Resolution:Board visitors

    From Wikimedia Foundation Governance Wiki
    Resolutions Board visitors Feedback?
    This resolution allowing up to two visitors to observe the Board's work for a year was approved 8-1.


    The Board recommends experimenting for one year with allowing up to two board visitors for significant content, financial or expertise contributors.

    Rationale:

    • The Wikimedia Foundation and projects benefit from significant content, financial support and other contributions from both individuals and institutions;
    • Some large contributors have an understandable expectation of greater access to information from organizations to which they contribute significantly;
    • WMF's board will benefit from building closer ties with and learning from our significant individual and institutional contributors.

    Criteria for selection as a board visitor:

    • Contribution of significant content, financial support or unique expertise;
    • Institution and/or individual shows strong philosophical alignment with WMF mission and,
    • Board approval required prior to board visitor status being granted.

    Board Visitor Privileges:

    • Attendance at in-person board meetings once per year for most but not all agenda items (e.g. Attendance for budget and strategic discussions, not for executive sessions);
    • Inclusion in formal materials sent to other trustees (e.g. Pre-read materials, Committee reports, Board minutes);
    • No participation in board voting on resolutions, or board IRC meetings; no inclusion on board email list;
    • One year term.

    Board Visitor Responsibilities

    • Visitor must treat conversations with the same confidentiality as the rest of the board.


    Approved 8-1, one vote absent