record consisted of Proctor and Gamble, Viacom, Warner Brothers,
among others. In 2001 Mr. Kaplan formed his own full service creative and technology
consultancy, KKMedia. Mr. Kaplan’s company supported some of the Top Fortune 100
and 500 companies in the world, such as: Monster.com, Lexus, Fox & American Idol,
Universal Studios, Starwood Hotels, Toyota, UCLA, and Yahoo. Mr. Kaplan’s vision
in design, marketing, branding and technology, combined with his understanding of
interactive entertainment, made himself and his firm much sought after creative resources.
Mr. Kaplan’s company was successfully sold in 2007 to Public Media, with Mr. Kaplan
becoming a board member.
Mr. Kaplan has spent his entire life inventing, innovating, composing music and art,
programming computers and software, and has built many original musical instruments
on and off computers. His passion for Co-Founding the Tesla Foundation in only matched
by his passion for his family and friends.
Executive Board Member, Legal Counsel: Jeffrey Glover ESQ
Mr. Glover is an accomplished International Attorney, Strategic Consultant
and Corporate Executive. Mr. Glover has the proven ability to develop,
analyze and negotiate innovative business deals, develop and maintain
corporate strategy, provide seasoned advice to clients and senior
management, and effectively manage strategic partners, staff and outside
counsel, on both a domestic and international basis.
He is the founder of WaveCrestLaw & Consultancy which typically serves as a Strategic Consultant
and/or General Counsel to its clients, directly handling complex business, licensing, IP & new
media matters in which the practice has substantial expertise. As a recognized expert in the
global new media & entertainment industry, Mr. Glover’s legal and business articles have been
published in many influential publications, including: Journal of the Copyright Society of the USA,
Journal of Media Law and Practice (UK), The Hollywood Reporter, Whittier Law Review, and the
ASCAP Copyright Law Symposium.
Mr. Glover has a rich history of innovation in developing cutting–edge projects at the crossroads
of Entertainment and New Communication Technologies. He is a pioneer in integrating major
Strategy, Branding, Programming and Launch Programs for such paradigm-shifting companies as:
TiVo (1st DVR), Orbit Satellite Network (1st All Digital SatNetwork), AOL Plus (1st AOL Broadband
Service) and Intertainer (1st VOD Service).
Further, Mr. Glover has played a critical role in launching new Digital Services and Online DSL
platforms worldwide for companies such as: Intel Corporation, BSkyB & British Telecom (UK), DF1
& Deutsche Telecom (Germany), Zuku Programming (UK & East Africa), Wizja Digital (Poland),
Emirates Media (UAE), Telefonica & Via Digital (Spain) and DirecTV Latin America.
Additionally, Jeffrey has played a key role in developing cutting edge Website development &
production deals and Online e-commerce programs & Multi-Media Branding, Marketing, IP and
Advertising Agreements with companies such as: ABC, CNN, CBS, Disney Online, The New York
Times Company, Sony Online Entertainment, Electronic Arts, ESPN, MTV, The Grammy Awards,
HBO, NOW & PCCW (Hong Kong), Ralph Lauren, J-Sports & Shop Channel (Japan), Toshiba
and Warner Bros., to name a few.
Mr. Glover earned his post-graduate Master of Philosophy degree in International Relations &
International Law from the University of Cambridge, where he completed his Master’s Thesis on
Emerging International Copyright Laws and New Distribution Technologies; and his Juris Doctor
degree from Whittier College School of Law, where he was a published member of the Law
Review, and was awarded a First Prize, and a US National Prize, in the prestigious ASCAP Nathan
Burkan Memorial Competition in Copyright Law. Jeffrey is an active member of: the California
Bar Association, Cambridge University Alumni Association, and the Hughes Hall Graduate
Law Society. Jeffrey also sits on the Board of Advisors for various non-profit organizations and
commissions such as: Arts Olympus, Island of Tolerance, UCLArts and Healing, and the County
of Los Angeles Commission on Human Relations: Project One.
Executive Board Member, Finacial Advisor: Tom Marchesello
Mr. Marchesello is an economic strategist and professional deal maker and
delivers proprietary investment opportunities to the biggest industrialist
families and multi-billion dollar private equity funds. He has built a reputation
as the ‘Billionaire Whisperer’ for how he advises over 20 billionaire
investors and places over $2 Billion a year into profitable and growing
US manufacturing, distribution, and service businesses generating strong
recurring cash income streams. His unique perspective on how Billionaires
and Major Corporations make investment decisions and value assets make him a connection
point for top investors looking to identify trends years ahead of the competition.
As the Director of Bainbridge Capital he leads the acquisitions teams involved with private equity
& venture capital by developing investment strategies and industry targeting analysis to locate
the best profitable small to middle market American companies in energy, aerospace, industrial
systems, logistics, consumer goods, real estate and technology.
Supporters
MaJor Supporters:
Former Head of NASA - Daniel Goldin
Vice Chairman General Atomics - Linden Blue
Mr. Marchesello is experienced at business macro and micro economic modeling, using big
data anlytics and physics to visualize investment patterns, building and balancing double sided
marketplaces and exchanges, packaging & syndicating investment opportunities, and negotiating
sales & distribution channel partnerships for portfolio companies.
Mr. Marchesello graduated from Pennsylvania State University with degrees in Finance and
Economics and also has an MBA from San Diego State University. Mr. Marchesello has a 20
year track record of business operations, innovation, and commercialization with such companies
as: Sony, Morgan Stanley, Thompson Reuters, and was a former Captain in US Air Force Space
Command. Mr. Marchesello serves on the Board of Advisors of local e-commerce and consumer
goods companies such as PetBox, and mentors through his support of The San Diego Economic
Development Council, Kaufman Foundation, Founders Institute, and the Nikola Tesla Foundation.
Fredrick Smith - Founder of FedEx
John Travolta - Actor/Aviator
T. Denny Sanford - Inventor of the No Load Mutual Fund
Dana Rohrabacher - United States Congressman
Donations and Endowments
Research Lab agreements, Case Study agreements, Donations and Endowments provide
funding to create educational research labs, case study labs, educational materials, facility
support, systems software, systems hardware, online educational materials, and events and
summits. Additionally funding is used for supporting the operation of the Tesla Foundation Group
organization.
Tesla Foundation Research Lab Levels:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Tesla Innovation Lab Floor Program
Tesla Innovation Lab 60% Floor Space Program Tesla Innovation Lab 30% Floor Space Program Tesla Innovation Lab 50% Shared Floor Space Program Donations to the Tesla Foundation are tax deductible.
$ 2,000.000
$ 1,550.000
$ 800.000
$ 650.000
Large Corporate or Individual Donation Support Programs:
•
•
•
Some Benefits
Tesla Foundation Innovation Park – Support for the Facilities
Tesla Index – Support for the technology structure for the Foundation
Tesla Foundation Group – Support for the Foundation
Individual Donation Levels:
Elite Sponsorship$50,000+
Platinum Sponsorship$20,000+
Gold Sponsorship$10,000+
Silver Sponsorship$5,000+
Bronze Sponsorship$0 - 2,500+
*The Tesla Foundation has filed as a 501(c)(3) – Please use the Tax ID 06-1805850
The Foundation understands that you (your estate) can receive an estate tax deduction
for making a bequest of qualified retirement plan accounts and traditional IRAs that would
otherwise be taxed as income to your heirs as they receive it and negate the adverse income
tax consequences to the individual beneficiaries, please review with your CPA.
Gift planning permits you to leave an indelible mark on the future of the United States. You can
accomplish this in various ways, depending on the circumstances, through wills, trusts, and
other planning options. You can make a general contribution to the Foundation’s endowment
or designate it for specific programs, acquisition of facilities and equipment, or professional
support and services. We invite you to establish your companies or personal legacy.
Innovation Park
Award and Summit Series
The Tesla Foundation Innovation Park
The Tesla Foundation Awards and Summits Series
The Tesla Innovation Park – an independent non-profit research and education think
tank facility for inventors and innovators to work together with industry and capital to
commercialize their products and services. The Innovation Park is managed with high
security and an enterprise level software system that provides a secure transfer of
innovation and technology to industry.
The Tesla Foundation has established a series of non-profit live audience programs
designed to be informative and entertaining. The “Invention and Innovation Series
Events” are held twice a year with an eclectic group of successful Inventors and
Innovators who are leaders in each of their fields of expertise. Twice a year the Tesla
Inventors and Innovators Series presents the work and success of an individual
presenting his or her Inventions and Innovations in the Arts, Sciences and Engineering.
Tesla Foundation’s Innovation Park is immediately pursuing corporations to sponsor,
subscribe and take-up residency in one of the following Tesla Innovation Labs:
• The Connected Car (The New World of Infotainment and Mobile Big Data)
• Autonomous Machines (UAVs, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence)
• Big Data Cyber Security and Privacy (Big Data Encryption and New Security
Measures)
• Media Applications for Thin Film Screens (Publishing Adopting a Digital
Replacement for the Magazine)
• Media in Retail (Integration of the Television and Film Industries into the In-Store
Retail Space)
• The Connected Building (The New World of Big Data and buildings)
• Applications for Innovation Lab Residencies.
In March of this year Linden Blue was the recipient of the award for “Innovation in
Aeronautics and Energy”. This red carpet event was held at the private air museum of
General Lyon at the John Wayne Airport.
This successful event was supported by notable individuals in support of the Tesla
Foundation and of Mr. Blue. Such individuals of mention are; Former Joint Chief of
Staff General Pace, the longest standing Head Administrator of NASA Daniel Goldin,
Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, and many wonderful and intelligent members of
the community.
Software
(Inv)+(Ino)=P2
The Tesla Foundation Index
A web based non-profit enterprise level software service for inventors and innovators
to list their ideas, their innovations, their provisional patent abstracts, and patent
abstracts. From this listing, American Industry and Capital can identify opportunities
to commercialize.
• Creates an enterprise level software platform to assists inventors and innovators
in creating the necessary best practice and legal requirements to list their work
on the index for industry and capital to reference.
• Creates a national index through an enterprise level software platform for
industry and capital to subscribe to and reference in the search for inventions
and innovation relevant to specific criteria and commercial goals.
• Streamlines the process of linking inventors and innovators to industry and
capital reducing costs and time needed to create jobs and companies for
America.
Invention + Innovation = Prosperity
Contact Us
Tesla Foundation Group
9601 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1174
Beverly Hills, California 90210
866. 691.7776
www.teslafoundationgroup.org
America has in its DNA the spirit of Innovation and
Commercialization. America is the engine of the
industrial and technological ages.
T
ESLA
Foundation Group
Wednesday, January 22, 2014 To Whom It May Concern: The Tesla Foundation Group (TFG) has filed for non-­‐for profit status on March 28th of 2013 as exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and classified as a public charity under IRC Sections 509(a)(1) and convenience. 170(b)(1)(A)(vi). Due to two government shutdowns the TFG is operating as a non-­‐for profit organization under the Grant Sponsorship of the non-­‐for profit Center for Advancing Sustainable Architecture (CASA) which is in good standing qualified as exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and classified as a public charity under IRC Sections 509(a)(1) and convenience. 170(b)(1)(A)(vi). Enclosed in this set of documents are the verification and certifications needed by TFG to accept donations and gifts as a non-­‐for profit organization. Please use the Tax Identification Number: 06-­‐1805850 Thank you, Keith Kaplan CEO/TFG 9601 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1174 Beverly Hills, CA 90210 | phone: 866.691.7776 January 20, 2014
Subject: Fiscal Sponsorship Status
Dear Gift Donor
This letter is to confirm to you that A Center Advancing Sustainable Architecture (CASA) is the “Fiscal
Sponsor” for the Tesla Foundation Group’s (TFG). As such, TFG may collect donations and / or
sponsorship financial gifts for the benefit of its CASA approved charitable program. Therefore TFG can
accept your donation in support of the Tesla Foundation Group’s “Nikola Tesla Invention Series
Program”.
CASA’s efforts to build a sustainable future for the world are closely aligned with the principles and
mission of the Tesla Foundation Group. CASA fully supports and is proud to be the Fiscal Sponsor for
TFG.
CASA is a New Mexico nonprofit public benefit corporation in good standing qualified as exempt from
federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and classified as a
public charity under IRC Sections 509(a)(1) and convenience. 170(b)(1)(A)(vi). A copy of our federal
determination letter has been included for your use in filings. CASA has been operating as a nonprofit
for 8 years and as of this date has not received a change of status notice from the Internal Revenue
Service.
For legal and accounting purposes, CASA needs to notify you of our “variance power” over funds
donated to the Tesla Foundation Group in support of this program the “Nikola Tesla Invention Series”.
Under our fiscal sponsorship agreement with the Tesla Foundation Group, CASA retains full discretion
and control over the use of such funds to accomplish the charitable purposes for the approved program.
This power can include the unilateral right to redirect funds to a different beneficiary who can
accomplish the purposes of this TFG program if TFG cannot. (See Financial Accounting Standards
Board’s Statement No. 136. http://www.fasb.org/summary/stsum136.shtml)
Please feel free to email me at p.kaplan@casa-center.org if you have any questions.
Thank you for your interest in the TFG program.
Sincerely,
Howard M. Kaplan
President
2532 Tramway Terrace Court NE . Albuquerque, New Mexico 87122 . (505)856.7185 . www.casa.org