Movement roles project/Chapters

Please help improve these draft parameters through edits or suggestions on the talk page.

• Name: Wikimedia National or Sub-national Chapter

• Mission: To support and promote the Wikimedia projects in general with regards to a specified geographical region or country. Like the Wikimedia Foundation, they aim to empower and engage people around the world to collect and develop educational content under a free license or in the public domain, and to disseminate it effectively and globally. (From Wikimedia chapters)

• Territorial range: National or sub-national

• Incorporation: Legally registered. Pursuing non-profit status where available.

• Minimum rights:

1. WM trademark use for most purposes within country of operation, including fundraising and publicity
2. Recognition as representatives of the movement within country of operation
3. A voice in the selection of two Foundation trustees every two years
4. Participation in annual decision-making conference of all chapters
5. Simplified access to grants

• Minimum duties:

1. Active work
2. Publishing an annual report as per Reporting Requirements
3. Fulfilling movement-wide accountability standards
4. Support our common global goals with local means
5. Development of a sustainable, independent regional non-profit
6. Within their geography: support of community projects, fundraising coordination, grant and partnership development[1], oversight of PR and media; representing the Wikimedia movement and its interests at public events and in government discussions

• Trademark use: For most purposes within geography, including fundraising and publicity, via agreement with the WMF.

• Origin of funds: Multiple. Fundraising agreements with WMF, WMF grants, member fees, donations, external grants

• Relationship with overlapping entities: Wikimedia chapters are expected to play a coordinating role within their respective geographies, and this is a distinctive role they play among Wikimedia organizations. Entities in a country are not in a hierarchy, but need to agree how to co-exist in a geography to streamline their communication and avoid duplicate work.

• Board and membership: Elected board with individuals willing to publicly disclose identity, a majority of whom are wikimedians. Open membership.

• Transparency and communication: Full info about organizers and supporters; see reporting requirements

• Capacity to sign agreements with third parties: Yes, in country of operation

• Recognition from: WMF Board of Trustees, with recommendations from the Affiliations Committee

• Minimum requirements for recognition:

1. Viability
   • A critical mass of active participants - at least 20 people
   • Members originating from the Wikimedia community (not all of them, but at least the majority), and accepted by the relevant local community
2. Trustworthiness:
   • A non-profit with a mission supporting all WMF projects (possibly as part of a general support for free knowledge or free culture as the stated aim) in all languages. (If there is a very good reason, an exception might be made, but don't know of any among the current chapters).
   • A history of good work within the movement
3. Openness (see Board and membership, above)

• Recognition document: WMF Board resolution (interim), supplanted by a chapters agreement with the WMF

• Reporting requirements:
• Looking back:
  • The current Chapters Agreement: "8.1. The chapter shall supply a written activity and financial report in English at least once a year to the Foundation, within four months of each chapter year end."
  • Draft Accountability Standards
• Looking forward:
  • Publish or link to the organization's annual plan.

• Mentoring and support: Affiliations Committee.

• Change of status possible: Yes

• Withdrawal of recognition: WMF Board of Trustees, if necessary.

• Examples: 39 existing chapters

• Other considerations:

  Optional right: Eligibility for direct processing of donations from site-banner fundraisers; tied to experience and capacity, and to the duty of helping support fundraiser messaging, translation, and follow-up. Actively exercised in 2009-2011; limited by Board resolution of March 2012 to four chapters.

  Optional right: Eligibility for longer-term infrastructure grants; tied to size, capacity and activity.

  Optional right: Receiving in-kind support to build capacity and develop skills; tied to activity and need.