[1][2][3] The repository was founded in recognition of the need for a service to support access to and sharing of DNA-based research materials among the scientific community.

The organization covers the operating costs of maintaining and improving the collection by charging a nominal fee to scientists requesting plasmids.

[6] As of 2024, the collection had grown to a size of over 147,000 plasmids, and had provided services to over 2 million vectors to over 110 different countries.

Addgene collaborates with institutes and consortia to curate plasmid collections for specific purposes.

In 2020, Addgene received funding from Fast Grants to subsidize the cost of reagents for COVID-19 research.