User:Mike Cline/USCAN Working Group Drafts/Phase I Task Forces/U.S. Canada Education Program Proposed Structure/Meeting II

Desired Effects

By November 30th, 2012 a proposed legal or informal entity structure is fully coordinated and documented in a manner to support initiation in Phase II and assume full responsibility for the US-Canada Education Program in May 2013. The proposal may include alternative recommendations with Pros and Cons for the adoption of any particular recommendation.

Activities

Carefully considered the pros and cons of three possible overall structural options: (1) a thematic nonprofit, (2) a general nonprofit, and (3) a Pilot project of the Wikimedia Foundation (not separate).

1. Thematic non-profit organization

This structure option would see an incorporated non-profit organization established. The organization could also pursue incorporation or registration in Canada for purposes of permitting Canadian citizens to contribute to the organization while still obtaining individual tax benefits from doing so.

Pros

• The Fund Dissemination Committee (which has substantial resources) could accept and fund a proposal from the organization.[Question: how much money can realistically be obtained this way?]
• Broader possibilities for raising money from donors who want to focus their donation impact in the United States.
• Program and stakeholders have control over the program (independence)
• Recognizes that the Foundation would like to spin this off, and feels that it can't make this project a priority

Cons

• Cannot make use of existing structures such as the legal support, accounting, fundraising, etc. of the WMF. Where WMF would create economies of scale, this may cause duplication of effort.
• The Working Group lacks experience and expertise in some important dimensions, although the planning process can incorporate plans to obtain that experience and expertise.
• A closed system leaves less of a scope for bottom-up volunteer participation, and there is a disadvantage to starting a new organization without direct Wikipedia community involvement.
• RJ: Canadian tax law requires the recipient to be incorporated in Canada and BASED in Canada as well. that will not be feasible.

Questions to Address

• How long should the transition be to full independence? May or would later be better?
• What should the exact theme be? Do we want to include close ties with museums and libraries?
• What sort of relationship should the organization have with US regional chapters?

2. General non-profit organization

Like the above, but based at a general-purpose Wikimedia United States Federation, Inc, on the model of international Wikimedia chapters like Wikimedia Germany and its financial planning processes. Its structure includes professional central coordination (which can partner with other English-speaking chapters like Wikimedia Canada andWikimedia UK), and also local community-based efforts. This would combine supporting national education coordination with the complementary cultural coordination of a GLAM-Wiki US Consortium (for the Galleries, Libraries, Archives & Museums initiative). See also: Wikimedia Education Program proposal by Wikimedia DC.

Pros

• The Fund Dissemination Committee (which has substantial resources) could accept and fund a proposal from the organization. [Question: how much money can realistically be obtained this way?]
• Possibilities for raising money from donors interested in the US
• Program and stakeholders have control over the program (independence)
• Recognizes that the Foundation would like to spin this off, and feels that it can't make this project a priority
• Allows greater volunteer participation
• Allows broader definition of educational participation from libraries and museums

Cons

• Longer-term plan with no certainty or control over the US Federation's formation
• Potential for geographic jealousy and impressions of undue U.S. hegemony

3. Pilot project of the Wikimedia Foundation, not separate

Convince the Wikimedia Foundation to retain the US/CAN Education Program within the Foundation for the time being in order to permit completion of longer-term plans to turn the Education Program over to an in-development future North American geographic-based organization, or to establish the structure needed for an independent organization.

Pros

• Initial Funding
• Established working structure (legal, fundraising, accounting, payroll) ~ efficiencies due to non duplication of effort
• Access to people with needed expertise, existing employees could be retained under same structure

Cons

• Limited by objectives and priorities of Wikimedia Foundation and its priorities
• Without a policy change, would not be able to accept earmarked money
• Some donors would rather give money to a US focused program (so less easy to raise money ~ untapped potential here)
• Foundation likes to encourage volunteers and wants to avoid a perception that they want to control all activities

General Recommendation

The Structure Task Force recommends that the education program structure be established as a thematic non-profit organization, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) under the US tax code, with the understanding that transition to independent operation should not be implemented until the components necessary for successful independent operation are completed. Cooperation with Canadian universities may be pursued in partnership with Wikimedia Canada.

Remaining Work and Questions

• Governance structure of the new organization: How should members of the board of directors be selected or elected? These should ideally be drawn from a broad representation of the program, including participating academics, as well as campus ambassadors and online ambassadors.
• Staff: Should there be an executive director or CEO? What additional staff are needed? Employees or Consultants? Compensation structure to attract and retain staff that will most facilitate success for the organization?
• Should the organization initially begin as a member organization of the Wikimedia United States Federation (to be established before the end of 2012)? Note that the Wikimedia United States Federation will include as members several other incorporated and unincorporated regional and thematic Wikimedia-affiliated organizations in the US. Membership in the Wikimedia United States Federation could ensure eligibility of access to the WMF Funds Distribution Committee budget.

DStrassmann (talk) 03:20, 19 September 2012 (UTC)