[OSGeo-Board] About Sponsorship for local OSGeo Chapters

[Venkatesh Raghavan]

Frank, Tyler, Board,

Frank Warmerdam wrote:
...
> 
> I'll leave it to Tyler to mash things up if he wants.

I think that it is necessary to present a coherent and
official position of OSGeo sponsorship program for the
benefit of potential sponsors. I have summarized the
discussions thus far which Tyler and the Board members
may check and modify. Once agreed upon, the document
could be made available on the OSGeo sponsorship page.

I had also earlier summarized the discussions on logo
usage on business card and other printed material, which
could also be put on th OSGeo logo usage page, after the
draft is agreed upon.

Kind regards

Venka

--Summary of discussions sponsorship with inputs from
Frank, Tyler, Arnulf --

1) What are the kind of sponsorships solicited by OSGeo?

See OSGeo ED's blog http://spatialguru.com/sponsorship_dec06
(perhaps that could be put on the OSGeo site too)

2) What is the present status of OSGeo sponsorship?

See OSGeo ED's blog http://spatialguru.com/sponsorship_dec06
(perhaps that could be put on the OSGeo site too)

3) When the sponsor logos will appear on the OSGeo website,
wiki etc.?

Sometime in Jan 2007

4) Is the local sponsorship scheme same as OSGeo.org
sponsorship ?

OSGeo Executive Directorwill serve as a contact point to those who
are doing international solicitation for sponsors. After the kind of
sponsorship, sponsor level etc. are agreed upon, appropriate invoice
can be issued by OSGeo. In case the invoice is needed in local country,
OSGeo can request the Local Chapter Representative to issue invoice
on OSGeo behalf. In case of local chapter sponsors the preferred
approach would be that someone form the local chapter connects with
the main organisation while  also providing support/services to make
the adminstrative process easier.

An OSGeo local chapter could solicit local sponsors for the local
chapter if the OSGeo local chapter desires to. However, if the
sponsorship stays with the local chapter then the sponsor would be
considered a local sponsor, to be appropriately acknowledged on the
local chapter web site and other promotional materials. If the
sponsorship stays with an OSGeo local chapter, it would not be
considered at the same level as OSGeo "Foundation Sponsorship" or
OSGeo“Project Sponsorship” mentioned earlier in this document.

If a potential sponsor is primarily interested in supporting efforts
of an OSGeo local chapter,  then it is suggested that the OSGeo local
chapter consider establishing some guidelines for local sponsorship
and solicit the funds for local use. If this approach is considered
inadvisable, then the OSGeo local chapter encouraged to  solicit support
as a general “Foundation Sponsorship”and perhaps the foundation could
make some special effort to fund OSGeo local chapter activities if that
is the desire of the sponsoring organization.

5)  Will OSGeo sponsors be invited to next FOSS4G Conference ?

Every sponsor above the "Associate Sponsor" level will receive an invite
to join the board and other speakers at a sponsors-only event following
the conference. (See https://www.osgeo.org/content/sponsorship/). The 
OSGeo sponsorship indicates that “Sustaining Sponsor” and “Principle
Sponsors” will special rights to sponsorship selection for the
conference.

OSGeo sponsorship and only “Conference Sponsors” is treated separatly.
“Conference Sponsors” will be acknowledged as on the various conference
materials. If OSGeo “Foundation Sponsor” or “Project Sponsor” also wish
to be “Conference Sponsor”then an additional payment will be required as
decided by the conference committee.

6) Can the sponsor specify the purpose for which the sponsorship fee can 
be used?

Generally no, not through the “Foundation Sponsor” program, though some 
advice might be well received as long as the advice is considered 
congruent to the mission and objectives of OSGeo. OSGeo does not provide 
any guarantee that particular technical suggestions of sponsors will be 
accepted. If the sponsoring organization desires to receive the formal 
benefits of sponsorship then they are not able to decide how the money 
is used.

OSGeo also has a "Project Sponsor" program in which case sponsorship can 
be applied to a specific project, but only if a project is soliciting
"Project Sponsor". The only OSGeo project that is presently soliciting
“Project Sponsor” is ithe GDAL/OGR project.

If an organization wished to be an OSGeo “Foundation Sponsor” or
“Project Sponsor” they could become sponsors for them seperately, 
following the normal procedures. OSGeo may decide whether to hold money 
on behalf of local chapters or whether the funds should be directly 
disbursed to the local chapter. If OSGeo deems it necessary to hold 
funds on behalf of local chapters this implies some degree of due 
diligence to ensure the money is spent responsibly.

7) How do we sponsoring OSGeo in a "non-standard" or special way not 
described in this document above?

If an organization would like to provide money in a "non-standard" way 
that is not described in this document, appropriate ways can be worked 
out in consultation with the Executive Director of OSGeo.