Movement Charter/Supplementary Document/Future Affiliate Landscape

These supplementary documents are provided by the Movement Charter Drafting Committee for information purposes, and to provide further context on the Wikimedia Movement Charter’s content. They are not part of the Charter, and therefore are not included in the ratification vote, but they have been developed during the course of the MCDC’s research and consultation process. They include several types of documents:

Information on topics related to the Charter.
Suggestions for policy or process development or consideration by the Global Council after the Charter is ratified.
Processes related to the Charter ratification vote.

Alongside the publication of the final Movement Charter version on June 10, 2024, these supplementary documents were updated on June 18, 2024.

Note: The following proposal envisions a future landscape for affiliates that acknowledges the diversity in the level of formality and organization within existing groups.

Wikimedia Movement Organizations agree to this Charter and a Wikimedia Movement Organization Membership Policy. They are expected to comply with the Wikimedia Movement principles and values.

Tier 1 Groups

Tier 1^[1] Groups are open membership groups with an established contact person and history of projects, designed to be easy to form. Tier 1 group status is subject to a vetting process based on the Wikimedia Movement Organization Membership Policy.^[2] The Tier 1 groups have received Wikimedia affiliate status, and may or may not choose to incorporate.

Rights

Have limited use of the Wikimedia trademarks for publicity related to events and projects;
Are eligible to receive movement resources for project work and organizational development after signing the agreement to comply with the funds accountability policy^[3];
Can engage in revenue generation^[4]; and
Have the right to have cases and disputes with other stakeholders reviewed according to the policy defined in the Independent Dispute Resolution.

Responsibilities

Follow the Care Responsibility towards their members and the communities and volunteers they support; and
Comply with this Charter and the Wikimedia Movement Organization Membership Policy.

Tier 2 Groups

Tier 2 Groups are groups recognised as a Wikimedia affiliate with an expected level of formalized processes and accountability structures that serve a geography or theme. They are encouraged to support the growth of other groups in Tier 1 through peer support. The Tier 2 groups have received Wikimedia affiliate status, and may or may not choose to incorporate.

Rights

Have permission to use the Wikimedia trademarks;
Are eligible to receive movement resources after signing the funds accountability policy;
Can engage in revenue generation;
Have the right to have cases and disputes with other stakeholders reviewed according to the policy defined in the Independent Dispute Resolution; and
Can be a fiscal sponsor if incorporated.

Responsibilities

Follow the Care Responsibility towards their members and the communities and volunteers they support;
Comply with this Charter and the Wikimedia Movement Organization Membership Policy; and
Can contribute to movement funds, if their fundraising capacity allows for it.

Tier 3 Groups

Tier 3 Groups are independent organizations representing the Wikimedia movement and have received Wikimedia affiliate status. Tier 3 groups support movement work focused within a geography or a theme and are encouraged to support the growth of groups in the lower tiers through peer support. Tier 3 groups, where appropriate and possible,^[5] incorporate as nonprofit organizations in their respective jurisdictions and have transparent governance structures. These groups use a name clearly linking them to Wikimedia and are then granted the use of Wikimedia trademarks for their work, publicity, and revenue generation.

Rights

Have permission to use the Wikimedia trademarks (condition to use a name clearly linking to Wikimedia);
Are eligible to receive movement resources after signing the funds accountability policy;
Can engage in revenue generation activities;
Have the right to have cases and disputes with other stakeholders reviewed according to the policy defined in the Independent Dispute Resolution; and
Can be a fiscal sponsor if incorporated.

Responsibilities

Consult other affiliates and communities also working in their geographical or thematic area;
Follow the Care Responsibility towards their members and the communities and volunteers they support;
Comply with this Charter and the Wikimedia Movement Organization Membership agreement; and
Strive to contribute to movement funds, if their fundraising capacity allows for it.

Hubs

Regional and Thematic Hubs are groups composed of Wikimedia’s Movement Organizations, partners, and communities that may be formed for a variety of purposes, such as but not limited to, coordinating work, developing revenue streams, pooling and allocating resources, mediating conflicts among members and developing strategic frameworks. They are expected to be consulted in matters linked to their field of expertise or region. Hubs are required to demonstrate a capacity for equitable member-based decision-making and ensure fair and equitable access to their resources.

Rights

Have permission to use the Wikimedia trademarks;
Are eligible to receive movement funds after signing the funds accountability policy;
Can engage in revenue generation that must be coordinated with members of the Hub;
Can be a fiscal sponsor if incorporated;
Can (re-)allocate funds to their members; and
Have the right to have cases and disputes with other stakeholders reviewed according to the policy defined in the Independent Dispute Resolution.

Responsibilities

Follow the Care Responsibility towards their members and the communities and volunteers they support;
Comply with this Charter and the Wikimedia Movement Organization Membership agreement; and
May be expected to contribute to movement funds, depending on its sources of revenue.

Notes

↑ The naming convention throughout this supplementary document is tentative, to be decided by the Global Council in the future.
↑ This is currently outlined in the supplementary documents of the Charter; it is adapted to the current affiliate landscape however. Any changes to the affiliate landscape by the Global Council would warrant an update to the Movement Organization Membership Policy.
↑ The funds accountability – or “fundraising” – policy is forthcoming and will be created by the Global Council. Among other things it will outline how accountability towards donors is implemented and how fundraising efforts should be coordinated amongst the different Wikimedia Movement Bodies to mitigate overlapping or conflicting efforts.
↑ All movement bodies involved in revenue generation will be allowed to redistribute these funds through a distribution model that fits the stakeholders involved in the entity.
↑ The MCDC advises to let go of the current defining requirement for Chapters to acquire NGO status.

[1] The naming convention throughout this supplementary document is tentative, to be decided by the Global Council in the future.

[2] This is currently outlined in the supplementary documents of the Charter; it is adapted to the current affiliate landscape however. Any changes to the affiliate landscape by the Global Council would warrant an update to the Movement Organization Membership Policy.

[3] The funds accountability – or “fundraising” – policy is forthcoming and will be created by the Global Council. Among other things it will outline how accountability towards donors is implemented and how fundraising efforts should be coordinated amongst the different Wikimedia Movement Bodies to mitigate overlapping or conflicting efforts.

[4] All movement bodies involved in revenue generation will be allowed to redistribute these funds through a distribution model that fits the stakeholders involved in the entity.

[5] The MCDC advises to let go of the current defining requirement for Chapters to acquire NGO status.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]