[OSGeo-Conf] Need to define rules for %age of backflow of FOSS4G surplus

[Steven Feldman]

In the RfP document it says (my italics):

"Funding by OSGeo and distribution of surplus
It is expected that all FOSS4G events will be budgeted and operated to deliver a surplus over costs. Part of the surplus will be donated to OSGeo.

Seed Funding

OSGeo can offer seed funding (an advance to cover start-up expenses and deposits before revenues are received) and an additional guarantee to cover losses (up to an agreed limit) in the event of unexpected events (subject to approval of budgets and regular financial updates to an OSGeo board representative).

If OSGeo provides seed funding and guarantees, it is expected that in the region of 85% of any surplus generated will be donated to OSGeo (a lower percentage will be considered for events hosted in Lower or Middle Income economies). OSGeo will provide a financial supervisor who must be consulted on all major financial decisions. For more information see ​https://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G_Handbook#Finances

If a LOC does not require seed funding or guarantees from OSGeo, they will be expected to donate at least 50% of the surplus after costs to OSGeo.

Travel Grant

OSGeo will provide a grant of $10,000 minimum towards a Travel Grant Programme (see https://www.osgeo.org/initiatives/foss4g-travel-grant-program/​ ), the LOC are expected to raise at least an equivalent amount of funding through sponsorship, donations at registration or other means.

Video

OSGeo may provide loan funding towards the cost of recording the conference proceedings. If there is surplus from the conference, OSGeo requires this funding to be repaid in full to OSGeo before any calculation and distribution of the conference surplus."


______
Steven

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On 2 Jan 2020, at 09:05, Till Adams <till.adams at fossgis.de> wrote:

Dear conference committee,

you know, that surplus of FOSS4G's is one of the major source of income
of OSGeo. The upcoming two events are good examples, that we need a
binding and general rule about "what happens with a potential surplus of
a FOSS4G": Calgary did not claim for seed money and explained to
transfer back "at least 50%", Buenes Aires recently requested for seed
money and mentioned a transfer back of 30% in their bid (Steven asked
about that during the RfP).

On our last board meeting, we discussed the request from Buenes Aires
regarding seed money. I know, there is a general rule, that says, that
if a LOC of a FOSS4G requests for seed money, that we as an organisation
expect, that at least 85% of the potential surplus goes back to OSGeo.
This rule is AFAIK written in the "FOSS4G cookbook" but in the WIKI
still marked as "draft" [1].

So, in my eyes, we need to approve this rule and make it binding for
future bids. Also, there is no rule about the surplus going back to
OSGeo, if teams do *not* request for seed money. I think we should need
to define a rule here also.


Any thoughts?

Till



[1] https://wiki.osgeo.org/index.php?title=FOSS4G_Handbook#Finances

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