10. Pursuant to your website, you state you are supported by various sponsors. Provide the following information: a. Describe in detail your relationship, if any, with your sponsors. OSGeo has several types of sponsors. Foundation Sponsors ------------------- These are sponsors who provide funds for the general purposes of the foundation as a whole. Foundation sponsors are recognized on the OSGeo website and in publications, for example the OSGeo Journal. Full details for the sponsorship program and sponsor benefits are defined our on our sponsorship page (http://www.osgeo.org/sponsorship): """ OSGeo is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing a reliable home for open source geospatial software. It also serves as a vehicle for promoting open source software and is a place where the community can gather to drive ahead innovations and maturation of the technologies we collectively share. Although we have a tremendous volunteer community -- including corporations as well as individuals -- involved in the advancement of open source technologies, some things still have hard costs. To cover these costs we need your help. Your support will help ensure that OSGeo will be a sustainable and healthy organization representing open source geospatial technologies long into the future. Why Sponsor OSGeo * Your Organization Depends on OSGeo Software - Your company or government agency uses OSGeo technologies in its day-to-day work, allowing you to compete effectively and deliver services in an efficient manner. By helping sustain OSGeo you also support your current operations into the future knowing that a strong OSGeo is behind your business activities. * You represent a Community of Practice that has Adopted OSGeo Software - Communities representing a wide range of domains, from professional associations to non-government organizations, leverage OSGeo software as a critical component of their end-user applications. Your community has an interest in ensuring the software can be sustained into the future. By sponsoring OSGeo you demonstrate support for your members' software selection. * Your Goals are aligned with OSGeo's Support for Open Standards and Other Priorities - Help achieve your own organization's objectives by sponsoring OSGeo as a like-minded organization and benefit from the volunteer efforts of a rapidly growing world-wide community. * Demonstrate Your Leadership in Open Source Geospatial Technologies - By sponsoring OSGeo you will help align your business with the activities of thousands of adopters of OSGeo software around the world. As a sponsor of OSGeo, you will align your business growth with the momentum behind OSGeo in the marketplace. * Benefit from Sponsor Networking Opportunities - As a sponsor of OSGeo, you will benefit from unique opportunities to meet and share ideas with key members of OSGeo, other OSGeo sponsors and affiliated like-minded individuals and organizations. Sponsorship Levels Foundation sponsorships are available on an annual basis and offered to organizations at four different funding levels. OSGeo Sponsorship Levels Level $USD Sustaining Sponsor $50,000 Principal Sponsor $20,000 Supporting Sponsor $10,000 Associate Sponsor $3,000 Sponsorship Benefits A critical part of the success of OSGeo, is the success of organizations that partner with OSGeo. One strength of OSGeo is its ability to operate at arm's length from any single organization and, therefore, from any individual sponsor. Every sponsor is an important part of OSGeo, no matter what funding level they commit to. For this reason the benefits offered to sponsors do not compromise impartiality. In recognition of the various levels of sponsor contributions, each sponsor receives particular benefits. The benefits are outlined below and are cumulative as the amounts increase (higher levels include lower level benefits as well). Sustaining Sponsor * Top Visibility on the OSGeo Sponsors web page * Key OSGeo marketing materials feature your organization's logo * At promotion events, your organization's logo is displayed as part of the OSGeo Booth * Right to First Sponsorship Selection for the Annual OSGeo International Conference * Full-page Promotional Space on a personalized OSGeo Sponsor Page * Promotional Space on an OSGeo Sustaining Sponsor Page * Joint Press Release with OSGeo to announce Sponsorship * Invitation to Sponsor Information Exchange Event with Board of Directors following annual OSGeo International Conference * Invitation to Sponsor Networking Event with OSGeo Board of Directors and other invited guests following annual OSGeo International Conference * Right to use OSGeo Sponsor logo and promote named sponsorship level Principal Sponsor * Promotional Space on an OSGeo Principal Sponsor Page * Right to Sponsorship Selection for the Annual OSGeo International Conference (after Sustaining Sponsors) * Joint Press Release with OSGeo to announce Sponsorship * Invitation to Sponsor Information Exchange Event with Board of Directors following annual OSGeo International Conference * Invitation to Sponsor Networking Event with OSGeo Board of Directors and other invited guests following annual OSGeo International Conference * Right to use OSGeo Sponsor logo and promote named sponsorship level * Sponsor is promoted on the OSGeo Sponsors web page, with link to sponsor's Web site Supporting Sponsor * Joint Press Release with OSGeo to announce Sponsorship * Invitation to Sponsor Information Exchange Event with Board of Directors following annual OSGeo International Conference * Invitation to Sponsor Networking Event with OSGeo Board of Directors and other invited guests following annual OSGeo International Conference * Right to use OSGeo Sponsor logo and promote named sponsorship level * Sponsor is promoted on the OSGeo Sponsors web page, with link to sponsor's Web site Associate Sponsor * Right to use OSGeo Sponsor logo and promote named sponsorship level * Sponsor is promoted on the OSGeo Sponsors web page, with link to sponsor's Web site How to Sponsor To sponsor OSGeo or discuss sponsorship opportunities further, please contact: * Tyler Mitchell, Executive Director, Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) o Email: tmitchell at osgeo.org o Phone: +1-250-303-1831 """ While foundation sponsors are invoiced, there is no legal agreement in place with sponsors, and the above sponsorship guidelines defines the relationship. Project Sponsors ---------------- These are sponsors who provide funds for the specific purposes of supporting one of our software development projects. The funds are used by the project steering committee of the project to support development and promotion of the project in question. Uses have included paying for software maintance, supporting software development events (ie. Code Sprints), promotional/team building items like t-shirts, and funding internet hosting, for instance for build machines. Each project may have slightly different guidelines for their project sponsors, but they work within the general project sponsorship guidelines. Sponsors receive promotional acknowledgement. Sponsors do not control how their sponsorship funds are spent, this is decided by the project steering committees. No legal agreements are signed with project sponsors. """ Organizations will be given the opportunity to sponsor specific foundation projects through a process of Project Sponsorship. Project sponsorship is intended as a mechanism for organizations that depend on a project, or who otherwise wish to support it to provide financial support to support and sustain the project. Such project targetted funding may be used by the project steering committee of that project for a variety of activities. These include funding new features, documentation, testing, maintenance, meetings or promotion. Sponsorship Levels Organizations may provide sponsorship support in any amount of at least $500USD. Any organization providing such funding will be known as a "Sponsor" of that project. At particular levels of funding the organizations will be additionally identified with a sponsorship level. 1. Silver: $3000 USD 2. Gold: $9000 USD 3. Platinum: $27000 USD Sponsorship is considered to be an annual contribution. To remain a Gold sponsor an organization would need to continue to provide an addition $9000 USD each year. Organizations who have made a contribution in the past, but not within the last year will be known as past sponsors. Project Reponsibilities To participate in the project sponsorship program, projects must opt-in. That is the project PSC must pass a motion to participate in the program, with the understanding they will have the following responsibilities. * To maintain a prominent Sponsorship page off the main project web page listing all sponsors. The page should prioritize current sponsors by level, and clearly identify Platinum, Gold and Silver sponsors. Past sponsors should also be listed at the bottom of the page titled as Past Sponsors (at the sponsors option). Sponsors listed should include a sponsor logo or organization name with a link to the organizations web page. * To pass well documented motions for any expenditure of funds from the project sponsorship fund. * To provide clear direction (via the project chair/VP) to the OSGeo Treasurer for any payments to be made from the project sponsorship fund. * To produce a detailed annual report of activities based on the sponsorship funding to be posted on the web site, and for distribution to sponsors. As an unofficial addendum, it is required that projects either have completed incubation or receive a special exemption from the OSGeo board before entering the sponsorship program. OSGeo Finance Management Project sponsorship amounts will be held by OSGeo on behalf of the projects by the foundation treasurer (or delegate). One quarter of the sponsorship amount will be put into the general OSGeo account for any OSGeo use (such as paying hosting costs, general promotion, etc). The remaining three quarters will be put kept track of as funds only for the use of the project. OSGeo responsibilities (via the treasurer or delegate) include: * Keep clear records of sponsorship payments collected (date, sponsor, amount, special conditions). * Keep clear records of all payments out of project sponsorship funds. * Provide income, and payment details to project PSC chair/VP on request. * Make payments as requested by project PSCs when given clear directions. The treasurer also has the right to defer any payment until it can be discussed by the foundation board if there is a concern that it is improper in some way. If the board decides the proposed payment is improper it may, by motion, stop the payment. Generally speaking this is to be used in the event a payment does not appear to be properly approved by the project PSC or if the payment is one that is likely to bring the foundation into disrepute. However, the treasurer isn't responsible for a detailed review of project directed payments. Earmarked Sponsorships Projects PSCs may optionally designate special projects for which they are seeking funding. For example, development of a particular feature, or contracting for limited term maintenance services. These special projects will be listed on the project web site, with details of what would be done, and how much money is required, as well as how much has been collected so far. Project sponsors can indicate that some or all of their sponsorship will be earmarked for a particular activity. Once sufficient earmarked funds are collected for it, the project PSC will launch the activity. Sponsor Benefits * Sponsors help ensure a project on which they depend is better maintained and sustained. * Sponsors will be listed on a prominent sponsors page on the project web site. * Sponsors may call themselves sponsors of the project, and use the project logo in such an indication on their web site or promotional materials. * Sponsors will gain some goodwill from the project, which may help get bugs fixed, or answers to usage questions. * Sponsoring efforts are made public through project web pages, and possibly other project related mechanisms (Example: http://www.gdal.org/credits.html). Who Might Be a Project Sponsor? * End user organizations using the foundation packages, such as governments, NGOs and service organizations. These organizations are already saving money using free software, and have a stake in the successful future improvements to the packages and the health of the open source geospatial ecosystem. * Consultants and integrators are building solutions for their clients based on foundation projects. The continued success of the packages is important to their commercial leverage. The PR benefit of sponsorship helps raise their stature when with potential clients. * Proprietary software vendors using the libraries in their packages are good candidates. These companies depend on the quality of the libraries. Who Solicits Project Sponsors? Project sponsorships are primarily beneficial to the project being sponsored, so it is anticipated that members of the project community will be primarily responsible for soliciting project sponsorships. The fundraising committee of OSGeo will also be explaining the project sponsorship option to organizations it reaches out to, but will generally be encouraging Foundation Sponsorship. """ Currently there are four projects which have joined the OSGeo Project Sponsorship program: GDAL/OGR, MapGuide, OpenLayers and QGIS. Event Sponsors -------------- The FOSS4G conference, and to some extent other specialized events like some code sprints, solicit sponsors to support costs of the events. The sponsors are provided with various promotional benefits (logo placement, mention during programs, and some complimentary conference registrations). The most recent FOSS4G conference in 2009 the prospectus offered the following benefits for the Premier sponsor. Other sponsors received a subset of these benefits. """ As the Premier Sponsor of this Conference, your company will benefit from the highest level of exposure and representation with the following entitlements: * Recognition as the Premier Sponsor (with organisation logo) on all printed Conference material * Recognition as the Premier Sponsor (with organisation logo) on the home and sponsors’ page of the Conference website, including a hyperlink to your organisation’s home page * Acknowledgment as the Premier Sponsor on the official sponsorship acknowledgement board onsite * Verbal acknowledgement as Premier Sponsor during the Opening Session * Company signage (to be supplied by Sponsor) may be displayed in the Plenary Room for the duration of the Conference (maximum size 2m high x 1m wide) * Conference gift may be given to all delegates on behalf of Principal Sponsor (sponsor to provide) * Full delegate list including full name, organisation and email address supplied prior to Conference * Full page advertising space (colour) on the back cover of the Conference Program Book (artwork to be supplied by sponsor) * Logo and 200 word profile in the Conference Program Book * Four (4) Conference delegate registrations * One (1) complimentary 3 x 3m exhibition booth located in a prominent position within the Exhibition area * One (1) Exhibitor Registration * Company brochure (maximum four x A4 pages per brochure) to be inserted in all delegates’ satchels (sponsor to supply material) * Display of organisation logo on the inside cover of the Conference Program Book * Use of the Conference logo until end of October 2009 * In addition to the package outlined above, the Premier Sponsor will receive the following additional exposure: Name badges To gain access to the Conference all delegates are required to wear the official Conference name badge. This is an opportunity to have your company logo printed on all name badges alongside the Conference logo (mono) and gain great exposure throughout the Conference. """ ============================================================================== b. Provide copies of all agreements between you and your sponsors. We do not have signed agreements with foundation or sponsorship sponsors. Our obligations to our sponsors are listed above. ### CHECK IF WE HAVE SIGNED AGREEMENTS WITH FOSS4G SPONSORS ### ============================================================================== c. Describe what benefits, if any, sponsors receive in exchange for sponsorship. * Sponsors receive recognition for their sponsorship on the website and publications. They additionally receive a hard copy of the annual OSGeo Journal. * FOSS4G Sponsors receive additional promotional benefits at the conference as listed in the previous response. ============================================================================== d. Describe what discretion and control sponsors may exercise over your activities via your "project sponsorship" program. Include copies of all agreements, guidelines, and procedures relating to your "project sponsorship" program. * OSGeo does not sign legal agreements with sponsors. * OSGeo's project sponsorship program is operated on the basis of the OSGeo Project Sponsorship program, guidelines included above. * Each project has it's own detailed guidelines, though these tend to be quite similar. The Sponsorship Benefits section for each project is included below. * Sponsorship benefits are primarily promotional. * Sponsors are generally provided with a sponsorship survey annually in which they can provide feedback on areas of focus they see for the project. This advisory material is reviewed by the Project Steering Committee and may help guide decisions on where to focus software maintenance and development activities. * Sponsors are offered a "degree of priority" with regard to fixes of bugs by sponsorship supported maintainers. In practice this means that the PSC member responsible for triaging bugs and managing a paid maintainer may choose to have the paid maintainer address bugs important to sponsors ahead of those not important to sponsors if they judge both bugs to be otherwise of similar importance to the project and the user community in general. In general sponsors have no direct control over projects. In particular there they receive no representation on the project steering committee and they are not able to direct development activities. e. Provide a list of your sponsors and indicate which sponsors are corporate, government, and non-profit. Foundation Sponsors: * Autodesk (corporate) * INPE (government) * INGRES (corporate) * Ordnance Survey (government) * GEOCAT (corporate) * Astun Technology (corporate) * Borealis (corporate) * IGN (government) * PCI Geomatics (corporate) * camp to camp (corporate) * Lizardtech (corporate) * 1Spatial (corporate) * First Base Solutions (corporate) Project Sponsors (GDAL): * Cadcorp (corporate) * Safe Software (corporate) * SRC (corporate) * Applied Coherent Technology (corporate) * i-cubed (corporate) * Waypoint (corporate) * INGRES (corporate) Project Sponsors (MapGuide) * OTX Systems (corporate) FOSS4G 2009 Sponsors: * Autodesk (corporate) * OpenGeo (non profit) * INGRES (corporate) * LISAsoft (corporate) * Google (corporate) * Landgate (government) * GEOCAT (corporate) * latlon (non profit) * MapGears (corporate) * GeoSolutions (corporate) * geosparc (corporate) * Australian Office of Spatial Data Management (government) * Australian Bureau of Meteorology (government) * 52 North (non profit) * Open Geospatial Consortium (non profit) * CSIRO (government) * Sun Microsystems (corporate) * Ardec International (corporate) * aarenet (corporate)