The Wikimedia Foundation:
- hosts Wikimedia project websites and content with a core responsibility of keeping the projects running and protecting them from threats (legal or otherwise)
- convenes the global movement
- works alongside other Wikimedian movement groups and entities to achieve the goals of the movement
- owns trademarks, which it can license to other Wikimedian groups and entities and other external partners
- coordinates global projects, public relations and fundraising
- manages global flows of funds among groups and entities
- creates decision-making processes for the Wikimedia movement, e.g. which groups and entities to recognize, which movement goals to adopt
- creates effective, efficient, transparent, responsive and legitimate decision-making bodies for the Wikimedia movement
National and sub-national chapters:
- are legally registered within their jurisdiction as a nonprofit (or equivalent) and recognized as a charity
- authorized to use the Wikimedia name for non-commercial purposes by the Wikimedia Foundation via a Board resolution and a chapter agreement
- organize volunteer action and administer funds to support movement goals globally and locally, as agreed with the worldwide movement
- lead programs within their jurisdiction in harmony with movement goals
- collaborate with other Wikimedia movement groups and entities that act in their jurisdiction
- may seek grants from the Wikimedia Foundation to support their program activities
- may seek donations from individuals and foundations using the Wikimedia name within their jurisdiction once a chapter agreement is in place [3]
Wikimedia Partner Organizations:
- are legally registered, preferably as a nonprofit (or equivalent), recognized as a charity
- bring together Wikimedians with a specific interest, such as a language, culture, or field
- need not operate within geographical boundaries
- seek grants from WMF and chapters to complete programs
- support and work in harmony with movement goals
- are authorized to use the Wikimedia name by the Wikimedia Foundation under a contractual agreement
Other geographic groups, and possibly preparing to become Chapters or Partner Organizations:
- can raise money in their territory, but not directly via site-wide fundraisers
- lead programs locally which support movement goals locally
- seek grants from WMF and chapters to complete programs
- may engage in an agreement to use the Wikimedia name
- work closely with any chapters or other group or entity active in an overlapping region
Wikimedia Associations:
- form with minimal overhead, by maintaining a wiki or webpage with their goals, and publishing their contact information.
- support and work in harmony with movement goals
- are recognized by a Wikimedia-wide group tracking associations
- may seek grants from WMF or other recognized groups for their programs
- may engage in an agreement to use the Wikimedia name
Allies of Wikimedia:
- form independent from Wikimedia.
- not recognized by any authority
- may not directly seek grants
- may not use the Wikimedia name
- may evolve into a Wikimedia Association
Details for separate doc:
Wikimedia groups and entities are accountable TO:
- the part of the movement that they are trying to support (e.g. a Wikimedia project in Ruritania);
- the rest of the Wikimedia movement (e.g. to the Wikimedia Foundation board);
- their participants (e.g. the members of Wikimedia Ruritania or the members of Blind Wikimedians);
- their relevant Wikimedia communities (e.g., Wikimedians in Ruritania or Wikimedians who are blind); and
- their broader population (e.g. the people and government of Ruritania or blind people worldwide).
Wikimedia groups and entities are accountable FOR:
- adhering to the shared principles of the movement outlined above
- helping the movement towards its goals
- fulfilling roles and responsibilities agreed with the worldwide movement
- managing the resources (e.g., trademarks, money, goodwill of the movement) that the movement grants them
- governing themselves in a manner that maximizes accountability to those the group or entity is accountable to
- accounting publicly for funds received and used
- stating publicly the planned actions in an annual plan and budget
- stating publicly what they did, documenting their activities
- ensuring activities are ethical and legal
Wikimedia groups and entities are accountable THROUGH:
- Public reporting: local and global
- Reports on changes in governance
- Timely annual reports of financial accounts (audited for entities of a certain size)
- Pro-active reporting on problems and issues encountered, as appropriate for the level of resources
- One or more review bodies that support accountability
- Organizations to maintain internal self-regulation and review process against a set of accountability measures developed by the entity's Board
- Movement-level group to conduct peer review of entities/groups based on agreed standards[4] with the ability to recommend actions[5]
Roles and responsibilities of movement groups
- Wikimedia groups and entities can take on roles and responsibilities step-by-step, as they grow, e.g.:
- social activities and conferences;
- formal representation of Wikimedia movement, for example to other institutions or the press, in coordination globally;
- support for proper use of copyright; and
- leading and planning global programs in a coordinated fashion with WMF/other groups playing global roles.
- [Make the movement organizationally scale (e.g. fundraising)]
- Groups monitor and report on their own progress, and work with community audit groups.
- Q (AW): Is this meant to be obligatory only for groups, not for entities?
- Roles and responsibilities are agreed to publicly via documents such as this charter.
- There should be more detailed documents providing guidance and expectations for each class of movement group.
