Governance

Fedora governance model

Overview

Fedora governance establishes the:

  • Principles and goals for the project
  • Strategic direction and product roadmap
  • Accountability Sustainability plan
  • Management decision framework
  • Means of conducting operations

Governance is based on a representative, community-based membership model incrementally rewarding members who have made the greatest commitments to the project.

Roles

Leadership Group

The Leadership Group is made up of members that contribute annually to the project, along with representatives from the Fedora Community at large who are particularly committed to the Project.

Eligibility to serve in the Leadership Group is determined based on the membership levels as follows:

  • Platinum - 1 seat per member
  • Gold - 1 seat for every 2 members
  • Silver - 1 seat for every 5 members
  • Bronze - 1 seat for every 8 members

The Leadership group will also benefit from the participation of:

  • 2 Members nominated by the community at large and voted by the Members
  • Ex-officio and/or emeritus members

The Leadership Group approves the overall priorities and strategic direction of the project by:

  • Approving the annual budget allocation and any modifications
  • Approving the product roadmap
  • Approving the strategic direction
  • Nominating and electing Steering Group members
  • Voting on key decisions presented by Steering Group
  • Helping to raise funds and secure other resources on behalf of the project

Current members of the Leadership Group may be found at https://duraspace.org/fedora/community/governance/leadership-group/

The Leaders are elected for a 1-year term and there are no term limits.

Steering Group

The Steering Group is nominated and elected by the Leadership Group and members are chosen among the Leaders. The Steering Group is composed of 9 Members elected for a 3-year term and it provides project oversight and ensures that the priorities of the Leadership Group and members are met, by:

  • Providing strategic direction to the Project
  • Recommending annual budget allocations
  • Presenting key decisions to the Leadership Group for discussion and approval
  • Raising funds and securing other resources on behalf of the Project
  • Overseeing project operations

Current members of the Steering Group may be found at https://duraspace.org/fedora/community/governance/steering-group/

Community Liaison

The Community Liaison is someone from a member institution who has been chosen to represent their organization for the purpose of important communications.  For example, when an institution is asked to vote in a project governance election, the Community Liaison will be the designated individual who will cast the vote, based on a consultation with local project stakeholders. The Community Liaison is someone we expect to have an awareness of the day to day status of the project so that they can help their institution make informed decisions.

Benefits

DuraSpace members are granted governance rights commensurate with their financial allocation to the project. The following table shows the governance-related benefits for Fedora contributors.

Level of Contribution Benefit
$500
  • No project governance role at the Supporter Level
$1,000
  • Eligibility to and voting rights for DuraSpace Board of Directors
$2,500
  • Contributors can nominate and elect one contributor at the $2,500 tier to join the Leadership Group
$5,000
  • Contributors can nominate and elect two contributors at the $5,000 tier to join the Leadership Group
  • Eligible to serve on Steering Group (can be elected when Leadership group votes on SG members)
$10,000
  • Contributors can nominate and elect four contributors at the $10,000 tier to join the Leadership Group
  • Eligible to serve on Steering Group (can be elected when Leadership group votes on SG members)
$20,000
  • Contributors guaranteed one seat on the Leadership Group
  • Eligible to serve on Steering Group (can be elected when Leadership Group votes on SG members)
0.5 FTE Developer
  • Contributors guaranteed one seat on the Leadership Group
  • Eligible to serve on Steering Group (can be elected when Leadership Group votes on SG members)

* NOTE: All members may nominate and elect one at-large DuraSpace Board Director

To view other DuraSpace membership benefits, https://duraspace.org/membership/value-and-benefits/.